Newspapers / The Gazette [1891-1898] (Raleigh, … / Jan. 23, 1897, edition 1 / Page 2
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INAUGURATION OF RETURN OF THE REPUBLICANS TO POWER. CEREMONIES AND INCIDENTS OF ADMINISTERING, THE OATH TO THE NEW OFFICERS OF STATE. Counting the Vote Enthusiastic Demonstrations from the Audience The Governor's Address Complimented by People of All Political Parties. Twenty years ago a Republican Gov ernor of North Carolina went out of office to be followed by two decades of Democratic control. Tuesday the Re publican party, in the person of Governor Daniel L. Russell, once more assumed direction of the affairs of State, and the political party that lately fancied itself secure in the enjoyment of power went out in obscurity and oblivion to which it had been consigned by the people of North Carolina at the election in Novem ber. . The events leading up to the inaugu ration of Governor Russell began with counting and certifying the vote as re turned by counties for the various offi cers of State elected November 3d. At 11:15 Tuesday morning the Senate pro ceeded in a body to the ball of the House of Representatives, and Lieutenant-Governor. Doughton, taking a seat beside Speaker Hileman, the two bodies were declared to be in joint session for the purpose of counting the vote and wit nessing the inauguration of the officers of State. Senators Anthony and Atwater and Representatives Cook and Nelson were appointed tellers. Then the long and tedious reading of the returns began and continued without interruption until 2:50 P. M., when the columns of figures were added up, and the presiding officer announced that the following officers had been elected for the four years ending Jannary, 1900: Daniel L. Russell, Governor. Charles A. Reynolds, Lieutenant-Governor. Cyrus Thompson, Secretary of State. William H. Worth, Treasurer. Hal. W. Ayer, Auditor. Zeb. V. Walser, Attorney-General. Charles H. Mebane, Superintendent of Public Instruction. On motion of Representative Cook, of Warren, a committee of two Senators and three Represenatives was appointed to wait upon Judge Russell and other State officers-elect, inform them of their election, and request their presence at the desk of the presiding officer. The following committee was appointed : Senators Parker, of Randolph, and Grant, of Wajne, and Representatives Cook, of Warren, Houser, of Lenoir, and Dixon, of Cleveland. The committee re tired, and in a few minutes returned es corting the Governor-elect and other officers. The entrance of Judge Russell was the signal for hearty cheering and hand clapping. The party was assigned to seats at the right of the Speaker's desk, and the ceremonies of administering the oath of office to the officers-elect began at once and was soon ended. Mr. C. H. Mebane, Superintendent of Publio Instruction, was the first to be sworn in. Chief Justice Faircloth, of the Supreme Court, administered the oath with the dignity and grace befitting such an important occasion. An inter esting feature of the ceremony was the presentation, to each of the officers, of the pen with which he signed the pre scribed oaths. The swearing in of the officers pro ceeded without incident until the Gov-ernor-elect arose to take the oath of office, when there was a burst of generous ap plause and a few cheers from throats that could not be restrained by the dig nity and impressivenees of swearing in a Governor of North Carolina. Lieutenant-Governor Doughton introduced the Governor-elect in a few appropriate words, and then the ceremony proceeded. When the Governor laid down the pen and ascended the rostrum, there was another , demonstration, which was re peated when he spoke the first words of his inaugural address. As the Governor was ascending the rostrum, a large and beautiful boquet, tied with red, white and blue streamers of ribbon, was presented to him with the compliments and congratulation of Mrs. D. C. Pearson and Mrs. E. S. Walton, of Morganton. He gracefully acknowledged the token of esteem and admiration, and immediately delivered his address. He spoke clearly and with emphasis and de liberation, and made a fine impression by his dignified bearing and his manner of delivery, as well by the matter of his address and the able manner in which he discussed the subjects embraced in it. THE GOVERNOR S ADDRESS. Gentlemen of the Senate and House of Representatives : There is . retribution in history. The restoration of the people of North Caro lina to their constitutional rights of a free and honest ballot and of popular govern- ment should give couraga.and hope to the disfranchised men of the non-suffrage States. So long as civilization and Chris tianity endure there is always reasonable hope for the ultimate subjugation of error enthroned; for the redemption of the weak and the oppressed; for the over throw of apparently invincible wrong, If thev but wait the hour, there is no hu man power which can evade the patient watch, the vigil long of the brave who seek to assail the entrenched battlements of prevailing privileges and lawless pow er. Through long and weary years free born Americans nave suffered and en dured, for the sake of their convictions, civil and political disabilities, that were none the less remorseless and cruel be cause they were not expressed in written law. Men whose careers and characters should elevate their communities have been under the ban of political persecu tion and denied their constitutional rights while dwelling by the firesides and the graves of their fathers. To-day we give thanks to the liod or .Mature and of Na tions and to his providence which shapes our ends, for. the glorious fact that North Carolina has declared for freedom of thought, of speech and of action; for toleration and respect for the opinions of and for liberty, regulated by just and equal laws. There are many matters of domestic concern which demand your thoughtful attention, such as the increase of the tax rate for the common schools and improve-' ments in their management; the estab lishment of reformatories for youthful criminals; for the adoption of a system of vagrant laws which, without cruelty or injustice, shall authorize the arrest and commitment of the homeless .young and of the