The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-11-06
The Distinguished Democratic State Chairman Spoke
in Wilmington Last Night.
HE MADE A GRAND SPEECH.
For an Hour and a Half He Discussed the Issues of the Campaign in a
Logical and Eloquent Speech-He Defended the Franchise
Observation-Disclosures Bryan and Beuamy.
Imperialism and Trusts Attacked.

democratic u committee of
North Carolina, arrived in Wilmington
last evening to meet his appointment
to address our citizens on the issues Of
the campaign. He came on the 6 p. m.
train which arrived from the north on
the Atlantic Coast Line. He vas met
at the railway station by Mr. E. F.
Johnson. chairman of the democratic
executive committee of New Hanover
cOutny, Major w. H. Bernard, member
of the state democratic executive COM
mittee, Mr.. w. B. McKoy, secretary of
>she democratic executive committee OF
the Sixth congressional district, ev-
efal members of the county committee
n a number of citizens. They ac-
cOmpanied him to the Orton.
Last night the city was aStir with
citizens. vending their way to h court
house where it had been Mr..
Simmons and Hon. w. c. Dowd, demo-
cratic presidential elector in this dis
trict, would speak to our people on the
issues of the campaign. At 7:30 o'clock
the Second Regiment BAN which had
been engaged for the occasion, turned
out, and, while playing an inspiriting
air, marched from its band room at the
city hall down Princess street to the
corner of Front and Princess streets.
There the band halted. and played sew
eral selections. A big crowd gathered
and IN sight at the Orion were stand
ing the carriages to take Mr.. Simmons
and his escort to the court house. After
the band played a while at the corner
IT marched to the court house in front
of which a bonfire of rOsin barrels
lighted the surrounding neighborhood.
With a big crowd standing around, the
L--l - NJ
n his escort drove up in
two carriages and as they came up the
band rendered a selection in honor Of
the distinguished visitor. In the car
riage with Mr.. Simmons were County
Chairman E. F. Johnson. Mr.. G.. =.
Boney, and B. G.. Empie. Esq. In the
other carriage were Messrs. ]. a. Tay-
Ior. w. B. McKoy. G. Herbert Smith
and John D. Bellamy, Jr.. 3rd. When
the committee escorted Mr.. Simmons
into the court room he was greeted by
applause from an enthusiastic assem-
blage of Wilmington's representative
citizens.
The band followed Mr.. Simmons and
occupied a place in the court room
where other selections were played. In
a few minutes the court house was full
to overlooking, a number of ladies be-
ing in the audience. As was expected,
the court room could not hold the peo-
pie and at least a hundred had to stand
up in the lobby. The crowd that was
present must have numbered eight
hundred.
At S:25 p. m. Chairman Johnson
called the meeting to order. He said
it afforded him pleasure to
that Mr.. Simmons was present to ad-
dress our people, but he regretted to
say that he had received a message
from the Hon. w. c. Dowd. saying that
~ - @;oI--1-- r.. 11,,II -1% h. bnra
Chairman JOhnsO requested the
members of the press to act as secre-
taries of the meeting, after which he
announced hat b. G.. Empie. Esq,
would introduce -he speaker.
Mr.. Empie, who was on the stand
with Mr.. Simmons. arose amid tremen-
dOus applause and cheering. He said
no nan in North Carolina was better
known nor nor more highly appre-
ciated in Wilmington than Mr.. Sim
MONS. and it was a pleasant duty that
had been assigned to him to present
him to his audience. CApplause.) He
then spoke of Mr.. Simmons in an elo-
Ter eulOgy. and stated that he was
here for 10 personal interest but for
the good of the democratic party, for
which he had worked day in and day
out. (Applause.) When Mr.. Empie
closed there was enthusiastic applause
and calls for Mr.. Simmons.
When Mr.. Simmons arose he received
a perfect ovation. There was a cyclone
of applause and cheering. and the dis
tinguished state chairman a to wait
until the demonstration in his honor
subsidized.
SIMMONS SPEECH.
Mr.. began his speech by
greeting the audience as Ladies, gen.
tlemen, my friends and fellow citizens"
He said he would be less than human
not to express his high appreciation Of
the complimentary manner in which
Mr.. Empie had introduced him, and
of the kind reception which the au-
dience gave him.. He said as his voice
was hoarSe, on account of much speak
ing. he would leave out preliminaries,
and enter at one upon a discussion OF
the important issues involved in the
campaign. He said he was here to APP
peal to reason and judgment and not
to the emotions of the people. The
time had been during the campaign for
the franchise amendment to the consti-
tuition that the emotions OF the people
were appealed to, but that time had
passed. He had 10 apology 10 make,
however, for the storm of indignation
hich swept over the state during the
amendment campaign. He neither had
apology or deprication for the cam
paign which gave US white supremacy,
as there was p~rovocation for II. Rather
he would congratulate the white men
of the state upon the restoration of
liberty for white men and white SUI
premacy, as it was accomplished with
so little violence n excess. ZAP
plause.) Revolutions. and ours was a
revolution, whether accomplished by
force or through the ballot. as ours
came, are nearly always attended by
a disturbance of orderly conditions
Now that it was all over. his wish and
prayer was that we return to con-
servatism and good order.
Mr.. Simmons said the validity OF the
amendment adopted in the revolution
is now the embodiment OF law
would in all probability be called IL
question. He did not know whether II
would be carried into the courts Oh
not, but he hoped it would be acceptec
by all parties as a settlement OF tins
problem which it attempts to settle
The republican platform adopted thi:
year, however, assailS the Justice
righteousness and legality OF oul
amendment, n the nominee for vice
president was assailing it on the stump
and whether 1t would be carried befort
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