The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-04-12

Mr.. Chairman and Gentlemen of the Con-
vention:
The language of gratitude ought to
be brief, for inadequacy of speech is
never SO apparent as when it seeks to
convey a sense of obligation. | am
grateful to you and to the people
whom You represent. | cannot tell
you how deeply SO. My past life and
service to the State have so little justi-
fled the great confidence which you
show in me today that / am made
humbly anxious for all the rest of my
life to approve to your Judgment the
action of your affections. This nom
nation has not come to me unsought
but | can say with truth that ! have
sought it in honorable fashion and
IT has come to me free from the taint
of contrivance and combination. For
the office of Governor itself. dignified
and honorable as it is, made glorious
by the records of long line of the
States greatest and best men, | have
not wished, but ] have earnestly de-
sired that manifestation of affection
ON the part of the people OF North Car
olina which finds its expression in
election to the GoyernOrship. This
unanimous nomination is Il Joy to
me, because the goodwill of my fel-
low citizens has ever been a thing of
delight TO me. When / consider the
character, the ability, the service. the
fitness of the gentlemen who were
named in connection with this nomi-
nation. any one of whom would have
done honor 10 the State. l am op-
pressed with the consciousness of my
obligation to you, and with fear of my
inability to meet the demands which
Your kindness makes upon me. But
the fight is not mine, nor shall l claim
the victory when it is won. The con-
test this wear is to be made by the
people of North Carolina and the per-
sonaiity of men will count for little.
The question for settlement is of the
utmost importance. 1t touches the
race question and deals with condi-
tions. For thirty years our political
battles have been fought from time
to time along race lines. while we have
sought in vain to make the theory of
universal suffrage work out good gov
ernment and private virtue. We have
found by. actual trial that it cannot
be done. Senator (ullom tells us in
his report of the Hawaiian Commits
versal suffrage presupposes that the
body of citizens who are to exercise
it in free and independent manner
have by inheritance or education such
knowledge and appreciation of the
responsibilities Of free suffrage and
of a full participation in the So
yereignty of the country as to be able
TO maintain Republican form of gov
ernment.
Our experience has taught us that
the negro has not such knowledge
either by inheritance or education.
The whole people of North Carolina
have undoubtedly come to this conclu-
sion. All parties have in different
ways and to different eXtents recog-
nized the incapacity of the negro for
government. In 1875 the people
changed the Constitution at the in
stance of the Democratic party, and
authorized the Legislature to provide
for the government of the counties.
Under that constitution the Legisla-
ture provided a system of county gov
ernment by which the justices OF the
peace in the various counties were APP
pointed by the Legislature and not
elected by the people. These justices
in turn chose the county commissions
ers who appointed the various school
committees and passed upon the
bonds of the county officers chosen
by the people. The counties of West
ern North Carolina gave up their.
much loved right of local government
in order tol relieve their brethren of
the East from the intolerable burden
of negro government. For twenty
years the Republican party waged I'M
ccasing warfare upon us against the
form of county government adopted
by the Democratic party They APP
pealed to that desire which has al
ways characterized our people to par
ticipate in the selection of the officers
closest to them. When the Populist
party came into existence it Joined
with the Republicans upon this issue
and together they won a victory over
the Democracy. They came into pow
en- with the distinct pledge to restore
to the people local self government
and indeed the act changing the old
system is entitled. can Act to restore
to the people of North Carolina local
self, government" and yet coming in
to power as they did upon this dis
tinct pledge they were afraid to trust
the negro with the government and
put in the statute provision for the
appointment by a Judge of the Super
ior court of two additional county
commissioners. and clothed these two
with more power than the other three
chosen by the people possessed Fear
of negro rule compelled the Republi-
cans and Populists to introduce for
the first time in North Carolina since
the Democratic party abolished it un-
der the leadership of that true heart
ed and great North Caroiinian. Gov
ernor David S. Reid. a government by
free-holders, for this act distinctly
provides that the two additional COM
missioners shall only be appointed
upon the application of 200 citizens.
100 of whom shall be free-holders.
The Republicans and Populists them
selves thereby TO some extent re-
stricted suffrage to those who owned
land in order TO escape from the un-
bearable burden of negro rule in the
Eastern counties. Is there any Re