The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1907-10-29

vas a wear Of one OF the most exciting
p~residentiaI campaigns in our history
Henry Clay was the nominee 81 tHe
Whig party, which had come ~"
prominence during the previous nj
teen wears and had dominated national
politics for four years. . the
hand. James K. Polk, a ratlVe or
North Carolina and graduate Of our
University, was the nominee ~ the
Democratic party, or as II was better
known. the Loco Foco party. Many
elements made this cam paign exciting
the men and the party principles.
There was Henry Clay, the 1901 OF the
Whig party. Who had been noted for
his prominence in national politics Tor
twenty or thirty years; while on the
other hand there was POLK, a dark
horse candidate anC 10 the
public. who was the head Of q party
which had dominated national poI1tcs,
with the exception Of four years, from
he beginning of the new century.
Resides. there was the bank and sub
treasury question, which had been the
paramount issue for twelve years, also
the Texas and other less important
questions.
All of these playing their part made
Clay's visit to Raleigh a memorable
event in our State history. Clay had
promised two years before TINS 70
come to his State, but mad never
come. so the leading Wings took ad-
vantage OF this opportune year ana
pressed the invitation upon him to full
fill his promise during his anVaSs
CLAW accepted the invitation to come
TO Raleigh on the 18th Of April. Alter
this announcement had been made,
the people of the State began to look
forward to and prepare Tor TINS great
event. 1t was not merely a local at
fair for Raleigh, but an event toward
which the whole State Q with
great interest.
It is useless to say, during such an
exciting campaign, that Raleigh and
vicinity and indeed the whole state
did their best in preparing Tor ms
visit. 1t seemed that the people forgot
party p~rejudices, as strong as they
were, and Joined hand in hand to-
give the States distinguished visitor
q most cordial welcome. The commit
tee on entertainment prepared II great
public barbecue sufficient to feed sew
eraI thousands. AS the Raleigh Reg
lister stated, the people throughout the
State highly fed their animals for the
event. One farmer in the west sent
word to Raleigh that if they needed
any meat to let him know, and he
would see that meat would be no
question in entertaining the people.
Besides the preparation for the pub
lie entertainment, the ladies OF Raj
eigh and vicinity prepared various
souvenirs and emblems on Clay and
MS NlSll. oIlt IL wa Tx 1I"y
banner which was executed by Charles
Doratt. The design was as follows
ION the right side of the picture, d
female robed in the national flag is
e~ndeavoring, although weak and ex-
hausted, to raise herself from the
ground; she is surrounded by dark
clouds, and near by her in the back
ground are representations of envy
and discord. In the center of the
picture is a full length picture of
Henry Clay, with his left hand assist
ing the female to rise and with his
right hand pointing to the right of
the picture, which represents a beauti-
full sky, a view Of tie ocean crowded
with ships d~ischarging their cargoes on
a beach covered with merchandise. In
the foreground is a rural scene on a
beautiful spring morning" Also va
rious verses were composed to cele-
brate the occasion, such as the fol-
lowing:
Mature is ever the same. they say,
Today the proofs before our face;
She made the first of the race of clay
And Clay is still the first of the
race"
In retaliation to the Locos who
sneered at the Wings and called them
"Coons," from the emblem of the
party, we md these words:
'Of all the gay tenants that live in
the wood
And dance by the light of the moon,
To say what is true and stick to his
word,
Boys, give us that honest old coon.
To say what is true and stick to his
word,
Boys, give us that honest old COON
Also we find in the Raleigh Register
an ode to Henry Clay, from which 1
quote a few lines:
1--WE greet thee now
But as the mighty deep,
Wakes from her giant sleep,
When the wild storm hath power:
Ten thousand hearts with one wild
puse do leap;
While from the side.
And valleys green and wide
Are gathering at this hour.
Gray sires and eager sons to hail
That welcomes to each hearth and
home the
Patriot Clay.
Thou art no stranger here;
For noble deeds like thine,
Through the long lapse of time,
Shall rear for thee a shrine,
In every home and heart where free
dom still is dear
While these extensive preparations
were being carried on, the time for his
arrival was drawing near. A'commit-
tee of the following was ordered to
meet Mr.. Clay below Wilmington at
Somerville, where he was to land, and
escort him to the city: Messrs. Gather,
of Burke; Pearson, of Davie; Mont
gomery, of Montgomery; Hale, OF
Cumberland: Hill, of Northampton;
Williams of Surry, and Grimes. of
Pitt. To cooperate with this commit
tee was a committee OF eighteen-tWO
from each congressional district. On
account of a days delay Mr.. Clay did
not arrive at SOmerville until Wed
nesday morning at sunrise. Here he
was met by the aboVe named commit
tee and escorted to Wilmington, where
he mad his first speech in the State
1t was short but touching; from II
we quote a few words: 4 have long
looked forward to this visit to North
Carolina with a pleasing hope and now
having set foot upon her soil for the
first time today, my fondest anticipa-
tions were in a course of being real
lied, and the event Will form ar
epoch IL my life He further said
Il come not as a political gladiator