The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-08-04
ing time to the music Of the eternal
morn"
-, 49, ,r -. n1o


MORN"
SPEECH OF COL. r. NJ. ARGO.
At the close of his remarks Mr.. Pou
introduced Col. II. NJ. Argo, Of Raleigh,
and for am hour Col. Argo held his au-
dience by his splendid eloquence and
cogent reasoning. He spoke of the sub
lime heroism of the dead and the yet
mere sublime heroism of the living sol
dier. He raid to the women Of the
South a magnificent tribute for the sacri-
fee that knew mo limits, for the courage
that endured the heartbreak of waiting
without muTmur.
The speaker then passed to the ne
cessity of perpetuating the principles for
which the South contendesi and the ur-
gent need of securing good government
for the future. Greater dangers threat
en- now. he said, than 1S60-61. Then
hut one form of property was ieopar.
died, now all forms are in danger. I'VE
are at the mercy of ignorance, corrup-
ton and irresponsible greed. The pub
lie service is regarded as means of
private gain simply and not as estab-
lished for the good of the people. The
public treasury is field for plumber
people for the public welfare.
1T is against Gods ordination for
superiority to sulSnit to the oppressive
dominance of inferiority and the sooner
that fact is recognized the better for
the public peace and order. Energy,
thrift and industry are the victims of
idleness, imTrudence and Incidence. The
impeeuniCus pauper votes the taxes, the
mass of the ignorant voters consti-
tute the stock in trade of the unscrupu-
lolts iemagogue and place-hunter which
he uses to put himself in places of power
where he may mis-rule and plumber at
viii. These are some of the evils which
it behooyes every good citizen TO ut
tempt to remedy. How shall it be done?
Fortunately the people have now before
them for their adoption or rejection
a measure which, if they duly ratify
it, will go far TO furnish an effective
remedy. THE FIRST STEP is THE
PURIFIOATI0N OF THE EIIECTO-
RATE.
Col. Argo came out squarely and
strongly for the Constitutional Amend.
mcnt, speaking for himself as citi-
zen. He made it plain that the workings
of the law would not disfranchise any
white man whom he declared to be able,
whether he could read or not, to think
and act for the best interests of the
State by reason of his associations and
his long training as citizen. The
negro, on the other hand, hacking these
advantages of association and train
ing, could not even il endowed with
equal mental power act with equal wis
dom. lie declared that the amendment.
III his opinion, was constitutional and
would be so held by the United States
Supreme Court lie impressed it upon
all that it was the means by which the
superiority Of intellect of the Anglo
Saxon would preserve intact the princi-
Pies Of gogegnment laid down by the
fathers
Il he speaker replied to those who claim
that section >, will be declared unconsti-
tutional, leaving section ! in force This
could net be SO for the sections were
connected in subject matter and relate
to the same subject and the Legislature
would not have passed one without
passing the other: section 5 was merely
a Trcyiso of section 4. This Col. Argo
elaborated with the lticilness and force
W. NAiAh ITS IlltIllS are tD
we'll known.
Col. Argos speech was a clear, force
full and talanswerabe exposition of the
question for the amendment and was en-
Enthusiastically received. lie closed with
an eloquent peroration on the duties OF
the citizen 10 the State.
A feature of the day was an abur.
dant and elegant dinner served on the
lawn to all Corners, with true JohhstoA
county hospitality.
OFFICERS ELECTED.
At the meeting Of the veterans the
following officers were elected for tfl1
ensuing year:
). 5. Powell, colonel
". Richardson, lieutenant colonel.
H. Il. Watson, major.
W. \. Rose, Jr., adjutant.
j. Raines, quartermaster.
j. III. Parker, buger.
5. Ii. Bradley, chaplain.
IL. b. HARDY.