The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-08-24

ests to make the race for Congress. His
practice was a large and lucrative one,
but on receiving the nomination from one
Of the finest bodies of representative
men ever assembled in the State there
was only one course open to him. With
Il knowledge Of the pecuniary loss and
personal discomfort to himself he accept
ed the nomination. He is one of the, few
men who never sacrifice a principle for
Il sentiment, it matters not how much it
costs. The principles and interests of
the Democratic party We're again at
stake. He believed in himself and in
the time honored traditions and princi-
pies of the Democratic party. lie in
herited this Democratic creed, and by
close application had mastered its mean
ing and significance. The greatest power
on earth is an idea enfeshed in hui
man soul-let it but take possession of
a man until it filters through his being
and there is no force on earth that can
resist its power. An idea took possession
of Columbus, the Genoese sailor, and a
New World blesses his memory The
meek and lowly Gallilean became the
hope Of the race. And so it has ever
been. The original and self-reliant man
has left his mark in every department
of human endeavor.
John ID. Bellamy knew the goal of the
Democratic party, he knew its mission
is a grand and lofty one. and with pro-
phetc eye he could see written in tails
manic characters that shine cut forever
it's justice and it's equality toward all.
That man succeeds who makes the
most of his opportunities. The opportu-
mites offered differ widely and vary with
succeeding age. For instance the early
history of North Carolina is pregnant
with matters of supreme interest to all
who love to trace the heroic and self
sacrificing deeds of great men-of men
who adapted themselves to the then eX-
listing conditions, of men who were not
afraid of themselves who faced the dltf1-
culties and surmounted them--contrast
the subject of this sketch with his an
cestors. The same energy, will power
and perseverance are seen, but applied
in different directions and to different
conditions-and in this connection it
may be stated that it is a matter, which,
when considered in its true light as bear
ing upon the present state of affairs in
this magnificent country, is Of the first
Importance that the names and achieve
ments of the early spirits who subdued
and civilized this territory should not be
lost sight of, or lightly passed by III
any work or which attempts to do justice
Aside from the current Of events
which mark the development of this sec,
ton. there arise III the foreground a
number of leading and noteworthy char
acters whose lives are inseparably woven
into the early epochs Of this country.
The data at hand regarding these pio-
neers is very meagre, but enough is seen
to know that the name of Belamy was
one of the most prominent III those trou-
blesome times. The native savageS
roalned over the country at will while
the most dangerous and daring pirates
infested the seacoast. 1t was then that
men of iron and nerve and force were
needed to establish a government whose
laws should be enforced and obeyed.
Those heroic men of early days We're
carving better perhaps than they knew
and very few indeed are the people
now living who can, as the subject of
this sketch, trace their ancestors back
to these self-sacrihcing men whose devo-
ton and bravery first opened this country
to civilization. How remarkable it is