The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-07-13
MR. FAB. .BUSBEE'
HALIFAX SPEECH
Criticised As III-Timed and
in Bad Bad Taste.
DANGER THAT THREATENS
Disaffection and Independence in
Politics En- couraged.
SOLID MEN DISAPPRovED OF THE SPEECH
The Testimony Of Mr.. Bushels Own Witnesses
Mr.. Stainback's Statement Was Sus-
tanned. What the Morning
Post Said.

Post Said.
To the Editor: In 1898 5000 Democrats
met in open air convention in the his
toric town of Halifax. a soil forever
sacred to the memory of the patriots OF
Colonial and Revolutionary fame, who
sleep beneath the sturdy oaks. dotted
picturesquely about the quaint old church
yard cemetery upon the southern banks
of Roanoke river. and then and there
they pledged their sacred honor, their
lives and their fortunes in a common
cause-that of white supremacy, and
strong resolutions were passed, in which
white men of the county were invited to
enlist under one banner and fight the
battles of Democracy.
This was at a time when our liberties
were threatened and the best citizens of
Halifax county felt that the gay "Heav-
ems were hung with black" and that a
division in our ranks would have meant
our degradation.
Senator Ransom was present. He
strongly urged his fellow countrymen to
stand together. Captain Bill Day made
a characteristic speech in which he
graphically pictured the conditions
threatening our liberties in the county
and State and so enthused did he become
that he shouted in one of his splendid
outbursts of eloquence, Get your guns,
boys," For any white man to have ad-
vocated a division in our ranks then or
to have preached independence in poll
tics would have sent him away despised.
ostracised and flashed naked around the
world" -% ast .
By a supreme and a united effort of a
united democracy, aided and encouraged
by the fervent prayers of devout women,
which, like the incense, assembled to
heaven from every family altar, Democ-
racy won a great victory and the people
of the East sent, greetings to their
brethren of the west, and the news was
taken up from the mountain Businesses
and echoed, and re-echoed, until it was
lost in the blue waves that kiss the sands
Of the seashore. Since that time peace
and prosperity have been our sweet re-
ward.
But now, a new danger threatens the
people of Halifax of Wake. of Buncombe
and of the whole State, for the emissarieS
OF the corporations are abroad sowing
seeds of discomfort and encouraging dis
affection and independence in politics.
"a house divided against itself cannot
stand' and must fall. and the man who
comes to Halifax county, to advocate a
division in the ranks of Democracy is
no friend to the people.
Mr.. f. H. Busbee was invited here on
the Fourth to deliver a memorial ad-
dress to the survivors of a lost cause;
he devoted one minute of mis- speech to
the heroic deeds of the Confederate SOL
diers and twenty-nine minutes to poll
ties. He argued, skillfully and adroitly,
that the negro being eliminated the white
men of Halifax could vote according to
the dictates of their conscience But
can we afford to follow the advice of
Captain Day and Mr. Busbee? The
Democratic party, by the adoption of the
constitutional amendment, gave the peo-
pie of Halifax their freedom, and it
would be Judas-like to smite the hand
that gave them their liberties. Our
worst foes to fight are the foes of our
own household. Sampson was shorn of
strength while being soothed to sleep by
Delilah, and the Son of God was betrayed
by kiss. The enemy is not dead by any
me ms, we have scotched the snake
not killed it, and it's poison and venom
is only boiled up to be poured out at a
favorable opportunity
l mildly criticised Mr. Bushels speech
as being | timed in bad taste and po-
litical. This brought forth a lengthy
statement from Major T. l.. Emry, Gen
eral M. w. Ransom and Col. w. H. S.
Burgwyn, who, having invited Mr.. Bus
bee to speak felt called upon to give out
a statement, carefully smoothing out
the ruffles and frills. But, by the testi-
mony of Mr.. Bushels own witnesses my
statement OF facts was sustained. They
said, HE finally spoke in advocacy of
honest elections and in favor of more
freedom of thought" l repeat, Mr.. Bus
bee had no right TO assume that the cleo
tons in Halifax county had been fraud
ulent, or that he was called lpon to come
here and dictate to us how they should
be conducted in future.
He further said, according to the
statement of the committee defending
him. "A man should no longer be
Ostracised because he differs in his po-
litical views and the white people of
the State should see to it that hereafter
the elections should be so conducted that
there could be no reasonable complaint
of unfairness, and that no man be deter
red from casting his vote as his con-
science dictated by fear of abuse or So
cial ostracism." The committee further
states that there was "some slight criti-