vagabonds and vagrants' of the streets and highways; the adoption of a system of apprenticeship by which the neglected young may be taken from deg radation and subjected to useful and ele vating control; the protection of lawful publio meetings against disturbances; the investigation of the conduct of judges charged with drunkenness on the bench; the extension of the criminal court dis tricts, so as to embrace more counties GOV. RUSSELL: and the establishment of an additional criminal district and the rotation of these judges; and the adoption of measures calculated to attract immigration of de sirable persons into the State. By the election law of 1895 we were rescued from the disgrace, degradation and shame of a debauched ballot and from methods that would have resulted in the permanent failure of free govern ment, and would have degraded us to the level of the riot-ndden democracies or Central and South America, but for the fact that our people rose in revolt against them and their authors, drove the usurp ers from power and declared that knavery should be supplanted by honesty. Among the best features of our present election law is thjrt fvhich gives to the Judges of our hignec-uourta a supervisory power over election officers and gives summary remedies to counsel the execution of the law. Our Supreme Court Judges have liberally construed this law in favor of justice and right, and have struck terror among malefactors who hoped to evade it. 1 bis jurisdiction ought to be extend ed so that the Judges should have un questioned authority to supervise all the election officers and issue proper and sum mary process to compel a compliance with the law. Much fraud and confusion would be avoided and greater certainty effected and expenses in election con tests saved by providing that all ballots should be numbered to correspond with the number on the poll list. This would promote the secrecy of the ballot, because it would then be deposited without being looked at, and the poll list should be cer tified, closed and sealed before the count ing of the ballots. Provision should be made to prevent the failure of election because of the loss of registration or oth er book. In 1868 our system of civil judicial pro cedure was revolutionized by the amal gamation of the law 'and the equity courts. Thi3 change, then violently de nounced, has stood the test of experience and is now generally admitted to have been a great and lasting reform. Yet much of the fallacies of the old system has been preserved by the new. Not the least among these is the doctrine that equitable remedies must be denied if there be an apparent legal remedy. Laws should be for the prevention as well as the reparation of wrong. Wrongs should be prohibited and the remedies for their prohibition should be as easy and as uni versal as possible. No defendant should be heard to say that he should not be en joined or prohibited from the commission of an unlawful act because he can be held in damages or otherwise compelled to compensate. - Actions of an equitable nature should be sustained even though there be another remedy known among lawyers as the strictly legal, Equitable and legal remedies should be cumulative. Preventive processes should be encour aged and enlarged. The policy of eery juridical system should be to prevent the commission of wrong. With the centu ries looking down upon us since the law was given thou ehaJt" and " thou shalt not," we should have passed the period when a complainant could be told from the judgment seat " you have shown that defendant is about to wrong you, but you must wail until he does it and then get compensation." The condition of the State Treasury is such a to demand the mot severe iCO .o my in all departments of the State govern ment. This is an exigency which should be faced and not evaded. The expenses of the state government, outside of the Penitentiary and Agricultural Depart ment, have increased from about 229,000 dollars in 1880 to 482,000 in 1890, and 627,000 dollars in 1896. This is an in crease in expenses of 110 per cent, m ten years, and 175 per cent in sixteen years, while the increase in wealth in the ten years was only 45 per cent., and in the sixteen years only 65 per cent. The prop erty or the state has been, and is taxed, to about the limit of reasonable endur ance. It is not clear that the only rem edy is in the reduction of public expen ditures. There might be a saving in the abolition of the Agricultural Bureau but for the fact that it is supported by a fund which cannot be directed into the State Treasury for general purposes without involving grave constitutional questions. By the abolition of the Bureau of Statis tics and of the Geological Bureau there can be saved to the State about dol lars, and by close scrutiny of all appro priations in all departments our expen ditures may be considerably reduced. When the Legislature adjourns the word should go out to the world that the crimes called lynchings must stop in North Carolina. The way to end it is plain. Remove the excuse for it. It is no justification to say, what is not de nied, that in many cases the victims de serve what they get. Barbarian brutes who commit nameless crimes must be killed, and killed quick. But let it be done under the forms of law. Let there he none of the law's delay. Give the Executive the power to call a court in stanter. Order a Judge by telegraph to the county of the crime. Try the crimi nal; if proper for an appeal, convene the appellate court on shortest possible no tice, send down the judgment and in stantly perform its mandates. Scarcely a case of mob murder of a guilty culprit has occurred wherein he would not have been convicted by Judge and jury. In most cases the lynchings have been at ', tribu table to a spirit of lawlessness. The ' only reasonable excuse that can be offered is in the failure of the delay of the law. Make the law so that there can be no delay and no reasonable appre hension of failure. Provide better rem edies for the prosecution of criminals who take the law into their own lawless hands. Authorize their indictment and trial in counties removed from their in fluence, and put them on trial before juries who believe in order and law. The regulation . of State and inter