The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-11-07
MRS|MMONS |SPEECH.
Standardized Responds to
Call From People.
He Thanked the People For The Honor Confer
red Upon Vim and Pledges Himself to
Defense Of The Amendment.

Last night at about 1890 o'clock,
large crowd, with Wright's Raleigh band,
gathered on the corner of Fayetteville
and Martin streets, and called repeatedly
for Mr.. Simmons, the choice of the peo-
pie for United States Senator from North
Carolina. Finally Mr.. Simmons appear
ed on one of the balconies of the Tucker
building and made a very appropriate
impromptu speech, expressing his thanks
for the honor conferred upon him. He
was frequently interrupted by bursts of
applause His speech was graceful and
becomingly modest. AS soon as the APP
plause had subsidized enough to allow him
to be heard. he said:
my friends and fellow citizens: l
thank you for this splendid demonstra-
ton. / am deeply grateful to my friends
in this city and in this county, and all
over North Carolina, for the efforts they
have this day made in my behalf 1t has
been said, and truthfully said, there is
no language adequate to express the
gratitude of the heart. l can only say
to you and to them l am grateful, pro-
foundry and sincerely grateful.
1.-THE Senatorial fight has been sharp
one. Much feeling has been displayed
and some bitterness has been engender
ed Doubtless both sides have said things
that had better have been left unsaid.
If my friends have said anything that
ought not to have been said, I regret it
and l am sure they regret it. Some
hard things have been said about me. /
will try to forgive them, though l may
be unable to forget them. We all belong
to the same household; We are brethren.
Now that the fight is over, it behooves
us to close up the ranks and get to-
gether. Cease fighting each other; cease
complaining; cease ordinations and re-
ordinations, and get ready for the next
fight against the common enemy. In
peal for harmony. Let us bury our diff
ferences and forget our dissensions and
present a solid front.
mo man ever had truer and more loyal
friends than l have had in this contest.
Not only in this city and county, but in
every county in the State. They have
worked hard for me; they have given
their time; they have made sacrifices;
they have worked earnestly and intelli
gently. The result is a majority suffi-
GENTLY large, not only to crafty me- but
to vindicate me against any slur that may
have been cast against me in t;Aoj heat
of the contest Advices received ipdil
cate that my majority will exceeds fifty
thousand, and it has been my ambition
all along to win by as big a majority as
you gave Aycock in August. 1t may not
quite reach $4,000, which was his ma
jority, but it will not fall far short of it.
1t is enough and / am satisfied.
al a.
gether satisfactory 1t may be that we
have lost our great leader. do not yet
dispair, but the news fills me with doubt
and mar the Joy l feel in my personal
triumph. If we have lost Mr.. Bryan, it
is a National loss, and to the Democrats
of North Carolina who have supported
him so earnestly and so loyalty it is a
personal loss as well. What a grand
thing it would have been to have elected
this great man and champion of the
people President of the United States.
My term as Senator will extend for six
years from next March and, if We have
lost Mr.. Bryan and the boys have 10
cool their toes for the next four years,
at the end of that time, beyond all doubt,
we will elect our President and I will
have two years more, and then we will
take possession of the places that are
filled by the enemy.
Information received from several Con-
gressional districts indicate that we have
elected at least eight out Of the nine
Congressman. l hope we have elected all
nine. But, however, that may be, with
eight members in Congress and one
Senator in the Senate, the white people
of North Carolina may feel assured that
if the amendment which we have passed,
either it or our party shall be attacked,
we will not have to go to other States
TO find a champion, as we did when we
| were attacked in the Senate in the early
spring of the present year.
my friends. l am too full for utterance.
l don't mean my stomach is too full, but
| that my heart is too full
again thanking you for this demonstra
| ton and for the splendid efforts you have
put forth this day in my behalf and in
| behalf of Democracy, 1 bid you good
NIGHT -