The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1900-04-10
So Declares Wake County
Democrats
IN THEIR CONVENTION
They Favor a Primary For United
States Senator
AND WANT LONGER PUBLIC SCHOOLS
A Splendid Speech on The Amendment by State
Chairman Simmons. Delegates sp-
pointed 10 State ard Con-
gressionaI Conventions.
gressionaI Conventions.

gressionaI Conventions.
From Sundays News and Observer
Harmony, determination and enthu-
siasm characterized the meeting OF
Wake county Democrats in this cat.
yesterday.
No county convention has ever met
here that was composed OF better and
more representative men.
They transacted the business that
they were sent to do in an orderly
manner and when that was done they
stopped.
In the resolutions adopted they de
fined clearly and forcibly their posi-
ton in the coming campaign and in
yited all who favor good government
and White Supremacy in Wake county
and North Carolina TO join them.
And through it all there ran 81
strong current Of that determination
which knows no opposition that 1t
cannot overcome. and an enthusiasm
that BODIES no good for those seekiH,,
to perpetuate negro rule in the State.
The most perfect harmony and good
feeling prevailed. and there was rot
an incident of any sort to mar the
pleasure OF the convention.
Though not so largely attended as
some others. it was altogether. one
Of the best and most suspicious as
semblages of Wake Democrats held
in many Years: and a fitting climax
to the proceedings was the able and
eloquent speech of State Chairman
Simmons on the proposed Constitu-
tiOnal Amendment.
The convention didn't begin exactly
on time-conventiOns never do.
Noon was the hOur set, bat the
hands Of the clock had folded them
selves together over the MI mark on
the dial and the minute hand had tray
eled q quarter OF the distance around
again before County Chairman Jones
raped for order.
Mr.. Josephus Daniels was called to
the chair as temporary chairman and
Mr.. G. c. Mcdonald was asked to act
as secretary.
On assuming the @avel Mr.. Daniels.
after thanking the convention for the
honor. said, among other things:
VANCE AND AYCOCK.
For thirty years, burdened with the
incubus Of the solid negro vote. the De-
macracy Of Wake has had to contest every
foot Of ground. IL 1898, after a reign OF
disagreement. we scaled the hills and
today our county in every department is
in the hands of Democrats. When we
march into the State convention. with the
largest vote Of any county in the State.
and some one says who are those thirty
valiant Democrats, the answer Will be:
These ere they who came up through
great tribulations.'
we are on the eve Of q campaign that
has but one PRECEDENT in the history OF
our State. In 1876, when the Democrats
met to organize that notable campaign
they had already Wrested the Legislature
from the Republican party, but that party
held the executive and judiciary of The
State. It was backed by the solid negro
vote-then as now. it was backed BY {
horde Of red-legged neutrality-suspicious.
as now, it had the support of those wht
loved office more than reform-then as
now. And the democracy, scattered ant
poor. had no weapons but the sling anC
pebble wherewith TO fight the giant. II
that hour there was 4 call for a leader
no mere ~place-bunter. but a leader wht
in his person represented the aspiration!
and virtue Of the undaunted and unpur
chasable manhood Of the Commonwealth
There were many great men in the coun
ellis of the party who would have grace
the executive office. But the peOpl
passed over many notable men and turn
ed their eyes toward Mecklenburg county
and there liz the person OF Zebulon Bair'
Vance (applause) found the man VIII
should lead this Israel into the promise,
land. He was a young lawyer of larg
practice, not schooled in the art Of mon
~ey-making, and not versed in politica
manipulation. He had no eloquence ex
cept the elOquence CT the heart and II
confines except the comliness of perfec
manhood. He was called by the people t
lead the great fight to rescue the Stat
from Negro Rule then: he responded. Eo'
we'll he came up to the expectations {
the people you all do know. AS long q
he lived-as long as the voice Of Fanc
was heard-this good State remained tru
in it's allegiance to the Democratic part.
Today, in yOnder capital. the foundation
are being laid for q statue of this grea
tribune Of the people. It will stand Their
when the youngest man among us he
been gathered TO his fathers as the nut
advocate of the principles for which W
stand today.
when this prophet among men ha
passed from US, We turned to find tn
Elisha, upon whose shoulders his mantl
had fallen. But. groning in untried patti
by the uncertain light of pickering cal
dies, the people saw not that as OF
Elijah passed from us his mantle fe
upon Charles Brantley Aycock applause
the orator and statesman OF Wayne cour
~. Some OF us thought we beheld i
folds around him as he went about pr
claiming the gospel with Vance's fir
freshness and elOquence. But many d
not know his voice and needed it no
and because Of this deafness we we,
doomed to wander for four years in IL
wilderness of bad government. AS II
children of Israel wroshipped the gold
calf when they knew not Moses, and h;
70 suffer for their sins, so North CAROLS
suffered because it followed the stran