The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-02-05

iian duty. Every thought was BASED
on sound sense and direct business
methods. Her name was already
world wide--her fame riV;lling that
If Howard and Romilly. She touched
and without the least Of
tense, the general backwardness of
he State, q State at once so desirable
% live in, and SO in need OF develop
nent The papers had little TO say.
but intelligent men and women or
I'll classes and all sections saw q crisis
vas upon us. If the work OF Progress
md Reform was once entered upon,
here was no limit TO the demands
lpon the cash and credit of the State.
lot then what il now is, nor what IT
soon became under the impulse OF
he bold legislation of the memorable
.ession then near at hand. Still there
vas no intimatiou of any given line
If movement, or even chance Of de-
,arture from the traditional "dodg-
matchmaking policy" Worse still,
here was no money in the treasury,
nd the treasurers report then SHOW
d the whole State revenue for gener-
/ purposes was only the pitiful sum
f $50. 600; a less sum by ha!f than
,harlotte and Mecblenburg county
low annually collect and pay out. But
lere was this heroic woman asking.
1T one swoop, fully 100000!
And now to the battle.
The Legislative Session OF 1883.
The two Houses met November
9th, 1S4S. Party feeling ran high.
aylor had been elected President,
nd Manly had carried the State; but
he latter by so small a majority as
0 point to the ultimate triumph OF
Little David" and the Free Suf-
rage Democracy, if only the party
arness could be kept in order, and
rel; in place. But here again was
singular coincdent: Each house
as Just evenly tied; and each had
everal contested seats; and the Ia
nous one of Waddeli against Berry,
-om Orange, actuaIiy cXtcnuin@
trough six weeks. What chance for
railroads and Lunatic Asylums In
UGH a body!
After a few days .balloting the
Wigs got the Commons, with the
eneronn consolidating Robert Il. Gil
am. of the strong slave county OF
ran Vile. for Speaker; and the Demo-
rats secured the Senate. with the
nyielding, unfalterinG, ever reilaoie
alvin Graves from the no less negro
ounty Of Caswell, us their Speaker
nd leader.
Governor VIM 4. Graham was the
etiring Executive. and in his last
,essaee. he gave account of the dc
lorahIc condition of both the State
nd The people. He frankly admit
ID that 1.-The transportation facilities
ere the worst of any State in the
MON" The Raleigh and CASTOR
,ailroad had utterly broken down,
nd was near a stand-stili the VIII
ainston and Weldon was threatened
18th default: and the State in the
,rch for both! He cordially COM
,cuded Miss Dir and her mission 10
Re earnest consideration OF the Nom
ers. bat even he could not yet re-
ommend State aid.
still Governor Graham did advise q
ort of prospective line Of railroad
rom Raleigh TO Salisbury. and then
y be extended on To Charlotte, ana
Ultimately connected With the road
pproaching that point from Charles
IN ard Columbia. For this proposed
ne he advised limited State aid.
ut it was mainly To serve ana save
he dilapidated Raleigh and castor
ne. and so protect the State from c&-
ected loss. And it was pointediy OBJ
acted that the first and imhlediatc
fleet of such Il line would ONLY be
, build up towns and cities ont of the
tate. with a mere chance Of an East
IN extension, thereafter, Is suggested
V the Governor. William y. Graham
loWeNcr was the one man tnal tl@ti
nd at all times represented the pest
Conservative progress OF the state ana
this was ali he and his followers
,ad to offer, the prospects We're
gloomy enough.
The Granville Connection: \ Lion
In The Way.
But il also speedily turned out that,
i anticipation of the City Of Rich
,ond extending one of its numerous
abroad lines TO Danville, upon our
.orthern border, the Charlotte and
outh Carolina Railroad Company
'ould carry their road right on
through the State; and would do tins
tithout q dollar of pubic money
tate or county. They asked only
naked charter" Then, what made
matters doubly complicated was the
act that every member along this
roposed "Danville Connection" from
recklenburg to Rockingham. stood
repaired to fight TO the very end Tor
his NAKED Charter.
Mr.. Ellis, of Rowan, had charge Of
he bill and the same was introduced
he very day after the organization
the Assembly
The most determined, ever ready,
,utspoken opponent of the "DanVlile
Connection" was the Hon. Edward
;tallly. member of the House from
ne county of Beaufort. in the extreme
-nst He was an ex-member of Con-
some repute, and easily led
the Wings He was an intense par
isan, but was always a generous foe.
lie INDUCED in no demagogism; dld
lot make set speeches; rarely pub
ished one, and never spoke for
His position was pc
uliar one. No railroad talked of or
contemplated was likely TO reach his
lome of Little Washington; nor
lid he have any scheme of his own
n embarraSs him. He therefore stood
forth as a bold and really honest adj
vocate for any really good North
Carolina system that would likely
)ui'd up our own State. This attitude
rave great weight TO all he said. He
boldly avowed his purpose to fight,
n every conceivable way, what he
called the "Danville Sale" "But," he
would often say, "the friends of this
South Carolina and Virginia bondage
we're not to blame. so long as the
North Carolina Assembly failed to
i've her people q. real North Carolina
system.'' This falling" he said, II,
too, go for Danville."
Meantime bill embodying Gov
L. -l.,,1 I, tY,t,