The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1900-04-19

women is dependent upon it. Ladies
refugeed from Wilmington in 1898 as
they did before Sherman in 1865.
The county in which we are assembled
is named in honor Of woman, Esther
Wake. The city in which we are is
named for that gallant gentleman
whose most famous act among his
many great and illustrious deeds is
that he spread his cloak upon the
ground in order that his queen might
walk dry shod. In North Carolina in
every home there is a queen, wife.
sister, mother or daughter, and in
her name demand your allegiance
and service. 1t is by no accident that
the first child born OF English parent
age in America was born on North
Carolina soil and was girl-the
event was both prophecy and an in
spiration-a prophecy in foretelling
that modesty which, characterizing
North Carolinians, has found its chief
pleasure in doing things rather than
in proclaiming them when done-an
inspiration to all North Carolina
white men to forever regard the pro-
lection of the womanhood of the
State as the first duty which God, in
the birth Of Virginia Dare, laid upon
us for all time.
In the performance Of this delight
full duty, the North Carolina Democ-
racy claims no monopoly, but is will
ing and anxious to share with our
Republican and Populist friends the
glory Of achieving it by establishing
permanently White Supremacy-there
is work for us all and in the language
OF Admiral Schley. glory enough to
go all around. II the Democratic
party has seen with quicker, clearer
vision the necessity for this amend
ment than either of the other parties,
the fact has grown out OF environ
ment and gives us no right to boast
over those OF our race belonging to
other parties who seeing it now, shall
join with us in perfecting the good
work. Let the adoption Of the amend
ment furnish us the occasion for a
better understanding one with another
and while restoring to white men the
rightful superiority which God gave
them, let us in the assurance of bet
ter government learn, not liberation
only, but respect as well for the views
of those opposing us. In coming to-
gether for the common good we shall
forget the asperities Of past years and
shall 60 forward into the goth century
a united people, striving with zeal
and generous rivalry for the material,
intellectual and moral upbuiiding Of
the State. May the era of good feel
ing among us be the outcome Of this
contest. Then we shall learn, il we
do not already know, that while uni
versal suffrage is failure universal
justice is the perpetual decree OF
Almighty God, and that we are en-
trusted with power not for our good
alone, but for the negro as we'll. We
hold our title to power by the tenure
of service to God, and If we fail to
administer equal and exact justice to
the negro whom we deprive of suf-
frage we shall in the fullness OF time
lose power ourselves, for we must
hnow that the God who is Love trusts
no people with authority for the pur-
pose Of enabling them to do injustice
to the weak. We do well to rejoice
in our strength and to take delight in
our power, but we will do better still
! when we come full to know that our
right to rule has been transmitted to
US by our fathers through centuries
of toll and sacrifice, suffering and
death-and their work through all
| these centuries had been striving to
execute judgment and righteousness.
That must likewise be our aim; that
our labor. Can you wonder. then,
my friends, that feel weighed down
by the honor which you have done
mee The task is great and / am
weak. To be the first Governor Of
North Carolina under the new order
in the State may bring honor, but it
may bring the disgrace Of failing
rightly to interpret and adequately to
express the high ideals and the noble
purposes which | am certain thrill
the hearts of North Caroliniaps as the
sun OF the goth century begins to
brighten the Eastern skies. The
morning of the New Century calls.
There is work to be done-the old.
old combat between freedom and force
is even now upon us and the mighty
roar of traffic and industry cannot
drown the tremendous din OF the con-
flict. Our industries are to be multi
piled, our commerce increased. We
are to have an educational awakening
that shall reach every son and daugh
ter OF North Carolina. We may not
grow in numbers as rapidly as some
| at Lat k.1 Il Il
many times the effective power Of
the State in the next ten years by the
strength which comes from the wide
diffusion Of knowledge.
1t is my happiness to have been
nominated by you for the Governor
ship of that State in which these
I things are to be done. | shall come
to that great Office. if elected, with an
honest desire to serve faithfully and
well. | shall have no enemies to pun
ish and no private ends TO gain. ]
shall be the servant Of the whole peo-
pie of the State-arc YOU rich and
powerful, then | shall meet you as
your equal, for surely he who has
garnered this harvest OF hearts has a
goodly heritage and possesses power
which only folly can dissipate-are
you poor, still / am your equal, pos
sessing no other riches than the love
Of my friends. l shall respect the
rights of property and rejoice in pros
perity, but l shall not forget that
they who toll constitute not only the
/. largest class of our people, but from
their labors can spare little time to
. urge their views upon those whom
they have chosen TO serve them.