State commerce by common carriers is among ' the' most important and far reaching questions of .the day. Our in dustrial system is based- upon . agricul ture, and yet this basis of all our devel opment is dependent in this country upon the railroads. Railroad highways are necessities of civilization. North Caro lina has derived more material benefit in the last fifteen years from railroad devel opment than from any other one source. In 1880, in nearly half of our counties, there was not a railroad. There is to day a railroad in everyone of our ninety six counties, except perhaps seven. In no one of these counties would its inhab itants consent to the withdrawal or de struction of their railroad, nor would they regard Its extinction as otherwise than a confiscation of their property and of their own deflection towards barba rism, rneee popular nignways have been constructed, extended and improved largely with Le capital or non-residents. We should not forget that, however profitable these investments may have been to non- resident capitalists, we also have been and are their beneficiaries. Their investments in these properties should be protected by our laws, and by a puouc seiiumeui mat irowns upon ail attempts to make prejudice against them because thy arc supposed to be rich. State, municipal and corporate promises made to them for the purpose of obtaining expected benefits to us should be sacredly performed. We will not encourage, sanction or countenance financial repudiation in any form. - Railroads, while their earnings and profits belong to their owners, are the servants of the public, and under our system are subject to government con trol. The time is approaching, if it has not arrived, for the adoption of a policy which, without wrong to their owners, shall look towards the conversion of them into public highways owned and controlled by the nation. While we ad mit our obligations to those whose enter Erise and capital have constructed and ettered them, we must always insist upon a just and strict enforcement of their obligations to the public. Against vigorous opposition we have created a railroad commission. Its benefits are apparent, and ought to be admitted by all. To it we are indebted for the regu-. lation, and in many cases the reduction of traffic rates, and to the excellent ser vice which is given by most of the rail roads in our State. Their passenger rates which prevail in our State seem to be not unreasonable. It is questionable whether at this session of our Legisla ture there Bhould be attempted a policy of rate reductions in this particular. Aa to freight rates, there are evidences that they are excessive when compared with the enormous decline in the value of the commodities upon which they are levied. The State has a large, and what ought to be a controlling, interest in the North Carolina Railroad. An attempt has been made to pass from the State its interest in this great property for what is be lieved to be an inadequate consideration. The lease of ninety-nine j ears of all the rights, franchises and property, real and personal and mixed, of this railroad company to a foreign or non-resident corporation was made without the sanc tion of the Legislature or of the people of the State. 'It was made at a time when nobody expected it. It was made within a few months after the adjourn ment of our General Assembly, it was made without application to the Legisla ture. It was made without due discus sion or submission to the people of the State, all of whom were interested, be cause the railroad is their property. It was made six years before the existing lease expired. It was made substantially by one man, and that man was the Gov ernor of the State, who acted without the advice of the people or of their rep resentatives. It was made, so far as the people know or believe, without inviting competition among bidders. It was made . 1 L J. under circumstances wnicn indicated in tentional secrecy. It was called a lease. It was, in reality, an attempted sale of this property belonging to our tax-payers without consultation and without their advice or consent. Indeed, it was done when they did not even suspect that it was contemplated. The so-calle i lessees, the real attempted purchasers, of this railroad are the mem bers and owners of a corporation which belongs to another State. They seek to own and conduct and operate this great highway without asking the consent of the people of the state, which built it and which owns it. When the State an dertakes to complain of this transaction in its courts this foreign corporation will deny their jurisdiction and attempt tore- move the complaint to the Federal (Jourte. It is within your power, gentlemen of the Senate and House of Representatives, to provide by law that no foreign or non resident corporation shall hold or operate any railroad within this State by lease, purchase or otherwise, except upon a li cense to be granted by such court, com mission, officer or tribunal as you may designate; and that no such license shall be granted except upon a certificate from the granting power to the effect that due examination has been made and that the control, operation and management of such railroad by a foreign or non-resi dent corporation is not prejudicial to the interests of the State. And you have the power further to provide for the revoca tion of any such license by the granting power; and you have the further power to say by your law that any or every such license shall be revoked as to any such non-resident corporation which shall attempt to remove from your courts any case to which it may be a party. It is believed that the lease claimed by this foreign corporation is ultra vires and void, and that it would be so held upon the merits by our court of last resort. It is submitted that it is your duty to enact such measures as are best calculated to bring up this question for speedy deter mination in your own cou. i.