The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-01-12

that cause which we all love. In obe-
dience to the mandates of the law Of orr
common country, we have assembled
here to-day at our State capital for the
purpose Of performing the last duties
that devolve upon as the electors OF
the I'd -,crA State" We come. sir.
each Of us feeling down in our hearts
that we have done our duty for that great
cauEe which was placed in our care. We
have defended il from the lower coun-
ties Of the East, where the restless waves
Of the old Atlantic ever and anon lash
themselves into a fury upon their sandy
shores, We have defended it throughout
the Piedmont section--the land Of the
fruits and fowers-the corn and the
wheat and "the golden tobacco belt" We
have defended it in the Western section.
tho home Of the beloved Vance, where.
lofty mountain peaks almost pierce
gre cry dome OF MISUNDERSTANDING there
as everlasting and eternal monuments to
his sacred memory, and Indicative of the
rugged honesty that forms the charac-
ter Of the true and liberty loving noun
tamcer. Whether IN public or private
"o have never failed to strike blow to
Cur common enemy that enemy which
would drive prosperity from our country
and place unknown burdens and hard
shIps upon the poor people Of this land.
IN ms night we were not the aggressors.
~ wa and is not orr purpose to make
innovations upon the rights Of others lust
Tor the mere purpose Ot making con-
quests-but our object was 10 protect our
own rights-those rights that were
pledged to US by our constitution. but
which OF late have been spurned with
contempt by the gold bugs-the trusts.
the combines, and syndicates Of England
and even Of our own country. Yes. we
entered the fight, not to DESTROY the rights
OF others, but to protect our own, and
we will ever be found there lust sOsIong
as those rights are invaded We are told
that the man who will not provide for
his own household is worse than an in
fdel," and | tell you that the man who
will not stand by his own rights and de-
fend them and his country from those
evils that will one day bring It to poverty
and ruin--no longer deserves to wear the
form OF man-for he is destitute OF those
glorious principles that actuate the breast
Of all true and noble manhood. The love
OF liberty and freedom has not frozen in
the veins OF the American people. We
point with finger of pride to- the heroic
deeds OF our fOrefathers. and am proud
to say here to-day that their offsprings
are no less brave and loyal than they:
the same patriotic spirit animates the
breast OF man to-day as it did in the DAYS
OF the past, and as they fought and died
IN order to secure to us a country that
be truly termed "the land of the brave
and the home OF the free" we too will
night to maintain those rights that
were left in our charge. When
our fOrefathers drove the foot
OF the British soldier from our shores,
they then made "a government Of the
people, for the people and by the people,"
And here they reared the great temple
or liberty and freedom. which they de-
Tended during life, and at their death
they bequeathed it to us as rich legacy
which we should cherish and defend
and we will defend it just as they did in
The days Of old. We believe in equal
rights to all and special privileges to
none. Our motto is an equal opportunity
to all. We want laws that protect the
poor man as well as the rich. We do not
want laws that throw bulwark Of safe
ty around the wealthy corporations.
trusts and combines, and cause them to
grow rich at the expense of the toiling
millions of the poor people Of this coun-
try. In the time of war the poor people
of every country are the people who arc
called on to protect that country from the
attacks Of the enemy. They go forth
leaving behind them their homes and low
ed ones, perhaps they will never again
see, to fight and do battle for their coun-
try. Then l ask you if the poor people
Of this country are not entitled to the
protection of the laws of their country
in the time of peace? All Of US are ready
to answer yes, but we know that such is
not the case to-day.
Last year l was q member Of another
college, not an electoral college, but our
tuition of learning.
But a short time ago my people saw
fit to call me into the political arena, and
in compliance with their urgent request,
entered, and as a consequence I am to-
day the member of another college.
Yes. / entered the arena with no past
experience to aid me in doing battle for
our cause-nay, with nothing save the
business of that cause-but to-day as vic
toriOus warriors, we have met here to
lay our trophies at the feet of one Of the
greatest men that this or any other coun-
try has ever produced. But while we
come, we claim nothing of ourselves,
but remember that we are but the agents
Of the majority of the people of this
State, who have sent us here by their
votes. To them we owe our debt Of
gratitude. Taking our State as n whole,
we are glad hepausp we are the yictorS-
but taking our nation as a whole we are
sad because we are the victims. But we
are not discouraged, because know that
truth, though crushed to earth, will
rise again"
They tell us that our cause is lost, that
it sleeps the sleep that knows no waking.
All! Let them hatter themselves with
such a thought Though defeated, it
will speak louder than the unholy cause
Of our victors. There will go forth from
it a silent power which will awaken the
hearts Of men to n greater sense OF duty.
Truth and right alone can withstand the