The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-10-07

democrat arrived here from New Bern
in the afternoon'an fell into the hands
OF our estimable citizen. Mr.. Martin S.
Willard, who served Iii the legislature
with him. In the afternoon. Mr.. VIII
lard introduced hir to many of our
prominent citizens aid gave him a drive
about the city.
Last night there was q good audience
at the court house 10 hear Mr.. Over
man. He was introd-ced by Dir. Willard
in a handsome au1 that elected
hearty applause. Mr.. Willard said:
There could hardly ne assembled an
audience of North Carolinians who were
even passably we'll acquainted with the
states history for the past Is or 20
years to whom the name of the dis,
tinguished gentleman VINO will speak to
us tonight would not De familiar.
Born in the town wh-re he now live;
educated at one of the states leading
colleges; drilled in the law by as emi-
nent jurists as the state has PRODUCED;
. student for years OF the pI oblems,
both state and national, which concern
or goVsElment, he comes to US partic-
uIarly well q1aiHS 10 disC1ss those
questions which are lnteIesting NSranT
claiming our most t~hCTghtfu1 Considera-
ton.
representing HC"Ln county nNe
times In n general sSSembly of North
Carolina, he has been prominently ard
h~onorably connected with more import
ant legislation affecting the state than
probably any other citizen now living.
AS private secretary &c both Governor
Vanc and Governor Jarvis his oppor-
t~unities for becoming familiar with the
affairs of state were still further en-
larged.
In 1887 Mr.. Overman was the caucus
nominee of the democratic party for the
position of United States senator but
was defeated by an uawarranted coali-
ton, n in 1897 the Gamocratic caucus
again put on record lis confidence in his
ability and appreciation of his services
by once more naming him as their choice
for this same ~position-the highest in
their gift-but as the legislature was
largely controlled by f%usionists he was
defeated by Senator Pritchard.
In 1893 he was unanimously nominal
ed by his party as speaker of the house
and in that position won an enViable
reputation as a most skiliful parliament
tartan and able presiding officer.
In the last presidential campaign Mr..
Overman was named by the state on
vention as one Of the states electors at
large and did magnificent work from
the mountains to the
In 1885 in the face Of violent oppOSi-
ton he succeeded in having PASSED by
the house an act for the establishment
of the Railroad Commission, ard again
when the question Of pensioning confed-
crate veterans was Up for a vote in the
legislature and the republicans were
trying to slip out and dodge the issue.
iSEaS the voice of Lee Overman that
Ia the halls of legislation and de-
manded that the doors be closed and
the Sinking ones be made to vote.
If party service. if splendid ability. if
self sacrifice, if roral rectitude ire ac-
counted worthy OF recognition, then in
deed are the clair1s of Lee S. Overman
On the democratic party of tremendous
weight.
'Of too broad q mind to find capital in
the wholesale abuse of his adverSarieS,
he has fought vigorously since early
but has never been known to
hit below the belt. To his friends he is
the embodiment of manly courage OF
earnestness of conviction, of sacred re-
gard for duty.
Il take pleasure in presenting 10 you
TONIGHT the Hon. Lee :. Overman, OF
Rowan county"
Mr.. Overman was received with en-
thuSiaStic applause, and he expressed
his pleasure at the reception accorded
him He said it had always been his
desire to visit the Cape Fear section,
but in his twenty years experience as
a democratic convaSser he had never
had the pleasure of meeting the people
of Wilmington. He had always here
tofore been under the commander-in-
chief Of the democracy and he had gone
wherever he was sen't. but in this cam
paign he was not under the command
~er-inEchief and so had seized the oppor-
tunity of meeting the people of Will
mington.
Mr.. Overman began his speech by
saying that there had always been two
parties with opposing principles and
theories. as it was necessary there
should be, and sometimes there was a
third party. but it was always of few
days and full of trouble. applause
and laughter.) Every decade there
springs up an Independent or third
party, but in nine cases out of ten they
always Ian into the republican party
(Applause.) In 1892 we had a third
party, but it had a great deal OF
trobule. and was finally overthrow
with its republican ally. (Applause.)
for the negro question, he said he
~uld not discusses that, as the suft-
rage amendment to the constitution
settled that question unless some un.
foreseen man comes up to throttle the
voices of so, 900 voters in this state.
Mr.. Overman said he was born anC
bred a democrat and the principles OF
that party had always been his princi-
pies. He could proudly boast that h
had never been a republican, and eN-
ptected to i've and die a democrat.
(Applause.) He said the remembrance
of the history of the republican party
vas too fresh in his mind for him to
ever be tainted with republication
He then went on and showed that the
republican party was born in hatred
to the south n ~ecalled it's infamous
record in the reconstruction period. anC
referred to the days of Kirk and hi:
gang Of cut thrc ats. He also declared
that the civil RIGHTS bill and the pres
ent Crumpacka~ resolution are toe
fresh in his mind to allow him to thinl
of r~epublicanism. He then addressed
himself to the issues Of the canpaI Il
which he said were only two in NORTH
Carolina-Jeter c. Pritchard n pros
perity applause and laughter). II
then terribly arraigned the national and
state records of the republican party
and spoke of the infamous record of fu
sion days in North Carolina, terribl!
exposing their record of corruption and
misgovernment hat marked fusion
reign. He exposed the hypocrioy of tn,
republican party as to education and
nopSi00S for cO0fadorafo colSiarS anf