The Charlotte Democrat., 1896-07-30
THE RIVER BEND RALLY.

On the 4th of August, the great cam
paign in this State will begin at River
Bend, CASTOR county. Hon. Cyrus B.
Watson, candidate of the Democratic
party for governor of this State will meet
Hon. Daniel L. Russell, candidate of the
Republican party for governor, in joint
debate on that occasion. No rally will
surpass this in Importance during the cam
paign. No rally should surpass it in en-
thusiasm and numbers. The time is now
at hand when every honest man in this
State has to decide for himself which of
these candidates he wants to be placed
at the head of affairs next November.
Can any man conscientiously say that he
wants Russell2 Does any good, honest,
patriotic citizen think Russell's election
would be anything less than deplorable
calsmity2 Can any honest man say that
Watson's election would be anything less
than a blessing? So here we are to be-
gin the fight for Watson, for honesty and
justice, against Russell, calamity, dishones
ty, fraud and unfairness. We, in days
gone by, have rallied around the noble
Vance and caused his heart to leap with
Joy at the unbounded enthusiasm. We
have taken our sisters and our mothers
to hear him meet in debate his opponents
on the stump and he was inspired by
their presence. Every farmer in the
county has quit his plow and helped to
build the mighty throngs that were wont
to attend the public speakings when
Vance was on the list Can it not be done
lies? Has there been more critical
time in the life of the State than this?
We say NO. We are on the verge Of q
great calamity or great God-send. If
of the State cut. He will still her indus~
tries and turn her progress to ruin.
Watson will mend the pace of the States
bounding prosperity and rule for the
good of the masses if he is elected.
Now is the time to avert this possible
calamity. Twelve thousand men, women
and children should listen to the speech
es that will be made at River Bend.
Now is the time for every young man to
come forward and enlist in the Democratic
party as an active member. For five
years the young Democracy of this coun.
try has lain low while the old war-horses
have known the ropes and have handled
them. Since the war was ended the ex-
soldiers have fought in the right again st
the wrong. But now these old men who
have fought good fight are no longer
able to make the rallies of old. We-the
young men-have got it to do. We are
the ones who must save the State from
ruin and carry the Democratic party 10
victory. We are the ones that must ride
in the torch-light procession and rally
around our standard bearers. Cyrus B.
Watson is young man in spirit and 40.
tivity. He is as young to-day as he
was 10 years ago. We should and must
do him honor. How can we do it2 You
can do it by going to hear him speak
on the night of the Sd of August in
Vance Park, this city, aud by going with
him as an escort the following morning to
River Bend. Not only go yourself but
persuade and aid every man, woman and
child to go that you come in contact with,
That is the way to inspire the people of
the State in behalf of Watson-see him
and hear him and you will vote for him.
Every plow should be stopped, every
store closed, and the town and county
should be, as whole, turned over to
Watson while he is in our midst.
The programme is about as follows: the
night of the Bird Watson speaks at Vance
Park; at 7:3O the following morning the
horseback, cow.back, bicycle-back brig.