The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-10-19

laudable ambition he has succeeded. In
the bright galaxy of the first lawyers
of North Carolina he shines as star
Of the first magnitude.
Ills political life began in 1872, thirty
years ago, when the Democratic pat'S
Of his county called him to lead Tor
lOrn hope for the Legislature, ms county
being Republican by majority OF more
than 500. His canvass was so eliecllNe
and his personal popularity so great thal
the majority was reduced to 90, althouSh
opposed by DR.. Wheeler, who at that
time was by all odds the strongest ana
most popular Republican In the county
Ten years later, in 1882, he was noml-
mated for the Senate by Stokes and FOR
syth, and carried that Senatorial district
by the unprecedented majority or l,5Vo.
Ten years thereafter. in 1892, he was
called again by his party to make the
race for the House against both the he
publican and the Populist parties, ana
achieved another signal victory, carrying
his county that year by a plurality OF
500
In the memorable campaign of lS94
the Cyclone" year, when the ground
slipped from under all of us, al the
instance of and under direction of state
Chairman Pou, at great personal neon
venienCe and sacrifice, he made an abie
canvass in different sections of the State
In 1896, after 1.-The unterrided had
settled upon General j. S. Carr for the
nomination for Governor, and after GEN
eral Carr had positively refused to run
in the face of an assured nomination, 1t
will be remembered that our leaders
We're at sea. No sooner had they re-
covered from the confusion incident I"
the withdrawal of General Carr than all
eyes were turned to the war horse or
Forsyth" The party had not thought
of him before. nor had Mr.. Watson
thought or dreamed of such thing. He
was swept off his feet. In the midst of
his courts, with an extensive and eX-
acting practice, under pressing engage
ments, and burdened with professional
Obligations requiring all of his tire and
strength, he was pursuaded to make
sacrifice such as few OF his friends could
then appreciate Taken thus by sur
prise, he was unable at first to decide,
but when Mr.. Simmons, Mr.. Manly, Mr..
Pou, Judge Allen, Mr.. Granger, Don
Gillian, Col. Rodman and other friends
and leaders insisted and urged that he
was the man, the strongest man, the
one man, in that hour of suspense and
peril in whose hands could safely be
placed our standard, the fire that warm
ed the soul OF the intrepid youth of 1862
was again rekindled. and forgetting self
and else, he again went TO the front,
Selling sOur banner with the grip and
the faith of hero amid the shout, the
yells and the hurrahs of that magnificent t
convention, and pledged then and there
the supremest effort of his life for the
defeat of Dan Russell. No Democrat !
who saw and appreciated his ordeal and
his environments and witnessed that
scene in SO in the Academy of Music
will ever forget it. 1t is known of all
men with what zeal, energy and en-
thusiasm he entered upon that cam
paign, and the unfortunate ending there
of by his sudden illness while on his
way from Albemarle to Monroe on the
first day of October, 1896. when he was
sent to his bed where he fingered in
agony until December following the
election. Even on his bed of dangerous
sickness his physicians could not re-
strain his efforts for his party. The
reader of this article will recall the
ringing address which he dictated and
had issued from his sick chamber dur
ing the last days of that great struggle
of 1896
This is the baby, the boy, the soldier,
the farmer, the merchant, the student,
the lawyer and the statesman, who is fit
and who is worthy TO stand in the shoes
of the great Vance. Let us not yet for
get the service, the sacrifice and the
suffering of the few who yet survive
with honor the heroic days of les
But not upon this ground alone does
Mr. Watson stand. If services to his
country be not sufficient, add to that
the services to MS party If these do /
not suffice, add his exalted character,
his extensive learning, his varied attain !
ments and his pre-eminent ability, and
you have man with few peers if any,
and no superior in the State. From the
corn-field of the lowly farm to the top
OF his profession. he has cut his way /
through war and through peace, and
whenever called and wherever tried, he
has ever responded, from his boyhood I'M
til today with credit to himself and honor
to his State He is neither too young !
nor too old He is now at the zenith |
of his matured and magnificent powers.
Time and again for nearly half cen :
fury we have locked elbows with the
East in support of the matchless Ran
som. Again and again we have stood
with unhroken front by the side of the
West in awarding this coveted prize to
the great and only Vance. Is it unreal ,
that middle North Carolina this
time should ask a reciprocation from the
East and the West in support of her |
favorite son--the peerless Watson?
JOHN n. WILSON.
Greensboro, n c., Oct II, 1902
Prohibition in Fayetteville.