The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-09-16

than go there pledged to the support of
a measure he believed to be unconstitu-
tionaI. He was poor, and possibly ambit-
ious but he was honest then, and he is
now.
In 1898, when North Carolina was the
most damnabIy governed State in the
whole Union when there were more ne
groes in office in our State than in all the
other States in the Union combined;
when nearly all the white men in office
were placed there by the negroes
and in spite of overwhelming white
majorities; when the white people were
still torn and divided by class feeling
and bitter disagreements until reason had
we'll nigh been dethroned in North Caro-
lima the Democratic party selected Mr..
Simmons as its official head by electing
him chairman of the State Executive
Committee From then until now he has
been the unquestioned leader of the
white people of our State who are op-
posed to negro government AND OF
THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN THE PRlN-
CIPLES OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY
AS ENUNCIATED IN ITS NATIONAL
PLATFORM. 1t required ability TO Lead
the Democratic party through this Crisis
in cur States history. An unWise man as
our leader would have intensified class
feeling and put off the day of our coming
together until our civilization would have
been destroyed Mr. Simmons led wisely
His foes have never charged him with
a mistake. Immediately upon his asSun-
ing the duties of the craftsmanship he
commenced to skilfully pursue policies
which rapidly brought the white people
together without regard to class, or con-
dition in life; he was wise enough and
strong enough to let every either ques-
tion be in allegiance and to focus all the
courage, intellect and character of the
white race upon the paramount question
of white supremacy.
He not only pointed out the way and
perfected the most perfect political Or
ganization which has ever existed in
Southern State, but he directed the great
political battle on every field of the cam
paign He not only organized our forces,
BUT BY COMMON CONSENT SHAPED
AND GUIDED OUR POLICIES. He
gathered the facts and figures for the
arguments against fusion rule, and every
speaker and editor in the State can
testify to the lawyer-like, logical method
and arrangement with which he and his
assistants at headquarters furnished the
testimony for the plaintiff in the great
action in politics, which the Democratic
party instituted against the fusionists Tor
White Supremacy. The facts and proof
furnished by him were never proven in
correct in any instance, and the press ana
local speakers everywhere used them
with perfect confidence. Knowing the
great power of the press and printed mat
ter, he distributed more newspapers
tracts, circulars, pictures and other print
cd matter than ever before went out
from the headquarters of political COM
mittee in this State He was the author
Of much of this literature 1t was superb
ly written when he wrote it, and l espe-
cially dr~re to call attention to the force
and cIeSNness with which he writes. In
both camraigns Mr. Simmons, though
burdened with the great weight or the
duties of the craftsmanship, made many
| speeches in all parts of the State ana
they were powerful appeals to the Judg-
ment and conscience of North CarOlinians
He did possibly more than any other man
| to awaken that great courage exhibited
| nv our people in both campaigns. When
| danger surrounded us we all wanted 10
! hear what Mr. Simmons said; and When
L
he defed their threats of Federal troops
and Federal Courts, with the courage Oh
our ancestors we marched on. In the two
campaigns he furnished more courage ana
! gathered and gave more money, more
facts. more literature, more hours OF
Itedious work and thought than any OF the
! splendid and patriotic workers IN Che
cause Through the two campaigns ne
never wanted courage and he never erreu
| in policy or organization. his ADVICE
was more influential than any other man
in drawing and perfecting the ConSutu-
! tional Amendment, and he wrote the most
powerful argument in favor of the con-
stitutionality of the amendment we nave
ever read or heard spoken His ADVICE
! was valuable and influential in framing
the excellent election law under Whlch
the last election was held. He mas Done
much for our State, but do not THINK the
Senatorship ought ito be given ITO any man
as a pension. We ought not to pesto"
the Senatorship as reward Tor parNy
service. or for noble exhibition OF gener-
osity to worthy institutions and gooC
causes, or for service in the civil war
A man who would ask ITO be elected TO the
Senate for such reasons alone is mol
great enough for the position. But we
favor the election of Mr. Simmons be-
cause we believe, judging from the char
acter, ability and patriotism he has al
ready shown that he can be of greater
service to North Carolina in the United
States Senate than any man in our State
The fight over the negro question IN th'
South has been removed from State Y
National politics The National Republic
can platform denounces our amended Con
stitution and the Constitutions OF othe
States. where similar disposition has beer
made of the negro as a voter Our amend
ment and our course in politics for tn
last four years will be assailed by an
great leaders of the Republican party Il
the United States Senate. Who can de
fend us with more courage, logic an
power than Mr.. Simmons the man VIII
led us thrcc IA it all. In our humble judg
ment Mr. Simmons will be invaluable t
the whole South in the Senate upon tn
negro question. And this of ITSELF woul
be sufficient reason for sending him t
the Senate. What a joy it would be t
see Marion Butler out of the Senate wit
, his ISLANDERS of our people, and Mr. Sim
mons there to defend us and himself! II