The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1909-07-13

the restoration Of affairs and he had
courage and nerve to apply the rene
dy. But the remedy was such tina
the Federal authorities realized tina
unless its application was checked.
the riot Of misrule instituted by their
myrmidons and upheld by bayonets
must be speedily ended.
A Congressional Committee Of IN
QUESTION was raised before which
was brought man after man who was
thought to have knowledge of affairs
in the Southern States. Man after
man weakened under the ordeal n
told all, and many of them more
than all they knew. At h begin
ming of the persecution Col. Saunders
had been urged to fly before the storm
and a large sum in gold had been
raised and placed at his disposal, but
flight involved desertiOn and this was
to him impossible. At last his time
came to be put upon the rack. He
was carried to Washington to appear
before the committee. At the begin
ming of the examination he put him.
self under the protection Of the Con-
StitutlOn that 10 man can be forced
to give information discriminating
himself. For days every Strategem
known to expert lawyers, every threat
known to uncrupuloEs torturers, ev-
cry promise known to skilled corrup-
tionists was used to extort admission
or infOrmatlOn; but with mOnOto-
nous regularity came his reply, II
decline to The lion was at
bay and the ours, snarling out of
reach, dared not close in combat. With
the examination of Col. the
inquisition fell. 1t was realized that
the face of terror it had assumed was
only a Chinese mask behind which
lurked no real danger.
o. after this episode Col. Saunders
hnoo-o ~ ~ Tho nI;fo~c - +ho WI
mington Journal. His skill as a writer
was great, but the great force of his
editorials was based on the knowledge
Of the people hat behind them was
the personality Of a man whom no
temptations could corrupt, and no
danger terrify. The Journal became
the Democratic textbook, and in 1875
forced the calling Of the Consittu-
tiOnal Convention. This was a haZ-
ardous experiment, but the result
justified the risk, for under the CON-
of 1875 the legislation neces-
sary for the redemption of the eastern
counties from negro domination and
the restoration Of the University be-
came possible.
From this time on the power which
made him the final referee in matters
of party policy grew and strengthened
From 1876 until the time of his DEATH,
his influence was practically unbound
ed. And to his. immortal honor be it
said that his power was never abused.
Not only was it never used for self
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT but, [ speak with
knowledge when / say that in more
than one instance he not on1y permit
ted, but advised and assisted in the
promotion Of men whom he person.
ally held as near in hatred as his bic
heart was capable OF, and this because
his superb judgment enabled him to
free his vision from all mists of pref
l6joa and roo1r1., that fho1rh 49, |
1ous to him., these men were valuable
to the State.
In 1876 the Observer of Raleigh
came into eXistance. Col. Saunders
was it's editor until in 1879 he was ap-
pointed Secretary of State.
From time certainly as early as
1885, the Legislature had been passing
and resolutions for the collection
and publication Of the records bearing
on the early history Of the State. But
matter had always ended with re-
and enactments. Many of these
records were already in the office of
State department. From these Col.
learned where to look for
others and when eleven years later
death brought him relief from suf-
fering and duty, the material were pre-.
served On which can be based a true
history of the State and from which
% use his own words: Coming gen.
may be able to learn what
Of men their ancestors were"
The reward for this stupendous la
Dor Was-a resolution OF thanks pas
sed by the Genera Assembly by a ris-
vote. It was more than he asked,
it was all he would have taken.B But
that the State has begun to show
reversal of her policy of self-obliter-
alton and is becoming Willilg for the
world to know that she has on some
occasions produced sons worthy Of re-
membrance, would it not be we'll that
either by statue or tablet she should
preserve the memory of the man who
made it possible to read the story Of
years struggle with the
mother country for Constitutional
Government, and NJ less wonderful
story Of her hundred years struggle
for very life, both eliminating in her