The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-08-17
THE AMENDMENT AND TICKET
The Former Honestly adopted High
Personnel of state Ticket Elected

The election last week was a land
slide, the majority for the democratic
candidates exceeding the expectations
of the most optimistic members of the
party. The writer had expected demo-
cratic victory Eve since the amend
ment was proposed, but it did not occur
to US that the majority could possibly
exceed 10000. Perhaps it is we'll that
the majority is so large; it indicates
that the victory was not won by ballot
box stuffing because the majority is
still heavy after allowing for the alleg-
ed COUNTING frauds in the east.
1t may be we'll to take a glance at
the men who compose the triumphant
state ticket 1t is gratifying to note
tha nearly all the candidates this year
on both tickets We're men Of excellent
character and there has been little
mud-singing in this campaign. The
newly elected state officials are capable
and conservative gentlemen, and every
one who loves his state. regardless Of
party, should be proud of this fact.
Our next governor. Hon c. 3. Ay-
cock, is a high-toned Christian gentle
man of courage and ability. He is not
a man of violent prejudice or of bit
terness toward those that disagree with
him, and as governor he will doubtless
Pun dulSIillcu dill IL i pOl-
icy. The. extract from his speech of ac-
ceptance given in our Thinkers depart
ment indicates a broad and generous
spirit oward his political opponents
n tOwar the negro
The next secretary of state, Col. J.
Bryan Grimes. is an excellent business
man, a large farmer and president of
the State Tobacco Growers Associa-
ton. He is we'll qualified for the office.
The next state treasurer. Mr.. E. r.
Lacy, and the auditor-elect, DR.. 3. T.
Dixon. are men of ability and excellent
character, who, We predict, will fill
these positions with credit TO them
selves and to the state. Mr.. Lacy has
been engineer, public official and bank
er; Mr.. Dixon has been minister, teach
er, politician, editor. military ma and
physician also W. believe.
The only editor OF the ticket is Mr..
H. b. Warmer, for commissioner of la
Dor and printing. This will be, we
think, his first public office, but a sue
cessful editor should fill it satisfacto-
rily.
Mr.. s. l.. Patterson. as commissioner
of agriculture, has served the public
ably n conscientiously, and Messrs.
Rogers and Mcneil. as railroad COM
missioners, have shown a desire to be
just to railroads and public alike.
OF the gentlemen who have been
elected to fill the positions of lieuten-
ant governor, attorney general, and
superintendent of public instructions,
respectively, We know little. The last
named is a position second only in i'm
p~ortance to that of governor now that
every child coming of age after 1908
must be able to read and write; and if
Mr.. TOOn brings to it ability, enterprise
n genuine sympathy for all move
mepts looking to the promotion of pub
liz a611nn tjnn hn will oIrn fhn ax-orInc+
ing gratitude of the people, while a
failure in his position would De doubly
conspicuous by reason of it's increased
Importance and the ability of the pres
ent
But the adoption of the constitution
al amendment was a matter Of supreme
Importance before which these other
matters pale into insignificance. The
people had grown tired of trading and
trafficking in office on the basis of a
solid negro vote and had grown eve
more weary of the existence of the ne
gro question in politics to the exclusion
of other issues that vitality affect our
welfare. Whatever has been aid or
may be said, these are the things that
made the amendment popular. OF
course there are thousands of good
white men that saw in it no proper
remedy for this state of affairs, and
the victOrS should cheerfully and cour-
teously grant them the right to this
opinion and forget the abuse and cpl
thets of the campaign. Let us have
peace.
We predict that voters will now heal
no more of the cry that the GRANDPA
Their clause may be knocked out, leav-
ing the remaining sections in force, OIL
of the disfranchisement of any whites
over IL years of g because of lift
! eracy. But the people must buckle
dOwn to hard, u~nceaSing work for bet.
ter public schools. In this We are sure
1 they will be ably assisted by the gov
/ ernor-elect and other influential men
-Proor~aSSivo Eo INTO