- and to pre vent its removal to any other jurisdic tion. But whether this ninety-nine y e ir lease be void or valid on the strictly legal merits existing at the time of its consummation, it is to be remembered that this foreign corporation obtained and accepted it and claims a right to own and operate this railroad, not by virtue of any North Car olina statute, but under an unwritten rule, which is known to lawyers as the comity of States and nations. This un written rule, wherever it prevails, is al ways subject to revocation by the loca sovereign. In this case you are the sov ereign. The State may at any time de cline to extend this comity. 1 his so called 'lease was taken subject to this sovereign power. The lessees cannot be heard to say that they have acquired vested rights under existing laws, and thus put them selves beyond the power of the State and within the protection of that clause of the Federal Constitution which prohihits a State from impairing the obligation of contracts. They took with notice of the sovereign power of revocation residing in the State. Their contention is no more tenable than would be that of a do mestic corporation which should say that the State cannot repeal its charter granted under the State Constitution, which ex pressly reserves the right to amend or repeal all charters. This foreign corpo ration derives its right to operate a rail road within our borders by what is sub stantially a license from the State, granted under an unwritten law. Every one of our home railroads derives its powers and franchises under a written license, that is, its charter. ' As to these, the Legisla ture may revoke the license by repealing the charter, if it cannot revoke the un written license, then it comes to this that foreign corporations may come upon our soil and exercise these great powers and franchises without our consent, and thereby obtain important privileges which are denied to our own people.- . . It is most important that this North Carolina Railroad shall not be crippled or its value impaired by permitting any corporation or person to parallel it by the construction of any line, or of one mile of railroad which would connect existing line so as to have a connection through the State competitive to our own. I there be any charter heretofore granted by our State which permits this to be done, it should be promptly repealed. You are invited to adopt every and al measures within vour competency, look ing towards the recovery of this property for the benefit of the people and the tax payers of the State. . Recently the producers of .the State have derived some benefit from an actual competition between two great railroad systems runninz through our State. Judging the future by the past, we must conclude that this competition, so oeneu- cial to us, is only temporary, and may end in the absorption of one line by the oiner. uur laws should pr-;n ion me con trol of hit railroad bv anv road, route or system competitive to it, and especially oy any road that runs in tne same unw tion, or connects with the same termini. Much good may come, from a statute carefully prepared and providing every practicable protection against evasion. Among the evils that beset ncness leg islators is the system of lobbying. Per sons and corporations interested in pro posed legislation are entitled to oe nearu before legislative committees in a reason able way. Indeed, it is not improper that information, argument or suggestion should come to the legislator in any way and from any source, providt d there is no concealment as to the interest or motives of those who seek to influence legislative action. But let it be remembered that not unfrequently legislative lobbies swarm with concealed and hired repre sentatives of corporate and other inter ests who seek to promote or prevent mea sures in which their concern is purely pecuniary. These men are frequently trained politicians and lawyers, lhey represent one side and often the side that is antagonistic to the real welfare of the State. The people have no lobby. They who, "far from the maddening crowds, ignoble strife," keep the noiseless tenor of their way in mine and shop, in field and forest, in furnace and factory ; tbey who tread the thorny paths of endless toil; they who plow their own fields and live on the products of their own lands and labor these old bearers or burdens, the common people, are never heard ex cept through their elected representa tives.', : , - - -.. , . Our .present county government law gives expression to the popular will and representation to minorities. Unfortun ately the conflicts of national politics in this country extend to the management of local municipalities. Party lines are drawn in the strife of party men for par ty rewards. This General Assembly will be called on to deal with the management of towns and cities. There should be no attempt to avoid the necessity of protect ing the taxpayers of these municipalities against the danger of misrule by property less and ignorant elements. We want no Tammy Hall governments in North Caro lina I There is reason to hope that industrious and thrifty people of other States and of Europe may be attracted to us, and that the tides of immigration may flow to wards a State where men may go and settle and feel secure and free; where they may take their politics with them and vote as they please and have their votes counted as they are cast. In re mote mountains, amidst wildernesses and pine barrens there is "Heard the tread of the pioneer Of nations jet to be; The first low wash of waves Where yet shall roll a human sea." We have profited much in the way of industrial development by the money of non-residents. We ask for more, and we promise for it as complete security and protection as is or can be given by any State of this republic. The prejudices and passions engendered by civil conflict are passing away. North Carolina is the first southern State to break the lines of political sectionalism. Her people, taken as a whole, are loyal to the Union and the Constitution, and as faithful to the flag as any other people w i hin the bound aries of the nation. There is not an an archist in all her borders. We welcome all men and women of good morals and manners to come within our boundaries and join with us in working towards the splendid destiny of our old Common wealth. We will receive them as friends and brothers, to be treated like ourselves, and not as strangers and aliens to be tolerated or patronized. Let us labor to show them a State with a school system like unto those of