The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-10-15
MASON AT KINsTON.
He Discusses Issues Calmly-Wals
and Reynolds Reyel in Abuse.

Kinston, N. c., Oct. 14.-(Special)-
There have been sunshine and shadows
argument and abuse, eloquence and
envy, oratory and outlandishness, bril-
liancy and bitterness, rhetoric and rot
in to-day's history of the campaign in
Lenoir county. The gubernatorial APP
pOintments of Hon. G. b. Watson and
Judge Russell collided at Kinston to-
day. Mr.. Watson, of course, was not
here, because Of his illness, but he was
well represented. Judge Russell was
not here, because he feared the
complete wreck of himself and
his principles if he came
in contact with one of Democ-
racy's giants. That giant was here
in the person of Hon. Thomas w. Ma
son, and from this peerless gentleman
emanated the sunshine, the argument,
the powerful eloquence, the splendid
oratory that characterized the days
speaking. During the afternoon, in
two hours after Mr. Mason had finish
ed, the msnamed Walzer, of Lexing-
ton, and the would-be misit Lieuten-
ant Governor, c. A. Reynolds, slipped
into town and crammed an hour and a
half full of shadow, abuse, bitterness
and rot to 400 hungry, bowling ne
grOes. The contrast was awful; it was
more, it was humiliating; it was even
more than that; it was distressing, the
contrast both of speakers and speeches
and of the listeners as well. 1T was a
great assemblage of Lenoir county
yeomen that greeted Mr.. Mason at 12
o'clock, men of honor, of integrity, Of
personal and political patriotism, they
greeted patriot, a scholar, an orator,
statesman, gentleman, a friend of
truth, of reform and one of truths
most powerful and eloquent defenders.
For everybody knows that Thomas w.
Mason lis one of natures noblemeni one
OF the ablest. one OF the most honest
of all that are honest; a true, genuine
friend to his country, and to every hon
est home within it's borders, man who
in his innermost soul believes in the
reforms enunciated at Chicago and eX-
emplified in the person of the great
Brvan, and whom nature endowed
with striking personality, a powerful
mind, a brilliant intellect, genial
spirit, a charming nature and GIFTED
tongue that sways the multitude as
the winds sway the forest. 1t was
these two forces that met in the court
house at noon to-day, and for two
hours the vast audience, made up of
the best people of Lenoir county, both
ladies and gentlemen, listened to one
Of the most earnest, eloquent and Ell
fective appeals in the interest of the
masses of America that was ever de-
livered in Lenoir county, a grand
speech from a grand mana man 700
full of sincerity and earnestness to
abuse any man or men; too full OF
anxiety for the toiling millions to for
get the great principles involved IN
the contest for even a moment to stoop
to personal or party abuse. The great
crowd heard him with cheers and wltn
tears. and every man present seemed 70
be rehabilitated for earnest, individual
and collective efforts in behalf of De
mocracy, its great past and its greater
future. At the latter meeting were
assembled the four hundred hOwling
blacks, hungry for some abuse of their
white neighbOrs, and this they got
from the two speakers; they got no
discussion of issues; they did not seem
to want any, nor did the speakers
seem willing to give them any. Scarce
ly mention of silver; never a syllable
about trusts: not a word about in
come tax; scarcely an allusiOn even to
Mckinley or Russell, or any leader or
issue, only a tIiade of inveetiye against
what they termed the dead Demo
cracy. but the negroes relished it all,
and Waltzer and Reynolds seemed hap
py because they had made the negroes
yell.
r r. ARFNDFLI.