The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-04-13

The rumor was fake, but he was not
taking any chances. He issued an order
releasing CASTOR on his own recog-
nizance, and left for a vacation.
| CASTOR returned to Hamhright show
Tered with congratulatory kilograms from
every quarter of the State.
| He received a brief note from Sallie
saying the war was On but had not
Preached its final climax, as the General
was now devoting his best energies to
the Democratic convention which was
to meet in ten days, when he expected
to crush any STOOL movement of young
lupstaIts."
When the day arrived and CASTOR en-
tered the convention hall he received
az ovation, heartfelt and generous, but
it did not reach the point of a disturb
ing element in the calculations CT the
three or four prominent candidates for
Governor. General Worth had drilled
his cohorts so thoroughly in opposition
to him, that any sort of stampeding was
out of the question.
The Platform Committee was COM
posed of seven leaders. among whom
was CASTOR. There was long wrangle
over the document. and at length when
they reported, sensation was created.
For the first time since their triumph
over Simon Legree the committee was
divided, and refusing to agree, submit
ted majority and minority reports. The
committee stood five for the majority
and two for the minority.
Castor and daring young politician
from the heart of the Black Belt signed
he ,,~t, nrit
to offer and defend it a sudden hush fell
on the sea of eager faces. a few men
in the convention had heard him speak.
All had heard he was an orator of power.
and were anxious to sec him. His lead
ership in the revolution of Independence
and his subsequent arrest and imprison-
ment had made him a famous man.
mir Chairman and Gentlemen of the
Convention" he began with a deliberate
clear voice which spoke of greater re-
serve power than the words he uttered
conveyed-"I move to substitute for
this document of meaningless platitudes
the following resolution on which to
make this campaign"
You could have heard pin fall, rs in
ringing tones like the call of a bugle to
battle he read
| Whereas, it is impossible to build a
State inside a State of two antagnistic
races: and,
"Whereas, the future North CAROLYN
ian must therefore be an Anglo Saxon
or Mulatto;
Resolved, That the hour has low
Negro as a sovereign citizen and re-
.al,J f4, he, Of
our fathers"
The delegates from New Hanover,
Craven and Halifax counties, the great
centres of the Black Belt sprang on
their seats with a roar of applause that
shook the building, and pandemonium
broke loose! When one great wave
subsidized another followed. It was ten
minutes before order was restored while
CASTOR stood calmly surveying the
storm.
Just before him sat General Worth
pale and trembling with excitement
The audacity of those resolutions had
swept him for a moment off his feet
and back into the far off years of his
own daring young manhood. He could
not help aGmrng this challenge of the
modern world to stand at the bar of
ele mental manhood and make good it's
right to existence. He was about to
summon his messengers and rally his
lieutenants when CASTOR began tc speak
and his first words chained his atten-
/ tion.
While the tumult raised ~ his re8o-
buttons was in progress he lifted MS eye
carelessly toward the gallery and there
/ just above him where it curved toward
the platform sat his beautiful bride!
His heart leaped. Her face was aname
with emotion, her eyes flashing with
love and pride. She slyly touched with
| her lips the top of her finger and blew
a kiss across the intervening space. He
smiled into her soul look of gratitude,
/ and with every nerve strung to it's
highest tension resumed his place by
the speakers stand. When the tumut
died away he began a speech that fixed
| the history of a State for a thousand
years.
| bis resolutions had wrought the
crowd to the highest pitch of excite
ment, and MS words, clear. penetrating,
| and deliberate thrilled his hearers With
, electrical power.
whisper was hushed. I'VE believe that
| Geo has raised up our race. as he or
dained Israel of DID, in this world crisis
| to establish and maintain for weaker
races, as a trust for civilization, the
| principles of civil and religious liberty
anc the forms of constitutional govern
ment.
"a mighty crisis approaches in the
history of the human race. The world
is stirred by its consciousness today.
This Nation must grid up her lCins and
show her right to lvc-to master the
future or be mastered in the struggle.
New questions press upon Us for solu-
ion.
Shall this grand old Commonwealth
lag behind and sink into the filth and
degradation of negroid corruption in
this solemn hour of the world?"
INC, Mo-" screamed a thousand
voices.
What is our condition today in the
dawn of the twentieth century? If we
attemnt to move forward we are liter
ally chained to the body of a fostering
Black Death!