The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-08-17
THE BANNERS PRESENTED
Mayor waddeI1 in an Eloquent speech
Last Might, and the White SUI
premacy Banner { the Clubs of h
First, Third and Fffth Wards

According to the programme, the
white supremacy banners offered by
the democratic county executive ccm-
mittee to the wards making the best
record In the election August = were
presented last night to the white u
Fifth wards. x
The preSentation did not take place
at the fremen's grand stand on Mar
ket street. for 1t had been torn down
asst Saturday, but IL was done in a
more admirable place. II took place
from the portico Of the handsome resi-
dence Of Mr.. B.. II. j. Ahrens, Oately
the David residence). on Seventh and
Market streets.
Members Of the clubs were in attend
ance and there was present an audi
ence OF about 200. including a number
Of Wilmington's lovely daughters.
Col. Waddell. by invitation, deliver
ed the banners and as usual made an
ornate and eloquent, though brief
speech In his opening remarks he
said:
Ladies and fellow citizens:
I'm the course Of my travels through
out this state during the past eighteen
months / found that 1t was the al
most unanimous opinion that to the
people OF Wilmington more than to
| any others was due the credit OF n
great victory 1898, by which a demo-
cratic legislature was secured that
submitted to the people the constitu-
ional amendment, which abs been
adopted. 1t was generally conceded
wherever 1 went that the first and
west powerful impulse TO the move
mnet which resulted in our political
salvation, and without which il would
probably not nave been obtained, was
given here. The only persons who do
not freely acknowledge his fact are
those who have a political axe to
grind for themselves or a friend, and
who fear that an acknowledgment Of
the truth might interfere with that
operation. The tribute thus paid to the
people of this city by their fellow-citi-
Zens throughout the state was in every
instance a voluntary one, and was
appreciated accordingly by me. as l
know it will be by you. We did our
duty at least, and we did it again on
the first Thursday of tbs month, and
we are satisfied with the result of our
conduct on both OCCASIONS.
cit is a source of profound satisfac-
ton to me that there has been no noisy
demonstration of rejoicing, and no ex-
hibiton of a triumphant spirit among
the people of North Carolina over the
result of the recent election. Such a
display would not have reflected the
real sentiment which pervaded the
public mind. That sentiment was one
of sincere thankfulness for delverance
from greater than any that
have befallen us since our great war,
and it would have been degraded by
an empty show of mere partisan tri-
umph- The true attitude of our people
has beer fittingly displayed, I think by
h manly and digniied u~tIerances OF
the press of North Carolina since thu
election. We rejoice. it is true, not be-
cause we have won a great and un-
prcedented victory over a political foe
but because the perils which encom.
passed us have happily disappeared
because the race problem which IA.
for a quarter of a century arrested
progress, paralyZed industry, pre-
vented immigration, and endangered
the peace and good order OF societ,
has been finally solved. and we are n,
longer handicapped in the race of civil
ization, but free to work out our owl
salvation in our own way. / repea
that the negro question as a poltica
issue, like the great moss of the voter
of that race, was eliminated from
North Carolina politics on the frs
Thursday in August, and any attemp
to revive it would be in my opinion a.
act of injustice and demagogic imbe
cility.
"a great responsibility rests upon tn
democratic party of his state nov
that they have secured absolute con
troll of the executive n legislative de
partments. and of nearly all the muni
cipal governments. If that RESPONSE
, bility is faithfully discharged, as a
previous ones ave been. the day is We
distant when any other party can hop
to Supplant it. Such differences as wi
5 arise will be differences between tn
white men of the state. and the neces
sity which has heretofore compelle
them to stand together in ~self-defens
will no longer exist. Verify, We hay
cause for gratitude, and we will be-
testify it by striving to prove ourselve
worthy to enjoy the blessings of goo
4 government which we have at last 81
cured, through such toll and tribulatio
as have rarely befallen an Angie
? Saxon commonwealth"
After giving utterance to the abov
: Colonel WaddelL with appropriate II
! marks, complimenting the clubs al
their record in the campaign, pr,
Sente6 the ms heretofore deScrit
. by The Messenger The banner give
q to the first ward was for the large.
democratic gain and the best all roun
S SOOo YIN bidS liIC lin II
the largest democratic vote in propol
e ton to the registered vote; and tn
to the Fifth ward for the largest den
s ocratic majority.
Throughout his speech Colonel Wat
( dell received enthusiastic applaus
= and there was yelling and the tappir
of a drum.
State Senator Geo. L. Norton r,
ceived the banner for the First war
Congressman John d. Bellamy that f.
b Third ward, and Captain j. J
q MCGOWAN for the Fifth ward. The
Is made brief and appropriate speech.
r that called forth the most hearty al
plause.
al After the presentation the clubs an
It the audience dispersed
. rr':-ONAL MENTION.