The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-09-27
DOCKERY AT POINT CAswELL
He Speaks to Another Slack Crowd.
Deep Apathy Manifested by His Hear
ers-Meares Afterwards Makes a Fine
speech.

ers-Meares Afterwards Makes a Fine
speech.
The Hon. Oliver H. Dockery, n re-
publican-populist nominee for con-
gress in this district, spoke by ap-
pointment at Point Caswell, Pender
county, yesterday. The meeting was
presided over by Colonel r. N. Groom,
Of Burgaw, chairman Of the republican
executive committee Of Pender coun-
ty There was q small crowd in at
tendance, consisting of aasout forty ne
groes and a half dozen white men. A
number Of democrats stood afar off or
sat on the piazzas in the vicinity of the
sqeaker's stand, which had been erect
ed in the grove.
We learn that Colonel Dockery's
speech was a stale repetition OF MS
Burgaw speech. He, however, elabo-
rated his negro points, but Il is said
his speech was a tame affair. A gen.
tleman who saw the crowd tells US
that it manifested the deepest apathy.
When Colonel Dockery concluded ms
speech a negro offered three cheers
for Dockery." and Justify sang OUT,
hin, hip, hip" but there was no re-
snonse. The negro called a second
time for three cheers, but there was a
weak response by the negroes. The
negro drive who took Colonel DOCK
cry from Burgaw to Point Caswell
YELLED out: IF o are as weak as
that on election day your votes wont
count for much" Colonel Dockery
smoke an hour and a half.
Iredell Meares, Esq, was anxious TO
meet Dockery and divide time with
him. While Colonel Dockery was at
Burgaw Friday evening Bruce Will
Hams, Esq, called on him and request
ed a division of time with Mr.. Meares,
but Mr.. Williams telegraphed to Mr..
Meares Friday night that Colonel
Decker refused to meet him or any
other democrat for a joint discussion.
Mr.. Meares, however, went up 10
Point Caswell yesterday and a few
minutes after Colonel Dockery con-
cluded his speech Captain r. +. Paddl-
son ~nnounce that Mr. .Meares would
speak.
AS sOon as Colonel DOcKery had fin
ished speaking the negroes left, but a
crowd Of about fifty democrats and
populists were or hand to hear Mr..
Meares, who spoke a half hour al
Ter Colonel Dockery mad made his
speech. Captain Paddison introduced
Mr.. Meares and he spoke for two hours
and fifteen minutes.
Mr.. Meares was hartily a~pplauded
throughout his speech. He arralgned
the extravaganza of the republican
fusion administration for it's disgrace
fulness and extravaganza. He exposed
the record of fusion" legislatures of
1895 and 1897, contrasting with them the
democratic administration in the good
old days. He showed that the fusion
crowd had doubled the taxes in the
state in the four years of their exist
ence instead of reducing them, accord
ing to their loud u~tteranceS about re
FORM before thew got charge of state
affairs.
Mr.. Meares also made a merciless
exposure of Colonel Dockery's record,
and in abiding to his refusal to divide
time, he made a good point by saying
that a soldier of a quarter ~century'S
training who quailed before the enemy
would be pronounced a coward and
hat a politician of a quarter of a CEN
.tury's experience who would refuse a
joint discussion was also a coward or
else could not defend his position. MI.
Meares alluded to the corrupt avs of
reconstruction when Dockery and Rus
sell were found among the arch enc
mics of the people n state, and de-
clared that it was significant now in
this upheava1 that these politicians
and their like had come to the front.
He also exposed Russell in his pre-
tended fight against the Southern rail-
way and his ingrOminiuS backdOWn
from the suit if the Southern railway
would pay his attorneys. He also ex-
posed the hypocrisy of the adminiStra-
ton in bounding the railroads and
Gripping them for demagOgue pur-
poses, when they should be accorded
fair treatment like other enterprises
that are building up the state.
Mr.. Meares returned last evening
from Point Caswell and he stated that
the democrats at Point Caswell tell
him that populism is dead in Pender.
They declare that the Hon. Buck
Kitchin has completely knocked pop
uliSm out.