New England and the Northwest, and a code of just and equal laws, so administered as to make life and person and property as secure, and peace and order as prevalent as in the States whose ruling elements point with pride to the institutions, the manners, the achievements, the morality,- the religion and the glories of the Puritan. May we not do a little more in the way of homes and pensions for the destitute survivors of the civil confl.ct? North Carolina had her soldiers in both armies. The national government cares for those who fought for its flag. As we advance in material wealth we should increase our expenditures for the destitute and disabled veterans of the armies of the " Storm-cradled nation that felt." Among the most important objects of our care is the State University. It is to be regretted there is among some of the best people of the State a sentiment that does not sustain the existing law, which gives an annual appropriation to this in stitution a sum which should be in creased, but for the fact that the condi tion of the State treasury may not jus tify it. If there be anything in the State laws or in the management of the Uni versity which gives, with S:ate money, free tuition to persons who are pecunia rily able to pay, and thus takes from the denominational colleges students who would voluntarily help to sustain them, then such laws and practices should be abandoned. But if this free tuition is confined to those who cannot pay, where is the barm to the denominational col leges? The limited number of these free students does not add appreciably to the expense of maintaining the University. It is about that much pure gain to meri torious young men without entailing tax ation on anybody. Neither does this State aid subtract materially from the efficiency of the public schools. If given to them, it would extend them only one day and a fraction of a day each year. In this University we have a plant that represents about five hundred thousand dollars.. We cannot afford to throw away this property. The Constitution forbids it. The memories, the traditions and the pride of our people revolt at the thought. The shades and shadows and soil of Chapel Hill are sacred in thous ands of North Carolina homes. What ever it may have been under political and social conditions that are rapidly and permanently passing away, it is now an institution that is popular in the best sense of the word. . It serves no class. Its benefits and blessings are not con fined to any sect,but are open to all. It is no more competitive to the religious and sectarian colleges than are the pub lic schools to the private academies. Complaints from denominational col leges should be heard with the defer ence due to their authors, who should be made to feel . that we rejoice in their growing prosperity and power. But the University is a part of the State, and must be preserved. North Carolina has broken the solid South; has come back to the Union in fact as well as in form. We are proud of the great republic and love its flag. We are thankful for the decree of the American people that from our national capital ambassadors to apologize for our domestic policies to foreign monarchs, and emissaries to other lands with orders to pull down our flag, shall go no more. With our Federal Constitution amended bo that such territory as we may here after acquire shall be excluded from Statehood, except by the general concen sus of the States, why should we not ex tend our national domain, wherever on this hemisphere the invitation maybe? Why sek to check our advance to that World power which is our destiny? West ward the star of empire has taken its way; from Persia to Gieece, from Greece to Italy; from Italy to Spain; from Spain to England. Its resting place is here between the lakes and the gulf and the shores of the two great oceans the gem of the north temperate zone, the land that by its fertility and climate is best in all the world for he development of the highest human qualities, for the fruition of man's noblest aspirations. With the expiring century looking back upon the errors and the glories of the past, let us realize that : "We are living, we are dwelling, In a grand and awful time ; In an age on ages telling. To be living is sublime." At the conclusion of the Governor's address, there was an enthusiastic de monstration, in which shouts ami hand clapping swelled into a glad acclaim at the consummation of the hopes of the many thousands of North Carolina Re publicans through years of waiting. Leg islators rose to their feet and waved hats, canes and handkerchiefs in the air, while the ladies in the gallery took an enthusi astic part in the demonstration. The Governor was immediately sur rounded by a throng of admirers, eager to take him by the hand and congratu late him upon his induction into office as the Chief Magistrate of thetate, and upon his masterly address, which was complimented without stint of words by all Republicans present, and was warmly praised by many prominent and influen tial Democrats and Populis's. The joint session was then brought to a close, and the Senators repaired to their Chamber, where Lieutenant-Governor Reynold was duly instal'ed in his office as presiding officer of the Senate. There was no ceremony whatever, except the delivering of the address of the Lieut n ant-Governor, which 'was heard with close attention, and waa well received. Members of the Legislature who had the Gazette sent to several of their Friends in their Respective Counties. Hon. W. G. Pool orders the GAZETTE pent to Messrs. Peter C. Nixon and Chas. W. Dance. Hon. Starkey Hare ordered the paper sent to his father, Mr. J. B. Hare. Senator Geddie subscribes for Messrs. Alfred MoNeiil and Andrew Melvin. Senator E. N. Roberts ordered the Ga zette sent during the cession to Messrs. T. L. Purdie, John Martin and George Richardson. Senator A. J. Moye gave his order for Messrs. Ulany Joyner, Thos. Exum, Wm. Johnson, Jack Johnson, Geo. Long and Freeman Vines. Hon. H. F. Brown handed in his order for the following: Messrs. Robert Mills, Luke Cannady, Joe Burney and Kit Franks. Hons. Pool, Moye, Brown, Roberts, Geddie and Hare are able representatives and look strictly after the interest of the people of their respeciivejeounties. They are punctual in attendance and are all clever men. 