The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-08-27
The Mountain Country Ablaze
With Enthusiasm.
CROWDS AT EVERY STATION
The Greatest Speech ofthe Cam.
paign at Westfield.
A GREAT OVATION AT MT. AIRY
Mt. and Many Republicans Declared
Their intention of Voting
For Him.


-Democracy's champion, Cyrus B. Wat
son, has had a triumphant march
through the beautiful skyland country
of Surry, and has fired it's mountains
and plains with fever of enthusiasm
that is gathering force even before
he departs from it, and promises to
swell into a mighty volume of silver
sentiment that will be Overwhelming
when November comes.
Mn. Watson came into Surry from
Winston yesterday afternoon. At all
most every station numbers of his old
friends climbed into the train and
How are you, Cy.", was heard from
dozens of men belonging to all parties,
with a fervent God bless YOU from
bis old clients as the train would pull
out from the different stations.
At the charming little mountain
town of Pilot Mountain, when the
train rolled in, it seemed that the
whole town had gathered about the
dc pot to meet him. "A detachment Of
nearly fifty men from the local silver
club, together with a large crowd of
other citizens, including a number of
ladies, had assembled, eager to see
their old friend, and to assure him of
their devotion, not only to him, but to
the cause he represented. He was es-
corted to the hotel Langston, where
for two hours great crowds of people
came to extend their greetings and to
pledge their earnest support.
SPEECH AT PILOT MOUNTAIN.
Probably the largest crowd that ever
gathered in this delightful little
town gathered at o'clock to hear the
distinguished speaker. The residents
of the town, 600 strong, were there.
Acres of horses and vehicles were tied
out in the beautiful moonlight, many
of them from miles in the country.
1t was a delightful evening Old
Pilot Mountain, few miles in the dis
tance, robed in the splendor of a
bright, beautiful moon seemed 10 stand
guard while the great speaker pleaded
in tones that almost reached its pin
nacle, for the freedom of the citizen
against the grinding greed of the mon
arch of money and monopoly.
AN ELOQUENT CONVERT.
Mr.. Watson was introduced 10 the
vast audience by the President of the
silver club, Mr.. b. p. Abbott, in one of
the most eloquent and telling speeches
| ever heard Mr.. Abbott was until
four weeks ago staunch young Re-
publican, but he determined that, like
Teller, he would discard forever that
party that deliberately sold itself to
the trusts and monopolies of America,
and is now, with dozens of others for
merly Republicans, earnestly support
| ing Bryan and free silver.
The great audience gave Mr.. Watson
a splendid ovation as he stepped upon
the platform. 1t was said by some who
knew, that at least two hundred of
| those present were Republicans and a
number of them were noticed applaud
ing the forcible points made by the
speaker.
A REMINDER OF VANCE.
Mr.. Watson seemed to catch new in
spiration from the enthusiastic audi
ence, and his mastery two hours
speech smacked of the best days of the
lamented Vance. Indeed, one old
landmark of Democracy told me that
he had not been real full of good old
fashioned Democracy before since the
great Vance campaign of 1876. Several
Republicans came boldly out this
morning and told their Democratic
| neighbors that they were now fully
| convinced, and would vote for Cy
Watson, w. j, Bryan and free silver
This morning at O'Clock we left
Pilot Mountain for Westfield, ten miles
| away. A good delegation of Pilot
Mountain people accompanied us.
Westfeld is the Republican, strong
hold of this entire section. Out of 325
voters, more than 300 have formerly
been Republicans. There were nearly
four hundred that greeted Watson
there to-day from Westfield and ad,
joining townships. Two-thirds of them
Republicans.
SPEECH AT WESTFIELD.
1t was here that our gallant stand
ard-bearer even outdid his former self
and made the most powerful speechi
he has vet made in the campaign. He
spoke for two hours, and not word or
a sentence escaped the ear of a single
man present. and many of the old citi-
zens declared that it was the most at
tentive and respectful hearing a Demo
cratic speaker ever received at West
field.
When the speaking was over, we
joined a delegation from Mt. Airy
headed by Mr.. Porter Graves, Mr.. w. r.
Carter and Mr.. s. G. Pace, who had
gone to Westfeld in obedience to al
most a demand on the part of the Mt
Airy people that Mr.. Watson speak
here tonight.
A ride of ten miles over the noun
tains and ridges and through the
beautiful valleys brought us to Mt
Airy.
AN OVATION AT MT. AIRY.
At the Blue Ridge Inn here his re-
ception amounted to almost an ovation.
At $3.50 o'clock he was escorted to the
Opera House where seven hundred
or more people had gathered.
He had spoken four hours in twenty