Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1896-10-29

GILL IOH Call anu CfCly ScOO ClllACh
should respond. Though unable
to meet them face to face the fear
less champion of Democracy has
made an appeal-characteristic of
the man-that will not fall on
deaf years. Mr.. Watson will not
appear in the campaign again un-
less it is at Winston on the day
preceding the election:
My Fellow Citizens:
On the 25th of July, in the
city of Raleigh the Democratic
party in convention assembled.
called me from its ranks and told
me l must be it's candidate for
Governor.
/ asked no man for the COM
mission. The vote Of the con-
vention came to me unsought and
unbidden. Many stronger and
ADLER hands might have received
the party's banner and carried it
to victory. Needing the earnest
solicitations of my lifelong friends
and hearing the expressed will Of
that great convention and being
accustomed to obey, | accepted the
trust and with an eager longing to
have the honor of being the chief
executive of the million and a half
and more North Carolinians,
whom [ esteem as the perfect
bloom of the earth's people | took
my position on the front Of the
battle deck. Although mindful
of the arduous and %incessant la :
bors of the campaign to be under
taken, was not deferred by its
promise of unceasing toll, and its
manifold exactions, because | have
known even from childhood and
through ell the years of my life
that the highest honor that could
be obtained by a North CAROLYN
ian was to obtain the suffrages of
the free men of his native State
for this high and responsible Of
fee.
According to the custom es-
teamed for it's usefulness, as well
as its antiquity in North Caro-
lima, I desired to meet my oppo-
nent, Mr.. Russell, Fin joint de-
bate upon all the questions in
this campaign, but ne rejected
my challenge and declined to
stand up in the field with me be-
fore the people. A joint discus
sion with me was sought by Ma
ior Guthrie of the peoples party.
I cheerfully accepted the request
and after filling some appoint
ments of my own, we entered to-
gether on a canvass of some OF
the western counties. By mutual
agreement we parted at Wilkes
boro, and I continued my regular
appointments through the State
From exposure and fatigue l
have been stricken down with
sickness, and am now confined
to my home. Though much i'm :
proved and feeling myself grow
ing daily stronger, l am advised
that I may not be able To again
enter the campaign. Fearing
that this may be true, l write
this letter that the voters in
those sections of North Carolina
that [ have not been able to reach
may know that my heart is with
them; that I wish [ was able tC
speak tie them in every county
in the State to ask their suf-
frages for the great party tina
has presented my name for con-
federation, and to meet the peos
pie face to face and to talk tt
them in regard to their necessi'
ties aud the policy of tn
goyernment. There has beel
no time since the establishment
Iof our government when issue
have been presented for the con
) slderatiou of the plain people o
, 1.-The land which more strongl.
involve their rights, their liber
ties and their homes.
It was my most heartfelt wis
to present to the good people Q
North Carolina my views on TIL
great issues presented by tn
: Democratic party of the Ameri
: can people, and to speak TO ther
! of the burdens which they hav
borne so long and patiently, an
to rejoice with them in the gla