The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-12-30
CLEVELAND AND AYcoCK.

As 1 through our Raleigh
correspondent in yesterdays Messenger.
the Morning Post Of Raleigh OF that
date editorially advocates the nomina-
tion of Grover Cleveland and c. B.
Aysoek as the democratic candidates for
president and vice president in 1904. IL
the south is to be represented on the
6eket Governor Aycock is the man Tor
me place. While a true and loyal DEM
ocrat his political record is such as to
make him less Objectionable to the
northern democracy. because Of being
frsm the south than any other man
from this section the party could select.
His reputation IS a man or sound sense.
coed Judgment md conservative views
@ not confined TO his own state Mr..
Ayceck has BEEN before the public In
other states, north and south, and on
every occasion ne has won esteem and
admiration both for his sentiments and
for his manner Of giving expression to
tz1em; and his conduct of the affairs Of
the state since ae has been its chief ex-
eeutiye, especially on the question Of
public education has won for him praise
Of those beyond Mason and Dixon's
Hne who underrtand the difficulties
surrounding him and the condition OF
affairs when he undertook the task Of
steering the ship of state. While ever
staunch in maintaining the rights Of
his state her people. ne is conserv-
ztiye. broad-mi;ied and a true and
loyal citizen of the United States, ready
TO give his best energies to promote
what il to the interests OF the whole
people. II the southern democrats are
aver to assert their right to be consid-
sred as a part D. the political orgaTiza-
tion for any other purpose than voting
for the nominees dictated by the portion
Of the party in those states which do
not aid in their erection, it is time now
that she was asserting that right We
of the southern states do most OF the
voting. Why. then, should we not
have q voice in the selection of the can
didates. AS matters nave stood ever
since the close If the war between the
states. the southern delegates to the
democratic national conventions AVE
been confined. in voting for candidates
for president and vice president, to the
names of such men from the north as
The democracy Of that section dictated.
As to the candidate for president. IL
is we think, too soon to make pledges TO
any man. While Mr.. Cleveland or
some other one fright now be consider
ed the most available man for the
democrats to nominate there may be
such new and unlocked for issues
brought to the fir ont before the time for
the meeting of the convention as to
make his nomination very undesirable.
Fhe Post gives it's reasons for advocat-
ing q southern man as vice president in
tn. following:
"Since the war between the states, the
south though contributing two-thirds
of the electoral vote required to elect
a democratic president, has ~refrained
from Offering one of her sons for either
place on the national ticket of the par
ty. Until now the north has not be-
come sufficiently reconstructed. with
its immense pensioned soldier vote, to
acQuiesce in the complete union and
reconciliation OF the states. The south
has recognized the situation with a dig
aity-not to say forbarance-worthy Of
her. and worthy of her relationship and
loyalty to the country at large.
I'VE say until now the south has had
NO desire to put forward one of her sons
Cor either president or vice president.
not until there was evidence that the
north was really ~reconciled to the union
tn all that a full. free and equal union
Of states could imply.
THAT time has at last been reached
IN cut judgmerr.. The g"n.laman who
A-- AIc Tho ofGaa nf nroGtdpnt nc q
half southron by descent, his mother
being OF true-biue southern stock. II
he was placed in that position by the
northern people Mr.. Roosevelt is not
only half southron, Jul his maternal
relations fought sIoriously and Son-Li
uously on the side of the south and
these things the present president re-
fers to with much boastfulne5J :.r.l
pride. Mr.. Roosevelt Ia no moro ? ,rti.- |
ron than southron In this position, and
his fidelity to the integrity Of the cou1
try Is no more due to his northern than
TO his southrOn ancestry. Indeed in his
faithful performance of duty, in his no |
sition, as he sees it, he eXemplif1es
more OF the traits and temperament OF
his southern than Of his more phleg-
matte northern progenitors. So the
country, the northern portion OF Ii at
east, has at last reached the halfway
station of a completely restored union
VI sldlSS- II "OuIu SSSil- lh-lVlOIC- y
most propitious time for the other
step to be taken and the good work or
destroying all discrimination for all
time be pushed forward. !
1.-The south, and this means the demo-
cratic party, has sons abunda1tly quail
flied in every and the highest sense 70
al the highest Office within the gift Of
che people. In moral n mental make
up. II patriotic impulse and aspirations,
this section can furnish men who CON
and would maintain the high STANDARD
which her sons. in like positions, distin-
guished in the past"
CHRISTMAS DAY.