The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1896-06-04

dinary laboring man, mechanic or
farmer, desiring to make known
some necessity-to his representative
in Congress-, too we'll knew that his
time, stationary and postage stamps
would be wasted, unless he could Sc
cure some Intervention of some 10
cal politician, or man of political in
fuence, to present his cause for him.
Thus, a spirit of Indifference was rife
in the land. Thousands of the most
substantial and even most intelli-
gent citizens possessed but little
more than a historical or geograph-
ical idea of the Capitol City of the
nation. Children were brought up
in the country, sent to the neighbor
hood schools, and became men and
women, without having instilled into
them the faintest ideas of represent
ative government. Conditions were
such as to cause them to feel that
those things were too far beyond
their reach to require even the slight
est thought. But the awakening
among the masses of the people,
during the last few years, has pro-
duced quite different results.
A little circumstance happened
during a call l was making at the
private Office of one of one own rep
resentatives, during my present Wis
it in Washington, which impressed
me very much with the great change
that has taken place, in things above
referred to. The mail was brough,
in, during my visit, and on being
opened, among the various request.
made of the Congressman were sever
school children, in one small town
each asking him for a copy of tn,
Congressional Directory. He stated
that such requests were coming t,
him from all parts of his district
from men, women and children
as only limited number of copie
were allotted to each member, it wa
impossible to supply them. 1t oc
Cured to me as rather Remarkable
that school children should be want
ing book of that character, and
made some remarks about it. 4
gentleman sitting by remarked tha
things are quite different now, from
the time when we were school bows
Then we hardly knew that there wa
such a thing as a Congress, an
most of our teachers knew but lit
tie more of it than we did.
J But what I desire particularly t
) speak of is, that since the masses o
the people have been awakened t
the free exercise of their senses. an,
have to q great extent, thrown o1
the CALLING yoke of the political bos
: ses, they are having a voice in tn
: selection of their representatives
? and have, in several instances, beel
7 successful in electing men who un
derstand and know how to appreci
ate their needs. This has brough
: the highest legislative branch of on
. government much nearer to the pee
. pie. All are beginning to realiz
!, that their Congressman is their serv
J., ant. The many commands whic
:. the representatives now receive froI
!, the people who, but few years age
t would never think of as being any
i thing direct from a Congressman
: are evidences that they are going
j use their servants. And the prong
attention which some of them Civ
p to such commands, is also evidenc
r that the servants recognize the al
s taority of their masters. But som
2 have done much more than others I
= educate and encourage this new col
+ dition with the people. And while
); do not wish to speak disparaeingl
y of any representative in Congre.
,s from q North Carolina district,
/. simply wish to state, that the Sc
p enth Congressional district, was 9
y pecially fortunate to have within i
70 borders, an humble and unpretel
is tious citizen, a farmer and one
q. the people, who was not only INTEL
n gent and we'll informed, but posse
10 ing all the necessary qualifications
is . leader in political reformatio
IN Not ambitious for political prefe
er ment, but having the welfare of
+ fellow farmers and the laboring pc
~ pie generally, at heart, he respon
e. ed to their call, at the same time I
it GREETING that they could not sele
% another who would undertake 4
" leadership, and with sacrifices Viii,
n but few will ever know of. he brav,