The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-06-10
STEDMAN THE CRY
Mass Meeting of Citizens
of Greensboro.
Rev. DR.. Battle Speaks With Earnest
and Eloquent Words fn Behalf
of Charles M. Sted-
man..
Especial to News and Observer)

Greensboro, N. c., June "a large
ly attended and enthusiastic mass
meeting of the citizens of the Green's
boro was held here tonight for the
purpose of organizing a Stedman club.
The organization was perfected by
electing Judge r. c. StrudWick as
president and six of the leading cit-
zens of Greensboro as vice-presidents.
Enthusiastic speeches were made by
prominent persons present showing
that the universal feeling here is that
Stedman will be nominated.
A most thrilling and affecting speech
was made by Rev. DR.. II. w. Battle
pastor of hte First Baptist church, a
neighbor and old friend of Major
Stedman. This speech was so striking
that it is reported below in full.
MIR. Chairman, ladies and gentle
men: When, twenty years ago, | left
the arena of political discussion after
Il taste of the sparkling chalice that
young ambition held out, it was with
full purpose of heart to return to it no
more. If the invitation to speak this
evening had presented to me no high
er object than the promotion of the
| political aspirations of any man, how
ever worthy, | should have courteous
| ly declined it, but, sir, as l under
| stand it, / am here to bea Testimony
in the interest of truth and on be-
| half of that which every generous ma
| ture passionately loves-fair play. AS
regards Chas. M. Stedmans party 10y.
| atty, others must speak but I do not
deem it appropriate that / should tell
| you the things / know in relation to
his moral and religious character. /
may be permitted to declare in this
| presence and at this time that we have
communed together of sacred things,
and that he has spoken to
me upon the verities of our holy
! Christianity with a reverence almost
/ too deep for words Major Stedman
has not been a model churchman as
! regards attendance on the stated
| ministry of the word. and this may
have been used to his prejudice; but
/ know for he has spoken freely to
me on the subject that his high ideal
| of what such an one ought to be, and
| his modest estimate of his own spir-
itual attainments have deferred him
a mistake, it may have been a mis-
| take, / think it was, but the mistake
of man who detests cant and abhors
| hypocracy. He a skeptic it is not
! true. AS we'll might you attempt to
1 convince me that Charles NJ. Stedman
is false to the memory of his mother
| as that he does not with every facul-
| ty, of his mind and l trust all the
power of his heart adore the God of
! the Bible and the SAVIOR of the race.
| lido not theOriZe, l testify. Speak of
| character, it is a melancholy COM
| mentary upon the evil days on which
we have fallen in the Old North State
when such arrows of detraction can
be shot at such character without ex-
citing an outburst of public indigna-
| ton. Why. sir, my baby boy, who
will deign to greet no other stranger.
watches for his coming and he daily
passes by my home on his way to
| his office, and runs to meet him with
an infants unerring instinct for the
| tender, the loving, the noble, and the
| true. His is a nature that might
wear the shield of Bayard or Sidney
| plume of snow. Mr. Chairman,
count it an honor to call Charles M
Stedman my friend, and whether, at
| the coming election, his grey locks
shall wear a chaplet placed there by
| the suffrage of Il grateful people in
appreciation of intrinsic manhood
and that historic heroism to which we
of younger generation can pay trib-
ute but for a little while longer OF
| when natures great debt is paid shall
wear the ornament of it's own un-
| sullied WhiteneSS | shall ever love and
admire the character of Charles Man
| ly Stedman."