The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-10-31

fayetteElle, ~ u, OCTOBER -
In the court house at 1920 o'clock
Mr.. H. D. Cook called 10 order a large
meeting OF citizens and ladies'; and, af-
ter the OF candidates, the
distinguished visitors. Aycock and Pat
terson. addressed the gathering. Major
A A. McKethan. clerk Of the superior
court, leading off in a strong manly
democratic speech. He warned demo-
Gratis TO follow up registration by voting
their fun strength, and concluded by Il
defense OF commissioners against
charges made on stumps. He offered 10
answer questions or any matter OF Of
fetal business OF his position. He was
followed by Mr.. j. II. Lamb. for the
senate, who avowed himself a democrat
and personally a prohibitionist, but not
q candidate of a prohibition party. for
that party was not tackled on 10 the
democratic party. He pointed to the
fact that the great war in this state
was on the legislative ticket by Pritch-
ards forces and the whiskey element.
In the course OF his remarks he heavily
scored McClelland, republican candi-
date for the house. Next came Mr.. J.
w. Moore. for the house, who
ed himself clearly as to his position on
certain important public issues. The
other member for the house, Mr.. V. G.
Billiard, was then introduced. and re-
sponded happily and gracefully. After
the other announcements, Governor
Aycock a introduced, after Mr.. Cook
, had spoken in behalf of county COM
mfssioners. Governor Aycock was the
presented el~oquently by Mr.. Isaac a.
Murchison.
He was glad to meet the people of
Cumberland, who were next after his
heart to his own county.
He did not propose to make a politl-
cal speech, perse; but, as the republi-
cans had seen fit to charge his admin
istration with extravaganza, he was
here for its vindication. When he was
nominated he declared that he intended
to use all the means and money that
he could lay his hands on to promote
the education of every boy n girl in
! North Carolina, and he put that deter
mination in print, and got the populists
and republicans 10 put it in their ape
and the result was a majority at the
polls Of over 60, 600. Here he made a
splendid review of the wealth Of the
state in the prestige Of history, in
climate, in soil. in patriotic anhood
and pure lovely womanhood. Turning
to the audience and ~reproaching them
that, with all these advantages, they
were thriftless. then in a thrilling
bust Of eloquence, he ~instanced when
they were not lazy. When thew fought
the Battle Of Moore's Creek, when they
battled around Guilford court house;
when they ollowed Stonewall
in the valley; when they went Oh and
on farthest to the from at Gettysburg;
when they made q deathlesS name at
Appomattox. But solemnly he told
them of their superficial methods of
farming, and Industrial production, and
their low place in popular education.
| Hn cu-nr 70 nnCorUa the constitution
and. taking that solemn oath, he had
devoted and would continue to devote
his every energy to the education of the
masses of the people. He then showed
that his administration had ke"t the
faith. and fought the fight.
He spent more Of the, peoples money
in caring for the soldiers in the feeble
evening of life-too weak to take part
in the government, to till the field, to
run the factories. Who were they?
union men till that terrible proclama-
ton came down from Washington, and
then went out in such haste that they
fought the first battle OF the war, went
out in such numbers that they exceeded
the voting strength Of the state, went
out with such determination that they
were most numerous of all at Apo
mattox. But great as they were in war.
they were greater in peace; but, great
as they were both in war and peace,
SiC"lci IIdl lISy were Tie "ollen Oh
the south, enduring to the end with =
devotion unparalleled in history. Last
year we paid 5000, 900 in Confederate
pensions, and we hope to continue It.
Do you like it? If you don't like these
points in my administration, don't vote
for me. But if you don't. beware the
wrath Of the good women OF this COM
monwealth.
He then spoke with deep feeling OF
the insane Of this state, and of the ap-
peals for the care of the unfortunate.
The Legislature heard that cry, and,
hearing also the mandates of the con-
stitution, took your money. and are
remedylng that evil. Yes, / am here 70
boast that this state is too rich TO let
he children remain in ignorance, to let
the soldier starve, to let the insane re-
main chained in little lords in every
county in the state.
He then adverted to the state repub-
lican party, reading from the platform
an education, on charitable Institutions.
OF pensions-and the democrats have
done everything recommended in that
platform. He spoke of the raising OF
his salary to 1000, which was by the
recommendation of Governor Russell,
and was done by a legislature which
came in before he went into office. But
he would say-what they forced him to
say-that he had taken that extra 81, 900
to canvass the state from east to west
in the campaign Of education-and hat
is how he invested it. He clearly show
ed that the charge Of SIS, 600 for lawyers
was false. as over 81, 900 was contracted
for by Russell. and he did spend s7eo.
and ne did il to defend resistrars
Z! threatened with imprisonment.
He portrayed the fearful situation in
Wilmington in 1898, when armed men
paraGeG the streets that women and
children might sleep; when death was
In the air 4 murder. q hideous snsctre,
doomed from the darkness.
In 1850 he was speaking to 100. 900 PEG
pie in Lumberton. 5000 people in red
shirts. who bore him from the train
withoII allowing his feet to touch the
ground. and news came that they were
arrestirC registrars; and he remembers
what h told those people. And when
the legislature met it empowered him
to defend those regitrars-and he did 1t
rhnegreretsablanoes
And now the Independents declare
that they are so glad that all these rood
measures are passed that--what? Will
vote for the party that brought them