'Haps and Mishaps' on the Cape Fear. The celebration of Emancipation Pro clamation was a creditable affair here on January 1, 1897; the programme was rich and racy; much interest was mani festested by our people. The procession, under the efficient management of our county coronor, David Jacobs, as chief marshal, with his able ftaff, formed at the city hall, and, at 12 o'clock m., pro ceeded to parade the principal streets of the city to St. Luke's Chut ch, where the rogrtimme was carried out. Rev. Rag and, cf the C ngregaticnal Church, in voked the blest-ings of the M;mt H'h upn the at-seinbUge in a very foi c ole and earnest appeal. Ilr. H. C. Wt bbtr did great credit to himself and the as semblage on his essay of welcome. Master J. H. Walker is a coming young man; his paper was abreast with the times and carefully prepared. This com munity, needs more young men of bis energies . The Emancipation Proclamation was read by Miss Ellen Noyes. Too much cannot be said of the rich, mellow voice with which she read ; the emphasis, pe riods and facial gestures were perfect. This lady rekindled the fires of racial Eatriotism in the breast of all who heard er. She is accomplished, and one of Wilmington's best elocutionists. Miss Anna J. Austin's original poem was a master piece of perfection. She has rare capabilities as a poetess. Wilmington's reputation in the musi cal world has not failed one whit. Her record was broken on this occasion, forty trained voices (more or less) entertained the assemblage under the supervision of Mr. O. D. Telfair, musical director. Rev. E. L. Cuyler, the orator t the day, was introduced by Rev. E. J. Gregg, of St. Stephen's church, with Ciceronian eloquence. Rev. Cuyler easily ehowned himself equal to the occasian. The flighty heights to which he carried his audience, and the ou tours' s of eloquence, fraught with logic, interspersed with rhetoric of fl ra"l beauty made for him a mark in the City by the Sea. Grand vaudeville and farce, by the grandest aggregation of first-class talent ever seen in North Carolina, Opera House, Monday, January 18. Benefit St. Stephen's Church. Nearly Jone hun dred performers, selected with great care from all the city churches. A whirl wind of novelties. Admission 25, 15 and 10 cents. This community was shocked on Sat urday morning to hear of the sad intelli gence of the death of our County Treas urer and Chairman of the Republican Executive Committee of New Hanover county. Van fAnering. He died at his residence on Sixth street, at 11:55 o'clock Saturday morning, January 2, 1897. Funeral took place January 4, 1897, from residence. Interment at Oakdale Ceme tery. Miss Lula Jenkins, Secretary to Hon. Wm. H. Coleman, of Concord, N. C, MS returned home to spend the holidajs to the delight of her many friends and acquaintances. Mr. Wm. Moore is home visiting pa rents and friends. Hon. Geo. H. White, M.' C, arrived Monday to attend criminal court. Wm. Aua. Moore. A Second "Siberia" A. Conyict Jnst Oat of the Penitentiary Talks a Lot. . W. E. Harris, the " mysterious" oris oner, who has been confined in the State penitentiary for the past five years, is a prisoner no more. When he was dis charged he was given a ticket to Durham and arrived there without a cent and nothing to eat. The Durham Herald says: "He said he would leave this State in a few days and go to a city in an ad joining State, where he has not been in eighteen years, for the sole purpose of exposing the horrors of the prison,' which he says are simply awful. In speaking of how prisoners were treated in the penitentiary, he said that they were beaten unmercifully and that several deaths had been caused in this way and the facts suppressed. 'This,' he said, 'I intend to make known to the world in the near future. I lived in a semi state of starvation for five solid years, charged with a crime which I never committed and refused pardon, as Gov ernor Carr sajs, because I would not give my name and thus disgrace other innocent persons. I can prove that crimes have been committed in prison bv the of ficials, which are punishable by death. If the incoming legislature wishes to inves tigate the state of affairs that actually exists at the penitentiary I can furnish the names of parties who will testify to what I ray. The book I intend to publish will expose all of the crimes that have been committed since my confinement in this place, which should be called the Siberia of North Carolina." Press-Vis itor. THE BROUGIITON.rOUKG CONTEST. Several days ago Broughton concluded the taking of depositions in his contest for the seat now held by Young In the General Assembly. His evidence taken as a whole or in part does not amount to a row of beanc, but in order to make as surance doubly sure, and at the same time uncover some of the fraudulent and corrupt practices resorted to by the Dem ocrats in the Wake County campaign, Young served the notice following upon Broughton a few days ago, and is now taking depositions and proving the alle gations made by him. The answer of Young says: NORTH CAROLINA Wake County. n the matter of the contest of v. If. Broughton vs. James H. Young for a seat in the General Assembly of North Carolina from the county of Wake. To Needham B. Broughton: Answering your notice of contest and 3 our notice supplemental thereto, the contest e a says: First. That your allegations as to Swift Creek precinct are untrue. Second. The facts of the second alle gation are admitted, and contested is advised as a matter of law that said two ballots were illegal and void. Third. Contestee alleges that the origi nal count, as made by the registrars and judges t f the ballots cast at Stony Hill precttict, we true and corect, and that the al.' win of contestant in third parsgrapn a e untrue. Fourth. Tuat Sidney Holloway and Junius Thompson werj. r a.tiiltil vote and were properly excluded by reg istrars and iudares of election. Fifth. That William Byrd was a duly qualified voter of Edwards Store pre cinct and had full right to vote. Sixth. That Thomas Brown was a duly qualified voter of Cary township and bad full right to vote. Seventh. That of the number of per sons declared by the contestant " to have been convict