The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-06-05
The RiQht Ring
Speech Made by A. c. WALL Before the Richmond County
Democratic Convention.
Rockingham Rocket

coHNelllioHs WHICH met III our loNn Ol
Tuesday 18th inst, and yet it is not The
speech as he delivered it, for it is impos
sible TO reproduce such a speech as that
WAS i'll a manner to convey to the mind
of the reader the eloquent earnestnesS
or earnest eloquence, if you please, with
which it was uttered before the represen-
tative white people of Richmond county.
Mr.. Wall is not politician. lie is
not an office-seeker in any sense. lie
is the largest taxpayer in the county,
and one of the wealthiest men in the
State.
This speech, coming from this conser-
vative, disinterested business man, has
stirred Richmond to its hearts core.
Mr.. Wall although wealthy man,
stood brayely for Bryan and the Chicago
platform in the last campaign, and in
the coming campaign the people of Ricil-
mond county will have in him a fearless
and powerful champion. When such un-
selfish patriots as III. G. Wall comes to
the front in our politics we will have
good government. Mr. Wall said:
.'Gentlemen of the Convention:
SsThe Democratic party of Richmond
county, as representative of Il large ma
jority of the most enlightened people of
the county, is still confronted in the field
of politics by an organization. the liv-
ing principle of which was born and is
nurtured in an opposition to good gov
eminent and a Wise conduct of public af-
fairs. This is Il strong statement and
how do | propose to defend it? BY
pointing to the results of Republican
rule i'm this county. ~ tree is known by
its fruits" says Holy Writ. and simply
point you to the fruits of that tree ever
since the first seed was planted until
now.
Whatever achievements in matters of
national government the boosted Repub-
lican party may be credited with, we
know that in Richmond county that par
ty stands for principles and practices
which are at variance with good morals;
at variance with heightened manhood
and with the good order and well-being
of society. We know that it stands for
corruption and venality in politics; its
cohesive power is found in its opportuni-
ties for public plumber; it chuckles and
gloats in its continued triumphs over re-
spectability and decency in the body
polite; it controls the offices and tax
laying power of the county, and, doubt
less rejoices in the questionable methods
by which it gets and keeps such control.
1t sets ut defiance any and all sentiment
that would enthrone virtue, and intelli-
gence, and capability i'll the seats where
now ignorance, immortality, prejudice
and incompetency hold universal sway;
it would and does degrade the white
man in its pursuit after the negro vote
and influence: it has converted our court
house and official apartments into al
common stampng-ground for negro loaf
ers and loungers until, but from public
necessity, decent white people prefer not
to enter them; its control of the worst
elements that curse our society lies III its
ring power to skill and make alive in
political sense. according to the whims
and ambition of that same ring power;
it's test of loyalty to the public good is
loyalty to the Republican party, especial
~ that part of it represented by the Ring,
it plays with juries- negro juries at
that-and. through its manipulation of
the machinery of our courts, court
session in our county is more like farce
than it is like judicially grave and dig
nihed occasion.
'.Yes. that party has subjected the
white race of our county to the domina-
ton and rule of the negro race by plac-
ing the latter in positions OF trust and
responsibility so that, for instance, an
unfortunate white man, cast in jail from
whatever cause, must of necessity be-
under the authority of negro jailer.
But is the negro, Bill Hoffman. jailer of
our county, or has he been? Since
thinking of the matter | recall distinct
ly that Bill Hoffman, in the effort to lift
i white Republican friend out Of a very
dark hole did actually make affidavit to
the fact and signed himself to the affi-
dayit as the jailer of Richmond county.
AS another instance, the law-breaking
white man, in whatever particular he
may have offended, is liable to have a
subpoena or other paper served on him.
If not actually arrested by "A negro duly
deputized by the high sheriff of the
county. Whether Hamp Townsend holds
or did hold Sheriff Smiths commission
as deputy. he must have acted as such
when he went to a poor white mans
house and finding he was absent, left
with the gentleman's wife notice OF tax
leyy on his hogs. 1t does not set well ON
a white mans stomach, and never can,
TO have \ notice of levy, subpoena, arrest
or what not, served on him by a negro.
True Sheriff Smith denied, Indignantly,
when the Wadesboro Messenger-lntelli-
gencer lately accused him of having a
negro deputy; but you remember that in
his letter Of denial Of the charge he adj
lnitted that when necessary, or II oppor-
tunity offered, he would not hesitate 70
have a negro deputy-or words to that
effect.
..By-the-way. fellow citizens. it IS the
class commonly spoken of as poor white
people that is most apt to suffer without
redress at the hands of negro officials.
do not profess to be n very rich man, nor
do admit being a poor man in the COM
mon acceptation; at any rate the negro
deputy would not likely have come to my
house TO serve his legal process on me
or. in my absence. thrown that paper into
my wife's lap or upon her sewing table
Nor would he have gone thus to the
house Of Mr.. John ID. Shaw. or Mr. Hec-
tor Mclean, or Mr.. Tom Leak Why do
/ say so? In the first place the high
sheriff is not likely to have thought there