The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-10-20

extracts given below constitute about
one-third of his magnificent speech
Editor.l
With a vigor born of desperation, the
Republican party fought the constitution
al amendment and strove to keep North
Carolina and her electorate in bondage to
the fear of negro domination Tne DEM
ocratic party boldly and forever removed
that menace to our institutions and our
State, and now that we are permitted
by its offices to think for ourselves upon
political questions it is but common JUS
tice and decency that we endeavor, within
that party. to work out such reforms as
we shall deem are demanded by bet
tered political condition.
The most despicabIe quality in human
character is ingratitude. Political in
gratitude is not different from other
types. When, therefore, we reflect that
it was the Democratic party that en-
franchised the white man by disfran-
chising the negro, it seems incredible that
a part of those thus enfranchiSed are
even now raising their hands to smite
the party that brought them political
liberty.
To him, who having been by the Demo-
cratic party thus enabled to study politi-
cal problems without having athwart the
line of his mental horizon the black
shadow of negro rule and who yet forgets
to whom he owes this clearer sight and
this larger vision, l would commend for
immediate emulation the example of that
apostle who. having bethought him of
his treachery and ingratitude, went out
and hanged himself.
Why was the honorable Senator so
strangely silent as to the record of his
party in North Carolina? Why, in his
Erctestations of patriotic candor, did he
not tell you something of the history of
his party here at home?
Because it is story so shameful that
it would not bear the telling Because
every page is blotted with crime and
dimmed with tears. Because he knows
that while his party was in power, scan
dal visited every department of the gov
eminent, and the shameless effrontery of
unreuhed veniality displayed itself in
the chamber and seats of the mighty"
When Republicans tell us that the tax
law of 1901 is a failure, / reply by saying
1t is Infinitely better than any they have
ever framed. Let me remind them that
the highest personal property and real
estate tax levied since 1887 was levied by
the Republican Legislature of 1897. Let
me remind them further that this is the
tax that the poor man, the farmer and
the labOrer, pays, and that in order that
it might be operative, Republican SUI
preme Court, having declared part of it
unconstitutional, wrote it's substitute
into judicial opinion
1t is well that the honorable Senator
left undisturbed the unsavory record of
his party in North Carolina, for speak
ing not with reference to 1868, but with
reference to 1897, it's regime was one
which set back the hand of progress upon
the dial of time at least a quarter of a
century.
But what of the national record? To us
who are bred in the primitive way, and
taught to regard murder, even by whole
sale, crime, the conduct of the United
States in the Philippine Islands furnishes
lesson of shuddering horror. Under the
guise and pretext of pacfying rebel
lious people, we have shot to death ten
sin against us is that they aspired to be
free.
We furnish an example unique in the
annals of history and warfare. Never
before has it happened that victorious
nation paid TO the vanquished indemnity.
And yet after the war with Spain was
over, the United States paid to that
country twenty millions of dollars, and
took off her hands an hundred years war
in the bargain.
Under the seductive term Expansion -
we have embarked upon policy of which
the fathers of this republic never dream
ed Under the specious plea covered by
that term, we have broken faith with a
weaker people, and played hypocrite to
the nations of the earth. From the in
ception of that war until Aguinaldo was
captured we have been guilty of Punic
faith, to which even the untutored saw
ages of those far off islands are unable
TO accustom themselves.
In our pharasaism we turn shuddering
from the spectacle of Englands conduct
in South Africa, and yet in our dealings
with the Filipinos we have played the
game Of conquest with more relentless
cruelty than ever Great Britain did.
They tell US these islands are the "open
door to the trade of the Orient" / tell
you. fellow citizens they are the open
door to chamber of horrors" that sick
ems us to contemplate.
What does Expansion" mean to you
and to me? What is its significance to
men who toll, and toiling, pay the taxes
which are necessary to keep alive this
splendid dream of commercial greatness
and national expansion?
It's only significance to the toiling mil
lions who support this government is a
system of impost which levies tribute of
every article in poor mans daily use
and touches not with the little finger the
rich mans possessions
1t means the bloodshed, the wrecked
health, the shattered live of thousands of
Americas young manhood.
1t means payroll increased to such
enormous proportions that our islands in
the sea are more costly than our republic
al home.
1t means an oligarchy so complete, a
despotisn SO absolute, that the Gear of