The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-07-20
The Young Temporary Chair
man at Greensboro.
A TRIBUTE TO SIMMONS.
Glance at the Work of Democracy in
Redeeming the state.
The Speech Was Appropriate, Strong, Flo.
quent and Well Worded. The Plea
Reorganization Briefly Sum.
married..

The following is the full text of the
eloquent, forcible and fitting speech of
Temporary Chairman A. M. Scales to the
Democratic State Convention at Green's
boro on last Wednesday:
MIR. Chairman and Gentlemen of the
Conventions:
Il esteem it no small honor to pre-
side over such a gathering You have
come together from all parts of our
state as her chosen representatives, to
promote her welfare and to achieve her
highest good. You do not represent all
the people of North Carolina, and vet
all, Democrats and Republicans alike,
are vitality interested in the results of
your deliberations. You hold in your
hands her destinies. Twelve hundred men
are acting for two million citizens of a
sovereign State. Who are you and by
what authority are you clothed with
such power? The answer to this oues-
ton shows how near Is the Democratic
party to the people. If it were posi-
Bile, the Democratic plan of organiza-
ton would provide a vast amphitheatre
where all qualified citizens could assem-
BILE and act for themselves on all ques-
tions of government AS this is not pos
sible, the next best plan is adopted, and
in countless precinct primaries, the Dem
cratic hosts have met and every fifty
men have selected man to act for them
in the county convention, and at ninety
seven county conventions every $50 men
have selected a delegate to represent
them in this, the General Assembly of
the unterrified. The plan is as nearly per-
feet as man can devise, and If this con-
vention should not fully represent the
ideals and aspirations of a majority of
the people of North Carolina, it, would
be the fault Of the people themselves
There is no place in such a plan for
ring rule and bossism of which we
sometimes hear, and in nine cases out of
ten the ring exists only in the magma
tion OF some disgruntled candidate or
some citizen who never attends a pri-
mary. To take an active interest in poll
tics is not only a citizens privilege, but
is his sacred duty. What right have l
to shirk the primary and convention and
leave to my neighbor the duty of main
tanning for me and my children the
blessings of liberty and good government?
In time of war we look with contempt
and adherence upon the man who skulks
and refuses to fight in the hour of his
country's peril. Shall we forget that
eternal vigilance is the price of lib
erty'' and that peace has her warfares,
which tax the courage and fidelity of
the citizen? The excuses which men
make for their failure in this great and
important duty are numerous. but we
will have time to consider only few.
no
business and that they will not have any
thing to do with it. This sentiment we
hear only too often, and that too among
good men. God save the State and ma
ton where such a sentiment becomes
dominant. Then indeed would politics
become a business and doubtless a very
dirty one: with the men Of character
standing apart, wrapped in their robes
OF righteousness, and carelessly watch
ing the spoilation of their country. If
1T is dirty business, it is the fault of
these very men, who, instead of going
about speaking of the evils and corrup-
ton of the politicians, should do u mans
part in correcting the evils and stamp
ing out the corruption. But say some,
we would be in the minority, and be out
voted by those who are in it only for
what they can get out of it. This is
not true. certainly in North Carolina.
am one of those that believe in the saw
ing morality and common sense of the
people and am certain that as long as
the people of North Carolina take an
active interest in her politics, corrup-
ton cannot permanently exist.
GAS another excuse for failure of duty
we hear men say that they do not go to
the primary and convention because
some man may be nominated or some
measure approved, which they cannot
vote for. These men leave out of con-
sideration the fact that a Republic must
necessarily be governed by parties. If
man belongs to neither party he is
forced at election day to throw away his
vote, or to the narrow choice of one of
two candidates in whose nomination he
has had no voice. The wiser course
would seem to be that Of going to the
primary where his vote and influence
will have some weight. If his choice
wins, he has helped to make possible
the election of the candidate. who, in his
opinion, is the best man. If his cand-
date is defeated for the nomination and
he is forced to vote for a man who is not
so we'll qualified or who is not even q
good man, he has the satisfaction of
knowing that he fought him where fight
ing is needed and where there is some
chance of success.
"The true position is to always bow
to the majority of your party. but see to
It, if possible, that the majority is on
your side A generous fight for principle
however vigorous if made inside the par
ty, will never permanently injure it, and
every Democrat has the right to fight
for principle. 1t may not be necessary
to urge upon North Carolina Democrats
the duty of being loyal to heir party
it would seem not-when we study it's
history since the Civil War, we wonder
that a true son of Carolina could be
anything else. A plundered State pros
trate in misery; what was left by the
wreck and ruin of war had been cleaned
by the greedy hand of the scalawag and
the carpet bagger-bankrupt degraded