The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-07-31
THOUSANDS IN THE PARK
But the Speaking There Was Stopped
by the Rain.
CROWD ADJOURNED TO METROPOLITAN
Many Ladies in the Audience. Some Interest
ing Facts About Butler. Mr.. Pou Gives
His Forecast of The Result of
the Election.

The first Democratic speaking in
the city of Raleigh since the campaign
has been well under way took place
last night.
1t began in Nash Square, where
some 1900 or 1000 people were assem-
bled, and ended with a crowded house
at Metropolitan Hall. A rain storm
stopped the speaking in the square
and compelled the crowd and the
speakers to seek shelter in the hall.
The speakers were Hon. E. w. Pou
and Hon. A. L. Brooks. They were
introduced by Judge T. B. Womack.
Both of them made strong, convincing
speeches that were often and loudly
applauded. Their appeals to the peo-
pie to stand by their race and do their
duty ON Thursday were especially
powerful.
Mr.. Pou began by saying that there
were two issues in the campaign, both
made by the fusionists:
1. That the ignorant negro shall
vote.
.. That Butler shall be reelected to
the Senate.
These are the issues, and they are
issues that the Democrats gladly ac
cept."
Discussing the amendment Mr.. Pou
won much applause when he said:
Instead of DISTINGUISHING the ig-
norant negro what do the .Populists
propose? That he be allowed to vote
but not hold office. Oh, they say,
it's all right for Cuffy to vote as long
as he votes for Butler and Cyrus
Thompson and Hal Aver. Just stop
him from holding office and it's all
right. Well hold the Offices
Touching the part of the amend
ment requiring all white men to be
able to read and write after 1908, he
said:
rs it not your duty to give your
child chance to learn to read and
write. even if there was no constitu-
tional amendment? Are you not will
ing to undertake that task in order
to get rid of negro rule? If you are
not | appeal to your wife, and ! have
yet to find the first good Anglo-Saxon
woman who is not willing to under
take it. And my Fusion friend are
you afraid to put your boy i'm the
race for an education with the negro
boy? If you are afraid for your boy
in such a race we'll take care of him.
For 25 years we have taken care of
the negro, we have built institutions
for him and the more kindly we have
treated him the more sOlidly has he
voted against us. Do you think we
are going to always submit to that?
No. The Democratic party ia not made
of that sort of men. We will treat
the white boy justly before we treat
the negro boy generously. The hour
has come-the hour is here when we
are going to educate every white boy
in North Carolina, whether the negro
is educated or not.
eff this thing keeps up, if this OPP
position continues there will be an
other amendment submitted to the
people, and this amendment will be in
these words: That the money paid
by white men shall be devoted to the
education of the white boy,sand the
money paid by the negroes shall go
to the education of the negroes
These sentiments brought forth ire
mendous applause, showing that they
met the entire hearty approval of the
crowd.
At this point drops of rain began to
fall from the cloud that had been
forming for sometime, and Mr.. Pou
announced that the speaking would
be continued in Metropolitan Hall.
Hardly had he spoken the words be-
fore the rain was coming down in
earnest, and the people were fleeing
in every direction from the park.
Many, especially the ladies present,
were running toward their homes.
The most of the crowd, however,
turned in Martin street, and ran
laughing and shouting toward the
hall. When they arrived, dripping
with rain and damp with perspiration.
they found the hall dark, and had
some difficulty in getting in. 1t was
good-natured crowd, however, deter
mined to hear speaking, and SO they
waited for the doors to be opened
and the light turned on, then they
streamed in until the last seat was Ia
ken and most of the standing room
taken.
In making the change they had lost
none of their enthusiasm, so when the
speakers appeared they were given an
ovation and the strong points in the
speeches were heartily cheered.
Resuming Mr.. Pou paid his respects
to Senator Butler. The time had
come, he said, to call a spade spade
and he proposed to do so.
who is man Butler. Who is this
man whose election they say is more
important than anything else? Who
is this man that puts up and takes,
down candidates on the State ticket?
Butler has never in his life been true
to any cause or to any man to whom
he pretended to be friend. In 1892
he told the Democratic convention
that if it would nominate Elias Carr.
his people would support him solidly.
1T wasn't three weeks before he had
orr another candidate
Mr.. Pou told of Buffers falsity to
Pritchard in the Senatorial fight and
his overtures to the Democrats, and
now, when he failed to trade with
trem, he sold out to the Republicans.
I'VE find him now in this State be-