d. or confessed themselves guilty in open court and had been ad Judged guilty of felony or other crime infamous by the laws of this State, com- mitted after the nrst or January, 18, and have not been legally restored to citizenship and allowed to vote at the election on November 3d. 1896. and who are alleged to have voted for James H. Young, only Calvin Rogers did not have the neht to vote. All the others did have the right to vote, or have not been identified as the persons who were con victed, or voted for the the contestant, or for Nelson O Kelly. And this allegation applies to paragraphs second and four of the supplemental notice. Eighth. As to allegation one or tne supplemental notice, the ballots thrown out at Apex were void. Ninth. That A. tr. tolling, alluded to in paragraph three of the supplemental notice, was a duly qualified voter and had fall right to vote. Tenth. That contestant received thirty- three (33) votes at Wake Forest precinct of persons who were students at Wake Foreet College, and who were not resi dents of Wake county, but temporarily residing there - while going to school. That each one of these persons were dis qualified and had no right to vote, but tbey did vote at the election on the Sd or November last for Needham B. Brough ton, the contestant, and against the con te.itee, James H. Young. The names cf thtsa thirty three (33) persons are as tol- fow: Squire Joseph B.eker, Divie coun ty; George Bstic, Montgomery county ; Wade Dubbins ttostic, Uleveland county; Walter Ludford Cohoon, Pasquotank county; Heber Castle Draper, Halifax county; Hubert Meek Evans, Hamblen, lenn.; (Jasper uunter fry, utenmond county ; James Creg Gillespie, Rutherford county; Charlrs LUluiT CJll'UVbu.raKqut tank county; Jackson Hamilton, union county; Eugene Harris, Montgomery county; Robert Hughes Herring, Surry county; John Davis Larkins, render county; Gustavus Ernest Lineberry, Chatham county; Charles Mason Mcin tosh, Moore county; Edward Fountain Munford, Pitt county; Charles Lee Pal mer, Davidson county; David Monta ville Pressley, Jackson county; Joseph Hampton Rich, Davie county; William Riley Rickman, Macon county; Andrew Fuller Sams, Madison county; Marshal Shepherd, Robeson county; Charles Mer rimon Staley, Randolph county; Preston Stewart Vann, Sampson county ; Dennis Gordon Washburn, Cleveland county; Cebrum Daniel. Weeks, Duplin county; William Orio Williams, Chatham county; W. D. Burns, Cleve and county ; T. L. Caudle, Union county; S. E. Garner, Carteret county; Jackson Hamilton, Union county; Hugh Long, Union coun ty; G. W. Paschal!, Guilford county. 1 he following named persons who voted at the election of November 8d, last, for Needham B. Broughton and against Jas. II. Young, had no right to. vote, for the following reasons : Wm. U. Banks, at Township House pre cinct in Panther Branch township, should not have been allowed to vote because be is a lunatic. John Green voted at the second division of the Second Ward in Raleigh township for Needham B. Broughton and against James H, Young, and he should not have been permitted to vote, because he is an idiot and non compos mentis. Philo Mitchiner voted at the second di vision of the Second Ward in Raleigh township for N-edham B. Broughton and against James H. Young and he should not have been allowed to vote because he is an idiot and non compos mentis. Ambrose Peebles, who voted at the first division of the First Ward, was a non resident of that ward and should not ha ve btei allowtd to vote. He voted for Need ham B. Broughton and against Jam s U. Young. W. H. Smith voted at second division of the Fourth Ward for Needham B. Broughton and against James H Young. He should not have been allowed to vote because be was then a non-resident of that ward. Henry Wilder voted either at Wilder's Grove or Milburnie for Needham B. Broughton and against James U. Young. He had no right to vote because be was not a resident of that township. Wm. Lee voted at the second division of the Second Ward for Needham B. Broughton and against JamtsU. Young. He should not have been permitted to vote because his name was on the regis tration book for East Ruleigh precinct, and had not been erased on the day of election, because said Lee failed to get a certificate of removal. Wesley Hamilton voted at the second division of the Fourth Ward for Nvei- ham B. Broughton and against James U. Young. He had no right to vote, because he was not a resident of that ward. Len Fowler voted at the first division of the Third Ward for Needham B. Broughton and against James H. Young. He had no right to vote, because be was a non-resident of that ward. Sol. Moody voted at Rolesville precinct for Needham B. Broughton and against James U. Young. He had no right to vore, because he was a non-resident of that township. Andrew Jones voted at Rolesville pre- cmcc tor neeanam o. urougmon and against james ix. xoung. lie cad no right to vote, because he was not a resi dent of that township. That the contestant, Needham B. jurougnton, received a number of votes on blue and yellow paper to which he was not entitled. The Republican and Populist combination tickets for Wake county were first printed on vellow naner. This ticket was counterfeited by the Dem ocrats, and the name of Needham B. Broughton was one of the Democratic candidates printed thereon. The name of James II. Young was not on these forged and counttrfeit tickets. As soon as the Republicans and Populists disco v- ered that their ticicei on veuow paper naa been forged and counterfeited, they with drew these ballots and printed a second set of ticneta on oiue paper, i nis was on the nlgb!i before the election. These tick ets were also forged and counterfeited by the Democrats and the name of Needham B. Broughton was one oi tne Democratic candidates printed thereon, and the name of James U. Young was left off this ticket. These forged snd counterfeited blue tickets were scattered and distrib uted throughout Wake county, as were the forged and counterfeited yellow tick, ets. That in this way, without the fraud being discovered, a number of Republican and Populint voters cast their ballots for Needham B. Broughton, when they in tended to v.te for James II. Young and honestly thought they bad Uon so. Wherefore, the