The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-09-18

ple of the Philippine Islands arc as much
entitled to their liberty as the people
| of this country were in 1776. But if an
appeal to the conscience of our fellow
citizens does not avail. what then has
been the cost of this miserable warfare?
Up to date, six hundred million dollars.
What have you gotten in return for it?
Can you think of anything.
There in the Philippines is one thing
we have. There are ten thousand little
graves dug there, ten thousand collins,
ten thousand mounds, and here there are
ten thousand homes made sad. Yet the
Republicans say this is not an issue in
the campaign. The Democrats say it is,
and that great wrong has been done.
They declare our flag should fly, but for
liberty and justice and not over a sub
jugated race.
six hundred millions of dollars spent
and what would that not do for our
country. AS my distinguished friend,
Mr.. John Small has pointed out, this
six hundred million dollars will dig the
Nicaragua Canal three times. 1t will
put good sewing machine in every
American home. 1t will erect a church
d.
a school house in every school district
in America. 1t will build a hospital in
every important city in America. 1t will
add much to the happiness and prosperity
of Americas toiling masses. But this is
not the worst of the miserable business
in which we nave been engaged. When
one man Injuries another, the one who
does the wrong is the one to be pitied the
most If people permit their govern
ment to do wrong, they are the ones
that suffer most-not the people
upon whom the wrong was in
flicted 1 declare to you tonight
that I believe the first step has
already been taken in an attempt to
overthrow our Republican institution and
erect monarchy upon American soil.
We have reversed every righteous policy
of the government. We have violated the
teachings of the great founders of the
republic. Every now and then some Re-
publican answers this argument with the
question What shall we do with the
Philippine Islands?' If a man steals that
which does not belong to him, what ought
he to do with the subject of his lar
ceny' Go and give it back to the man
from whom he stole it. Let us do right
to these humble and weak people. Let
us do right by ourselves. Let us give
them their liberty, their freedom, when
ever they are entitled to enjoy it, and
thereby win the approval of our own
conscience and of the great God of the
Universe"
Mr.. Pou then at some length discussed
State issues. He briefly discussed the
appropriations which had been made by
the last General Assembly. & shall not
weary you with figures tonight. said he.
1 know this much. / know that not a
dollar of your money has been dis
honestly applied. / declare this because
Charles Aycock is Governor, Ben Lacy is
Treasurer, and we have honest officials
in all the States offices. Let any Repub-
lican point to a single dollar that has
been dishonesty used or unnecessarily
expended. One item of extravaganza I
suppose we shall be compelled to admit.
l read in the Union Republican the other
day that this administration had been
very extravagant. That paper charged
that we had spent 1855 for the capture
of escaped convicts, while the Fusionists
in 1893 only paid 1857 for the capture of
escaped convicts. Now, gentlemen, as
solicitor, / happen to know that under
Fusion rule more criminals escaped than
under Democratic rule, and l suppose we
will have to plead guilty to the charge
of having spent more money in the at
tempt to capture convicts than the Flu
sionists paid out. Do you know the rea-
son. The Fusionists did not want to re-
capture their escaped negro convicts. They
were willing for them to go home and
adopt assumed names and go up and
vote the Fusion ticket. This is the only
charge of extravaganza to which we will
have to plead guilty"
1.-THE Republicans warn us that we
must not draw the color line. If there
is a Republican here tonight, l want to
tell him one thing. Let him remember
it. 1t is the truth. The great white
race in this State in the year 1900 adopt
cd the constitutional amendment, not
only to rid the State of the curse of the
negro vote, but it adopted that amend
ment to rid the State of the curse of
the office-seeker who is willing TO ride
into office solely upon the negro vote.
Now my Republican friend you who have
spent your life in organizing the negro,
you who have addressed them at their
midnight meetings and have organized
them against everything that was decent
and respectable in society, you are no
Dettef III tHtS year VI Sldce, 13oG, imam
you were when you were engaged in this
miserable work in 1868, 1894 and 1896.
Your principle is just the same now as it
was then. And if your party by any
miracle should get control of the Legis-
lature, if your leaders demanded it, you
would repeal the Constitutional Amend
ment Deep down in your heart, you know
this is so. You and your friends are
claiming to be very clean and righteous
now, but the people of this State will not
forget what you have done in the past
"Your stock in trade since 1868 has
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