The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-10-17

80 1890
junior senator in the congress, gave
Wilmington the honor of a visit yes
terday, and last night at the court
house made a magnificent speech to
a large assemblage of our citizens 1t
was his first visit here since his e.ec-
ton as United States Senator, and as
New Hanover county gave him Il ma
jOrity in the senatorial primary, he
was but coming into the midst of MS
loyal friends and supporters. when he
put foot in Wilmington. The people
of Wilmington gave him a warm well
come last night and We're gratified
with the presence of this distinguished
North Carolinian.
Last night as the hand on the clock
was nearing $50 o'clock, Gec.Se l..
Peschau, Esq, chairman of the dem
ocratic executive committee OF New
Hanover county, briefly announced that
it afforded him pleasure to say that
Mr.. Simmons was present to address
our citizens and that the Hon. George
l. Morton would introduce that dis
tinguished gentleman.
Mr.. Morton was greeted with ap-
plause when he took ;Ee judges bench
to introduce Mr.. Simmons. He re-
marked that he was deeply sensible of
the honor conferred upon him in put
ting him forward TO introduce Mr..
Simmons. 1t is an honor, said he, TO
introduce this distinguished citizen of
North Carolina n distinguished
speaker, wholly his own merit and in
dustry, has risen to the highest posi-
ton in the United States, save that OF
the presidency. tApplause.) Mr..
Morton said it was NOR of an honor
for him to introduce NJ. Simmons as
u democrat and the heal of the great
democratic party of North Carolina
a man selected four times by the grand
old democrats TO lead he people to
victory over redicalism md populism.
CApplause.) He said Seat Simmons
IS now on the rounds king his fifth
campaign in North CG-Jlina as the
head of the democratic party. CAP
plause.) He declared Senator Sim
mons errand to be II p~erpetuate good
government in North Carolina, and
democratic rule always means good
government. (Applause.) He .7id an
other for which Senate Sim
mons comes to us Is to defeat Jeter c.
PritChard for United States senator
and forever put to SLe-p the paper
which is in a pigeon hole in Washing
ton. introduced in the senate by
Pritchard to investigate the suffrage
~ II VI
North Carolina. CAppiaUSe.O He stated
that Senator Simmons vas here to
point out h fal,acy Of his republican
college. and he took great pleasure in
introducing the Hon. Furnifold NJ.
Simmons.
Mr.. Simmons was greeted with ire
mendOuS applause. He said he desired
to express his enSe of appreciation of
the very complimentary introduction
of Mr.. Morton and to say that he APP
preciates the very large number who
were out to hear him. as he knew how
difficult it was in the large cities to
get the people to attend political meet
ings.
Mr.. Simmons said he was not here
because ne wanted to max a speech.
but he came here because he had
something which he wanted to say to
the people of Wilmington. He said he
YOU not TAX up the time ~recOunting
the conditions which existed in the
four years of fusion government in
North Carolina from 1894 to 1898, for
those conditions are or ought to be
fresh in the minds of the people and
especially the people of Wilmington.
(A~pplauSe.) No state. he declared, was
ever cursed with such a government
as the one We had here in North Car
DINA during those four years. At first
the people did not know that it meant
10 put lne IepuDIlCdu party DdCh lIlO
power. They did not fully cOmpre-
bend its significance and import, but
the people became profoundly indig-
nant at the rule of the INSCRIPTIONS
adventures and negro domination, for
as a matter of fact the negro was in
deed on top. When, however, the peo-
Die did fully realize What republican,
ism meant they rose up in their
might and hurled the miscreantS from
power. (Applause.) When the people
had done that their next step was to
disfranchise the negro. (Applause.) l
don't think. declared the senator, tbs
any greater thing was ever done in
North Carolina. when in the campaign
of 1898 the people freed themselves
from the conditions then existing n
overcame 10000 majority. CApplause.)
He said he would like 30 claim credit
for that in the name of the democratic
party, but he was afraid he woul be
opposed by some honorable gentleman
who would rise up and say he was
following negro! (Applause.) He said
democracy means future prosperity
and happiness. He said he would also
like in the name of the democratic
party to claim credit for the adoption
of the constitutional amendment. but
he was afraid some honorable gentle
man. some one interested in stocks.
dividends weights measures and the
SdAU SIAIhs HlAShI TlSS up anu ACCUSE
him OF following negro. (Applause
and ~laughter.) He just wanted to say
a Of protest against the position that
the democratic party cannot claim
credit for what il had achieved,
without incurring the accusation that
it was talking negro.
Senator Simmons went on 10 say that
the democratic party has now been in
power in the state for three years and
has restored peace, order and pros
perity in North Carolina. applause
Never in the history of the state has
there been such an era of prosperity
than there has been since Aycock Ia
been governor. (Applause.) More mills
and factories have been built that was
ever known in a like period, n more
corporations have been chartered and
more enterprises set on foot This
shows, he declared, that capital has
confidence not only in the future OF
Wilmington, but in the democratic
party which is in charge of the gov
eminent. He declared that in his judg.
ment the democratic party will never
do anything to disturbe that conf
6AOcp- hIrI in the fnturp aS in tho nact