The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-10-09

TOWN. Oh WILSON ana IL I1ulliluuc VI lilC
unterrfied had gathered to hear him.
AS small boy, unobserved. I sat on
the steps of a law Office where the
leaders gathered before the speaking
and heard him greet the old men as
they were introduced to him by the
suave and gracious Henry G. Will
liams. 1 thought then that he was
not like our sort of folks. but had
stepped out of the books that told of
the courtly knights and squires the
Bayards, the men who graced King
Arthur's court. / had not supposed
could be as knightly, as chivalrous,
as courtly as Gen. Ransom was as he
met the sturdy and sensible farmers
of that county, who do not as a rule
set much store by appearances. They
have always been Democratic in
never were any Wings in that country
in the old time and white Republi-
can at that time was a rare bird
Not a few of the men there
in wool hats had been in General
Ransom's regiment in the War Be-
tween the States. They knew that in
those trying times that he was
comrade who shared with them dan.
ger and privations. and they needed
no introduction to the man they had
followed in battle. He recalled scenes
that brought tears and kindled a light
in their eyes that their home-folks
had never seen. Young men of this
generation may not hope to come so
closely together as the men who knit
their ties of comradeship amid shot
and shell. 1t gave a fellowship that
peace cannot cement. 1t was a friend
ship born in those days that gave
Gen. Ransom friends who could al
ways be relied upon. The public man
who had soldier friends knew that
they were not critical and did not
need to be cultivated. They We're
friends 'for keeps and it was be-
cause Gen. Ransom had tied his SOL
diers to him with hooks of steel that
nobody within his party could ever
hope to defeat him.
The speech he made on that day
was the first 1 had ever heard from
a man in exalted station. He was the
most persuasive speaker / have ever
heard on the stump. He seemed to
be as able to persuade whole audi
ence to look at things his way as he
always could bring around an indivi-
dual to his conclusions. That is a
very rare talent There had been
candidates In Wilson. He resolved by
persuasion, by appeal. by argument to
reunite them, and his speech was as
winning as the speech of youth who
would win a maid. 1t was permeated
with entreaty and it powerfully inn
pressed all who heard it. There was
that quality of kindness and Graci-
BUSINESS in his public speeches that
most men employ only between man
and man that compelled acouiescence
and yielding. Unless your heart was
stdeled against him. you could no
more resist Gen. Ransom's fervid APP
peal, even if your judgment refused
to assent to his argument. than the
lover could turn a deaf ear to the ap-
peals of his sweetheart. He was elo-
uuent, he was scathing when he rarely
INDUCED in invective. he was strong
in argument and happy In iliustra-
ton, but the thing in his speech that
took hold on me the first day / heard
him and held me ever after when he
spoke was his masterful persuasion
and compelling entreaty. 1t was that
which made his speeches vote-makins
and that won the hearts of the peo-
pie.
General Ransom was native OF
Warren county which has given TO the
State many of it's first men. among
them his distinguished k1nsman Ma
thaniel Macon. The differences pc
tween Ransom and Macon were
marked, but there was striking per
sonal resemblance. and both will ranE
always among the States first sons
Gen. Ransom once told me of Vlsl
he paid with his father to Mr.. Macoi
after the "Oid Roman" had retired IL
priyate life after half century o
| public service "Mr. Macon was {
man" said Gen. Ransom, "who made
economy one of the greatest virtues
! At home he dressed simply-as sim
ply as his hired men and lived in
plain and economical manner. MY
father and I arrived just at dinner
time, and were invited to dinner.
was in the summer and Mr.. Macor
sat down to the table in his shirt
sleeves. wearing no coat. My father
had bought a very handsome suit O.
clothes which he was wearing. Mr.
| Macon asked him how much it cost
and was answered so many Ct have
forgotten the number) hogsheads Of
tobacco Mr.. Macon then told my
| father that every article of his wear.
ing apparel had been made on his
farm including his hat and shoes. and
the only money expended by him was
a few cents for dyes Gen. Ransom
then a boy-said he was impressed by
the dignity in the bearing of Mr.
Macon. Though dressed in homespur
and wearing no coat. he had a ven.
.erable appearance.
1 re- %I,o e. Dr.