The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-01-10

friendship and public obligation, local
attachments and State pride go hand In
hand. I believe this General Assembly
will have no matter requiring more care
ful and conscientious consideration and
deliberation than the selection OF an
ambassador from this sovereign State to
tbe great council of the sovereign States
of the Republic. There is, l sometimes
fear a disposition, in this hurrying and
mercenary age, to underrate, and fail
ure to comprehend the serious nature of
the duty we are now summoned to per-
form. The trainers of our Federal Con-
stitution were profoundly impressed by
the Importance and difficulties of the
great problem-how to secure a more
perfect union,' and at the same time to
preserve the sovereign character of the
constituent States. The establishment
of the Senate in the National Legislative
scheme was the result of their long and
patient efforts, and the result has justi-
fled their sagacity, for / think it may be
truthfully said; no part of our political
machinery has worked better. When we,
as members of the General Assembly,
come to the discharge of the duty of Sc
lecting the Representative of our State
in this great council, we step upon the
plane of national politics. and participate
in national legislation, and we should
never be unmindful of the fact that our
action will affect our fellow citizens,
of the entire union, from Maine and
Texas and Oregon and Florida, almost
as much as the citizens of North Caro-
lima. There is, therefore, something more
than personal preferences, sectional
claims and rival ambitions, however
worthy they may be, involved in the
pending question.
"The exalted functions of the high
place We are considering require, and the
Democratic party in North Carolina de-
mand of us to select a man of unques-
toned integrity-or spotless public and
private life; man of high intelligence
and experience in State affairs; a man
IN sympathy with the needs, hopes and
aspirations of the people; man who
recognizes the obligation of government
to protect and stimulate the industrial
and economical efforts of every legiti-
mate enterprise of both hand and BARN;
mana politician, if you please-with
well-known and decided political views
compresensive enough to understand and
uphold our dual system of Federal and
State governments as they are fixed in
the Federal Constitution; man whose
patriotism is only limited by frontiers Of
the Republic and will follow it's flag
wherever it shall righteously be carried;
man of such courage and wisdom that
will enable him, on the one hand to beat
back the assaults on our social and
economical systems, of, the dangerous,
irresonsible and iconiclastic elements in
our country to whom all tradition law
and order, ipoffensive, and on the other,
to throttle the more dangerous demon
of greed and avarice, which would pros
titute all form of government, all inter-
ests and rights, public and private, to
it's own rapacity. Especially should he
be in accord with the great principles of
Democratic party upon all the great
fundamental principles of constitutional
government; and above and beyond all,
be of approved faith and action upon the
vital question of race relation in this
State, and be ever alert and able to de-
fend the policy of our State in that re-
spect for which our people have made
so great sacrifices and heroic efforts.
That question may yet find its final solu-
tion i'll the Senate of the United States.
"Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen: 1 de-
clare to YOU nv sincere belief that the
gentleman 1 have nominated possesses
these high and varied qualifications.
"a native OF the Eastern part of our
State, where his childhood and boyhood
were passed, he inherited the high char
acteristics that have always distinguish
ed the people of that region, his ardent
and responsive nature readily absorbed
and responded to the impressions and
influences of that delightful county, and
his love, devotion and affectionate sym
pathy for it through all its social and
political vicissitudes have never wavered
Educated at the University of his
native State, he drank eagerly from that
fountain of learning and patriotism. and
left it with the esteem OF his teachers,
the love OF his fellow students, with his
intellect enlightened, and his soul en-
nobled by the study of the history OF
his State, and by the example of the
great and good men who made that MIS-
tory.
He selected for his home that beau
| tiful region beyond the mountains
| Western North Carolina, the land of
| Swain, and Clingman, and Vance, and
| Merriman He came among us un-
| heralded and unknown, without pecu-
| mary means, without family influence
| but with courage and hope Soon his
| cheerful and courteous manners, his
| brilliant mind and steady character at
| tracted attention. His upright, spot
less life, his diligence as a student, and
| his remarkable powers as forcible and
winning speaker, rapidly brought him to
| the front at the bar and in public af-
| fairs, and he soon was the recognized
| leader of the rising young Democracy.
| So the arcunstions of his life have
| brought him in contact with every sec
| tion and all classes
"When political disaster overlook our
people in "a and 90, he was called upon
| to make what we all felt was a hopeless
| contest for the Legislature His can
vases were characterized by such
pluck. eloquence and wisdom that when
| the tide turned, he was without opposi-
| tion selected by the Democrats of his
| adopted county to represent them in the
General Assembly in the sessions of 1899
and 1901 How he discharged his duties
there is known of all men. | do not be
lieve it is an eXaggeration to say that