The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-07-01

10 De perfectly accurate, on the 11th
Of April 1900, 1 accepted at the hands
Of the Democratic party the nomination
for Governor Of the State. On that oc-
casion I made a speech TO the united
and demonstrative democracy. Today /
come to another Democratic convention
to witness the selection of him who
shall be my successor. I do not think
1t Inappropriate upon this occasion to
review the work which has been don
In this state since nat day i'll April
ciates for Office.
The memory of that day abides with
me still. I recall distinctly the fine
crowd, the sturdy and determined and
deeply enthusiastic, though calm
crowd of men whom I faced that day.
They a met for a high purpose. They
had grown weary through the years Of
struggle for good government. They
were sick at heart with the makeshifts
to which we had been compelled 10 re-
sort in order to free the state from the
danger of being controlled by an ignor-
ant mass, voting as one man. They
were calmly resolute in their determi-
nation once for all to put an end to
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] remember that my greatest fear
hen was, and 1 so expressed it, that
j should be unable rightly to interpret
and adequately to express the high
ideals n noble purposes which thrilled
the hearts OF North Carolinians at that
hour. That fear still abides with me.
/ can merely say tha I have honestly
~endeavored day by day to realize that
men then assembled were willing to
make any sacrifice in order to secure
the boon of good government.
That / have fallen short of their ex-
p~ectation I know. That I have failed
to keep my own ideals I am certain, but
the work which / have done was under
taken in the calm confidence that your
generosity would forgive the short
comings and your kindness approve in
terms too strong, the little that / might
accomplish.
In speaking of the work Of the past
administration / shall frequently use
the personal pronoun IL" not from any
desire to appropriate the work done,
nor l trust from any sense Of vanity,
but because of convenience Of express
sion. l wish to say in the beginning
that the work has not been mine.
Whatever good has been accomplish
ed has had the whole body of the peo-
pie behind it and has had to execute it
N4C i Il vi NAS wv ~ OAS
conscientious men with whom 1 have
had the homo to be associated.
The closing paragraph of the speech
which / made to the convention which
nominated me was as follows: IT snail
respect the right of property and rejoice
in prosperity, but l shall not forget that
they who toll, constitute not only the
largest class of our people, but from
their labors can spare little time to
IlrOA their views nDOn those thH thew
have chosen to serve them"
That paragraph l conceive to repre-
sent clearly, if not adequately, the duty
of the public servant in a representa-
tive democracy.
This administration has sought to
live up to that declaration.
When We came into office We found
that during the first three years of
Governor Russell's administration, this
old confederate soldiers and widows
had received in pensions only the sum of
SS26. 2S4:29, These men and women were
boor; they were old; they were needy.
Many of them were actually suffering
for the necesSaries of life. They had
done the state much service. No brav-
er men had ever faced death. No
truer women ever suffered with sweeter
patience
The State was poor, and we knew it.
The treasury was empty,and We realized
it; but the duty was upon US II we
faced il.
During the first three years of this
administration we have paid 20 these
men and women s505. 015.O0. During the
first three years Of Governor RusselPs
administration there was paid to BLING
and totally disabled Confederate col
diers $13, S90.Qo. During the first three
years of my administration we have
paid them 500, 026.00 x. During the first
three years Of Governor RuSSelPs a6-
ministration he paid for the Soldiers
Home So, 10000. During he first three
years OF my administration We have
paid $40, 10000. The debt has not yet
been cancelled. The obligation still re-
mains The duty of making further
provision for these old and suffering
people will have TO be met as the years
go by, and the burden of bearing the
taxation necessary for it will be borne
with cheerfulness by every man worthy
of living in the state that furnished the
most soldiers to the Southern Confed-
eraoy and did most in behalf OF the
Lost Cause.
Again We were confronted with an
there were hundreds of insane in the
state for whom provision had not been
made. They were in the poor houses,
in jails, in homes where there was pow
erty and want. Their cry was coming
up from all parts of the state; a sor-
rowfuI cry, awakening emotions of pity
and forcing every true hearted man TO
seek a way in which to provide for
them.
Again we were confronted with an
empty treasury; with property assess
ed below its value; with a tax rate not
ADEQUATE to the needs of the govern
ment; but the duty to provide for these
insane people was before Us and we
have partially met il. On December
LIST, 1900, the state was caring for 1,62
insane people; in December 1908, the
state was providing for 1928 insane
people. The volume OF the cry OF dis
tress has been 1essened. but it still con-
tinues TO disturb the ear and TO sad
Gen the heart OF the pitiful.
We have expended for the past three
years for the care OF the insane and for
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