The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1900-07-26
Erred l.. Merritt, in Raleigh News and Observer.)

terfere with registrars in their lawful con
duet i'll the discharge of their duty will
fail everywhere in the State, as it has
, failed here.
THAT the duties of the registrars are
plain and they must follow the law and
in their lawful conduct in the discharge
OF their duty they will have the support
OF every true citizen against every effort
from whatever source it may come, to
intimidate and coerce them to register
illegal voters. They must and will have
the support of every white man in North
Carolina who loves his State and his
home more than office purchased at the
price OF treason to his race
The reading of these resolutions
was frequently interrupted by APP
plause and when Mr.. Eller had finish
ed reading, the crowd, with a tre-
mendous shout, adopted them by a
rising vote.
The cheering lasted for nearly a
minute, then ended only to be re-
newed when Mr.. Manly rose to intro
duce General Ransom, the speaker of
the day. 'sIn deeds, which have made
the history of our native State for the
past fifty years. said Mr.. Manly, "he
has been conspicuous factor, and in
those achievements of war and peace
which have added to the annals of
her fame, he has borne his part with
honor and fidelity. Was the call of
his country the trumpet cry to arms9
he answered it's clarion note with his
body in the thick of many bloody
fray, winning by wisdom and courage
the right to command soldiers who
fought with Lee. Was the call of his
country, the cry of its people tram
pied beneath the iron heel of recon-
struction? he offered all he had to the
State, with untiring zeal devoting his
life to her service and with voice
eloquent and inspiring, kindling in
every section the fires of patriotism
and giving the light of hope and con-
tidence again to her people. Was the
call of his country the demand of the
State to represent her in the counsels
of the nation? he answered, twenty
four years of life were spent in the
National Senate serving his people,
using his commanding influence in
the re-adjustment of the rights of the
South, in upholding the honor and
dignity of his State and honorablv
restoring her to her place in the
Union.
again comes the call of his coun-
try, and again he answers, now, full
of years and wisdom in the glory and
splendor of his manhood the first
citizen of the Commonwealth, the
noblest Roman of them all. (Ap-
plause.) His country calls in this
crisis of the infant century when the
mighty and controlling questions are
presented: Shall we protect our civil
ization and the honor and integrity of
our race? Shall we permit the rights
of a sovereign State and the liberties
of her citizens to be trampled on by a
conspiracy of Federal ctiice-holders? !?
Ransom has come to answer. Let us
hear him
General Ransom was accorded an
ovation that must have done his heart
good. When the applause had dwin-
died down to desultory clapping, he
thanked his hearers for the honor
they had done him, referred with
pleasure to the fact that the two
registrars, Thompson and Wall, who
had recently been arrested were sit
ting on the platform by him, and
spoke as above quoted of the action of
the Radicals in regard to them.
Il am glad" he added, "that am
here to-day to unite with you in pro-
testing against such high-handed
measures. A great wrong has been
done these men, an objectionable in
suit has been offered to these people.
I'd like to be able to characterize it as
it deserves. (Applause.)
Then he related the circumstances
of the arrest, described the mockery
of trial that was held, showed how
it was all done through Federal
officers, men who did not derive their
power from the people and who were
in no wise responsible to the people,
or in sympathy with them.
"What has brought us here?" he
cried 1--WE are here to stamp into
the dust this effort to destroy free
government in North Carolina. These
things that have been done here
during the past week are no trifles.
1t is an effort to interfere with the
freedom of elections in North Caro-
lima, and they have interfered with
| them as far as they are able. They
have gone to the very fountain head
Of your government: they have gone
to the man who registers the voter
and tried to dictate to him whom he
shall register and whom he shall no,
register.
, What is our government worth,
what are your free institutions worth,
il they can thus go to the custodian
Of your ballot, and tell him his duty
Is that law? Before God it is not
This is a government of the people,
for the people and by the people, not
by Federal officers and revenue doc.
dlers.
Il am glad you have come up here
to-day to protest against it. Such q
demonstration as this gives me faith
in the people Of North Carolina, .
faith somewhat akin to that | have in
the Great Being above.
No worse crime than this YOU
have just had here is complained o
in the Declaration of independence
What is the difference in putting
your hand in the ballot-box and tax
| ing out the ballots cast Or putting in
those never cast and in saying who
shall or who shall not cast them?