The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-05-07
TWO LESSONS TAUGHT IN THE
LIFE OF THE LATE MAJOR
ROBBINS.

In 1882. the late Mai. William NJ.
Robbins was the Democratic candi-
date for Congress in his district and
was defeated. one cause-and one
cause only-caused his defeat In the
previous year a constitutional amend
ment prohibiting the sale or manufac-
ture of whiskey in North Carolina
was submitted TO the people. 1t was
testing time in this State. No man
OF political sagacity believed it would
be ratified. Out of 100, 900 negro vot-
ers it was well understood that the
Republican machine would compel
| 95, 900 of them to vote against 1t. The
temperance sentiment was dormant
an6 the people had not been aroused
as to the evils OF the traffic. The
measure was foredoomed to defeat
and sagacious politicians made haste
to go to the summer resorts when the
election was held or to declare while
l am the strongest sort of temper
ance man / cannot get the consent
Of my mind to vote for a measure
The call was made for-men to speak
to the people and urge the ratification
of the amendment. Maj. Robbins was
in Congress. representing a district
| largely engaged in sitting. lie knew
that large majority of the people of
his district opposed prohibition. He
had been appointed a member of the
| Ways and Means committee i'm Cong
ress-the greatest committee i'm the
House, and he is the only North Caro-
| linian who has been so honored since
the war Before him was a con-
greSsional career i'm which he
was assured of national leadership,
! for he had no superior i'm ability and
| in eloquence on the Ways and Means
committee or i'm the House. His
| friends told him that IL he espoused
the cause of prohibition it would
cost him his seat in Congress and close
/ his public career He was ambitious
for public honors and his congressional
| duties were most congenial to him.
| But the call came from the temper
ance forces and he heard 1t as plainly
az a greater man in the early days
had heard the cry, Come over into
Macedonia and help us" To his
friends who begged him not to sacri-
flee his public career for hope
! less cause, he replied II will
support the right Congress or
no Congress- And his eloquent
voice was heard on many
stump for the protection OF the home
and the youth OF the land His cour-
age did not fail to win the approval
of many OF his constituents who dis
agreed with him. for among men of
high character difference of opinion
does not cause arrangement. He was
renominated. He made the campaign
OF his life. lie thrilled the people with
his c1oqucnce and had an ovation as
he journeyed from county TO county
1t looked like he would win. but his
opponent, not his equal on the stump
was more Than a match for Mai. Rob-
bins i'm the political warfare Of that
year. With the odds against him and
an astute opponent Maj. Robbins was
majority. 1t was a distinct loss to the
state that Maj. Robbins was retired
from Congress and a loss to the House
that it should have lost a brilliant
member Of the Ways and Means Com
mittee. Upon his retirement from
Congress Mai. Robbins returned to
the practice Of the law He was never
a candidate again for public office,
though in every campaign he spoke
with compelling eloduence in behalf
of the Democratic nominees and in
defense Of Democratic principles. In
1894 he was appointed by President
Cleveland upon the recommendation
of Senator Ransom, a member of the
Gettysburg Commission. II paid we'll
and he enjoyed the opportunity it gave
him to help write the history of that
great battle and do justice TO the brave
men Of his own State.
Did he ever regret sacrificing his
! congressional career to stand By his
1 convictions and vote against the whis-
! key evil? on the contrary. he ac-
cepted the disappointment-(fo for il was
a sore disappointmenD- with the
! courage that he and his brothers met
! the failure OF the Confederacy 20
which he and Hon. Frank G. Robbins
gave their young manhood. and the
other brothers gave their lives. and
grew to be more OF a philosopher and
patriot in private station than would
| have been possible in the exactions Of
a public career. He lived TO see thou
sands of good men who differed with
him i'm 1881 come to a more advanced
position on temperance than he occu-
pied when advocacy of prohibition
brought about his defeat More than
that: He lived to find vindication in
| his own town. At that time States
vile was the centre Of the wholesale
and retail whiskey business Of Wes-
tern North Carolina. and the most
ardent temperance man in Iredell did
not dare to believe that in twenty
years Statesyille would vote out stills