The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-11-02
A BIG MASS MEETING
Resolutions Endorsing Mr..
Simmons Candidacy.
Citizens Ct His Former Home Gather to Expvss
Their Convictions to the Democratic
Voters If the State.
Especial to News and observer.)

lSpeclaI TO news anu ODSeTVeT.J
New Bern, N c., November IA mass
meeting of Democrats who favor Hon.
f. NJ Simmons for Senator was held at
the court house in this city tonight.
Every available space was occupied and
people were compelled to stay on the out
side so dense was the crowd. 1t is esti-
mated that more than a thousand people
were present. 1t was a tremendous out
pouring in favor of Simmons, and if any
man doubts the sentiments of the Demo
Gratis of New Bern and Craven county
with respect to the Senatorial contest he
should have been present at the meeting
tonight and his doubts would have been
most thoroughly removed. The meeting
was called to order by Mr.. Romulus A.
Num-, who, in a brief speech stated the
object of the gathering, and called Mr.. c.
t. Watson to the chair. A committee was
appointed, consisting of two members
from each ward to draw up resolutions
expressing the sentiment of the meeting
After some time the following were re-
ported and adopted:
Resolved: We the Democrats of the
city of New Bern, in mass meeting as
sembled, desiring to voice our true
sentiments to the people of North Caro-
lima, in the selection of a Senator in the
coming primaries, and especially to use
this occasion as a means of transmitting
our honest convictions to the Democratic
voters of the State, as our only newspaper
is the organ of the opposition in the Sen
atorial contest and especially as through
this organ false impression is created
concerning our choice for Senator,
Resolved, That in the Hon. T. M.
Simmons we have ever found an honest
and noble townsman, a gentleman of un
Improbable character, lawyer brilliant,
able and conscientious and a statesman
unexcelled in ability and love for his ma
tive land. We have known him as
youth, entering upon his chosen profess
sion at time, when our community was,
as it has ever been, the seat of profess
sional ability and eloouence. We have
watched him surrounding all obstacles,
rise to the top of a great profession. We
have seen him enter congressional race
in our district at time when the enemy
was supposed to be too strong to conquer,
and through his magnificent ability, take
his victorious seat on the Democratic side
of the congressional hall. We point with
love and pride to his great achievements
for his State and section during the term
in which he so brilliantly maintained his
growing repute, and we remember in that
brilliant congressional term his heroic
fight for the farmers of our State against
that trust, whose powerful hand snatched
from him his second merited term. And
with unstinted gratitude and highest adj
miration we remember his glorious and
courageous fight against an allied force
in 1898, deemed by many too powerful for
defeat, and recall his matchless victory
with fervent thanksgiving AS Democrats
and white men we have enshrined him in
our hearts for the establishment of
perpetual supremacy of white man
hood in North Carolina, and for the
total political annihiliation of ignor-
ance and vice. We are thankful to him
for erasing Butlerism from the pages of
our history, and for offering to the DEM
ocratic party that seat in the Senate of
the United States, which for so many
years had brought ignonimy and shame
upon the fair name of our beloved State.
1t is with feelings of deepest regret that
his Senatorial aspirations should have
called forth ingratitude and abuse from
the party he loves so well, and for which
he has striven SO nightly, that in justice
to him we are called to denounce that
abuse as untrue, unjust and ungrateful.
We especially deplore that in the grave of
our beloved and revered Vance, evidence
twas sought of POLITICAL difference exist
ing during short period of his life, while
we who know our leader best, bear testi-
mony of the living to his upright unfair
nished personal character, and eminent
fitness for the highest office in the gift of
a people.
Resolved, That we as Democrats of the
city of New Bern, in meeting assembled,
assured in fact, that we are the repre-
sentatves of ninety-fiye per cent of the
sentiment of Craven county do publish to
North Carolina, the fealty, loyalty, love
and gratitude we bear f. M. Simmons,
and do assure him that evidence Of that
admiration shall be produced at the polls
on November 9Th, and we call upon our
Democratic brethren in North Carolina to
aid his former home in rebuking his ma
ligners and in placing him in that seat of
honor, which he has emptied through his
magnificent manhood. And be it further
Resolved, That this resolution be
transmitted to such State papers as the
committee shall find expedient.'
While the committee on resolutions
were out, speeches were made by Messrs