paid James II. Young fays that Needham B. Broughton was not eltcted to tie General Assembly, and honestly the majority against him was much more than eighteen votes as re turned against him. James II. Young, Contestee. Rocky Mount Grits. Mr. David Winstead has been on the sick list, but we are glad to note that he is better. Rtv. Kelly has ttken charge of his work for the rriAuiug year and contem plates muving oa to success. We wiah for turn a hearty support by our whole people. -""ine JUiiauMpaiton Association met and reorganized hut Friday night. Mr. Jan. SeeHoms was elected President; Mr. S. Bullock First Vice, and Mr. C. E. Malone Second Vice; Mr. J. A. Malone, Record, ing and Financial Secretary; Mr. W. 8. Armstong, Corresponding Secretary: Miss Annie Malone, Treasurer; Mr. W. N. Vain right. Master of Ceremonies. All honor is due the retiring officers for the fiush and energy they put forth in carry, ng the celebration to success. Every possible effort was put forth by some of our people to make it a failure, but it was to no avail. The citizens, after a predic tion was made that it would tie a failure, took the matter in hand, and never in the history of Rocky Mount ha such a noble occasion been ituessed. Hon. J. II. Hannon passed through our city last Saturday. Miss Theodosia smiles now a-days. We were truly sorry for ber once. Do you know what for? Mr. and Mrs-J. J. Staten visited Mr. Siaten's people in Tarboro last week. Our old friend, F. L. Battle, remained in our city acting private secretary for Mr. Person, one week. Prof. J. P. Murphy, of the Nashville High School, was in town this week. They do say Miss Ava was just delight ed during the Christmas holidays. He came all the way from Louisburg. We thought so. We are sorry to note the continued ill-' nefca of Mr. S. P. Faison's wife. We hope she will soon recover. Oliver, the son of Mr. and Mrs. W, H, llarrirf, departed this life last Wednes day night. Rev. Mathewson, of Tarboro, preached bis funeral on Thursday at the First Baptist Church. Oliver was a mem. lr of Excelsior B ind and the Volunteer Fire Ciropany, of which each took part in his burial. II was a model young man, 1 vtd by all who knew him. We ext-nd to the bereaved family our heart felteyinpthies, and can only say to them that Oliver is no more upon earth he has gone to his Heavenly Father; and to see him again they must continue to pre pare to meet htm with the angelic host, where sorrow is unknown. Mr. Thomas Gee went to Rsleigh some days ago, where he has a position in the rrk House. . . Mr. Patrick Thomas, of Louisburg. visited our city during the holidays. Prof. S. II. Vick s oration was a superb one Emancipation Day. Prof. Vick is a model young man and foremobt in the race, lie is without treachery and polit ical tricks. All honor to him. Our."grits" reached the Gazette too late last week, therefore all of the Eman. cipation news will not appear. W. . ARMSTRONG. , Cape Fear Mappenlngs. The Christmas holidays have come and gone and everybody has had a most en joyable time. There was lens drunken news and rowdinet than has been notice able here for many years, due largely to the prompt and energetic orders of Mayor W. N. Harris in forbidding the gathering of crowds with horns and the use of dy namite nre crackers, which was a dis grace to the city, and at one time came near precipitating a race conflict. Christmas morning Captain Valentine Howe and the members of the Cape Fear Steam rire-tngine Uompany held an in formal Christmas greeting to the officers and their friends, among whom we no ticed Messrs. C. W. Norwood, register of deeds ; John Thomas Howe, member-elect to the General Assembly, and J. E. Tay lor, assistant city clerk and treasurer. After exchanging the greetings of the season the company spread a handsome collation for its guests, which was en joyed by all, and Capt. Howe was voted the piince of hospitality and good cheer. Hon. George II. White was walking through the streets of Wilmington early last week straightening up his affairs here prior to taking bis departure for Washington. Like others, he has drunk from the Rock spring and hates to leave this old town. Prof. J. B. Dudley, of the A. and M. College, was in the city looking after financial facts con tec ed with that Insti tution. The Chautauquan Literary Society gave a most delightful masquerade at the Phcenix Hall on Wednesday night, which was eojoyed by every one present, it be ing the moat recherche affair of the en tire holiday season. Uanbur Lodge, A. F. and A. M., cele brated St. John's Day on the 29th, with an elaborate program, at their hall, where two masterful addresses were delivered by Hons. John T. Howe and George H. White, and then to the ipi ead, which was just out of sight. During this week the ladies of St. Steph en's A. M. E. church gave a Japanese party at Ruth Hall for the benefit of the church, which was largely attended and hugely enjoyed. Emancipation Day was celebrated by our people in a most happy manner by a large procession and parade under the guidance of Chief Marshal David Jacobs through the principal streets to St. Luke's A. M. E. Zion church, where the following program was carried out to the entire sat isfaction of all : Introductory remarks by the president, V. Howe; prayer by the chaplain ; welcome address by Mr. II. C, Webber; paper by Master J'. II. Walker; a magnificent read ng of the Emancipa tion Proclamation by Miss Mary E. Noyes. and the best poem we have ever heard was written and read by Miss Janie Aus ten, followed by a masterful oration from the Rev. P. L. Cyler. At the close of the exercises the Rev. E. J. Gregg offered resolutions of sympathy for struggling Cuba, which were unanimously adopted. Representatives Sutton and Howe have left for Raleigh. JoilNSON. m mm , Harried at Holly Springs. N. C. Mr. David Jones snd Miss Maltsey A; Clements, both of Holly Springs, were happily married December 9, 1896, at the residence of the bride's father, Mr. Sam'l Clements, after which a reception was held and all present enjoyed themselves immensely. Rev. A. D. Ligon officiated,
The Gazette [1891-1898] (Raleigh, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Jan. 23, 1897, edition 1
2
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