The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-02-04

Carolina We have a citizenship the equal
of any in the State. The men are noted
for their strength of character, their
tenaclty OF purpose, their devotion for
and confidence in one whom they recog
nize as a friend, and their unfaltering
courage in fighting for their own rights
and for the rights of those who are so
situated that they cannot successfully
battle for themselves. In other words,
they are patriots, and no call of their
country or of their fellow-citizenS has
ever fallen upon deaf ears when address
ed to them. The average citizen is ma
turally a Democrat unless some foreign
cause has changed his makeup or his
mind, for he believes absolutely in the
doctrine of the equality of man and es-
pecially that the Democratic leader in the
West-his idol--is the equal of the leader
in any other section of North Carolina. 1t
is something beautiful to behold-thfs
love Of the common folk for their leader.
and it is marvellous to see how they
glory in the honors conferred upon their
chieftain. and with what dalmtless cOur-
age they labor for his success.
Whenever Eastern North Carolina,
cursed by the rule of the negro race and
suffering the humiliation incident to the
triumph of vice over virtue, ignorance
over intelligence and inferfority over SUI
periority, has sent out the call for help,
right nobly have the brave mountafneers
responded to that call. So IN the last
Legislature when the amendment to the
State Constitution limiting the right OF
suffrage was proposed, whereby THE 1g-
norant and vicious negro vote was to be
eliminated, and the whole State to be re-
deemed from the hands of the desDoilerS,
the West stood I'm solid phalanX ready
to adopt any measure that would save
their brethren of the East and prevent q
recurrence of the dark days of a quarter
of q century ago and of the year 1898.
They recognized that the West world
be the storm center of the fight for the
Amendment. They knew that Pritchard
and his cohorts would practice every art
and cunning Of the politician ON the un-
lettered Democrats of this section, but
rising above every selfish consideration,
they proceeded upon the high ground of
patriotism and committed themselves and
their counties to the measure, and they
are now fighting valiantly for its ratifica-
tom.
This much by way Of preface. Inc
Western mart of the State does not lay
claim to a monopoly of patriotism, OF
PARTY service or anything of that kfnd,
and she has no demand to make OF the
Democratic State convention, but she mas
q claim TO present and one that she thinks
deserves consideration at the hands OF
that convention. The West wants the
Governoship. She wants 1T:
7 4l,a ~ Il n l.
or has not come from this section Of the
State since the lamented Vance LED the
triumphant host of Democracy in 1870,
with the sole exception of Cyrus b. wat
son, who was defeated in 1896, as any
other Democrat would have been. The
West has not furnished the Governor IN
over 20 years.
2nd. The LEGISLATURE elected IN Au-
gust will select successor to senator
Marion Butler. He will be Democrat
and will come from Eastern North Caro-
lima. WouMait not he better for the
Fast and West to- both be represented IN
the distribution isoH these two high OF
fees?
Bird. The adoption of the Amendment,
while it will Ne blessing to the whole
State now and'i the future, yet it wlh
mean the most to the people of the East
ern mart of the State, who have been part
" in bondage for thirty odd years. This, 1t
seems. ought to have the effect OF MAX
ing all sections deal generously with each
other. and especially ought the Dement'S
to re divided rs equally as possible.
4th. The candidate ought to come
from the West because it is here that the
fight will be the hardest against the
Amendment, and the help OF the candl-
date being from this section would be
incalculable. These men love their lead
ers and for one of them to he named
for Governor would be an inspiration TO
every fighter in the ranks.
These are some Of the reasons for ask
ing that the convention go west for a
man to head the ticket. The next i'm
portant question is, WHO should that
leader hep And to that question, there
sboo,ld he hut one answer-1on. Michael
Holt Justice. of Rutherfordton. Senator
J1rstice is known throughout the State.
He Moods mo eulogy from me. His name
;c SYNONYM of honesty, purity and pa
triotism. He is a lawyer by profession
and one of the recognized leaders of the
hoy in this State He is true to his pro-
fession. and during all his years of ser
Woo no suSnicions Of any character rest
unon his name, His practice rs extensive