Newspapers / The Gazette [1891-1898] (Raleigh, … / Jan. 30, 1897, edition 1 / Page 2
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PRITCHARD HIS OWN SUCCESSOR ELECTED WEDNESDAY BY THE LEG ISLATURE ON- JOINT BALLOT. Three Candidates While the balloting in the Legislature Tuesday did not reHult in the actual elec tion of an United States Senator, it set tled the question of the succession to the seat now held by,Hon. Jeter C. Pritchard by deciding that he should succeed him self for the term of six years, beginning cm the fourth day of next March. The net result of the balloting in both branch es of tbe Legislature waa as follows: Pritchard, 86; Thompson, 42; Dough ton, 34. Promptly at twelve o'clock Lieutenant Governor Reynolds called the Senate to order and announced that the hour had arrived for going into the election of a United Stitts Senator. Without further formality, nominating speeches began forthwith. Mr. Smathers (Rep.), of Haywood, was recognized firbt to nominate lion. Jeter C. Pritchard, and spoke as follows: SPEECH OF SENATOR SMATHERS. Mr. President and Senators: This being the day and ru.ur fixed by law for the General Assembly of North Carolina to proceed to the election of a Senator to represent her in the Congress of the United States for a term of six years beginning on the 4th of March text, I rise to place in nomination for that high and exalted position a mm who, I am sure, if the members of this body and the House of Represeutativ s will vote to reflect the Bentiment of their constituents, will be named to succeed himself, and that man is the Hon. Jeter C. Piiicnard, formerly of Madison county but now of the Old North State. Mr. President, I deem it proper at this juncture of my epeech to briefly give a biographical sketch of tbelife of this man who, with only two years service in the United States Senate, has gained a na tional reputation and caused the eyes of the people of these United States to turn to the Old North State and wonder if Pritchard will be his own successor. Jeter C. Pritchard was born in Wash ington (now Unicoi) county, Tenn., on July. 12th, 1857. His father, who was a brave Conft derate soldier, died soon after the surrender of Vicksburg, Mississippi, at Mobile, Ala., and was buried among the unknown. II s widowed mother being very poor, but ambitii us to make the best provision 'possible for the maintenance and educa tion of hsr children, with the consent of Jeter, bound him out at the age of twelve years, a- a punter a apprentice. le eerv ed in his capacity under two different masters for about three years. For the next two years he worked on a farm most .of the time, but when about sixteen years of ace he man 'sred to get a few months schooling at Martin's Creek Academy. Tuia. together with hia three years ex perience as a primer, enabled fcim to get n. fnirlv crnwt t d;Aia.Liul dor- -fcorXf Ol3 ' Aire. ' . At, the see of 17 tears he stood on the banks of the NaUchucky river without a dollar and without the assistance or a iriend, but bold and self-reliant, with a big heait and a glowing ambition to suc ceed, he determined to start out and bat tie against lifw'a waves. He learned that there was a man at Bakersville.M tchell county, that wanted to employ a printer, and with the great Iron mountain that divides Tennessee and North Carolina between him and his objective point, he, in company with a boy friend, with 15 cents and a small quantity of co d rations, started on their cold journey across this great ledge of mountain, a diitance of 35 miles, while at that time the paih cf their journey serosa the mountain was more fiequent ly trod by the wild bear and deer than by man. They reached Bikersville in due time and young Piitchard soon secured a con tract with the Rev. W. C. Bowman to run the printer's department of the Ba kersville Independent, a paper afterwards known as the Roan Mountain Republi can. Young Pritchaid soon became a half owner and associate editor of the paper. It was in Mitchell county where lie made hia debut in politics. For at an early age he imbued the principles of the Republican party and commenced fight ing for the people of North Carolina to maint ain local at If government and for a free ballot and a fair count. He made hia first canvass in Mitchell county for the Republican party in 1876, and then again in 1878, and has ever since battled for the cause of Republican principles. In the fall of 1878 he moved to Madison county, and it was in this county that he carved out bis political destiny. In 1880 he canvassed Madison county as a eub elector on the Republican ticket, and again in 1882. By this time his merits were fully re cognized, and in 1884 he was nominated by the Republicans of Madison county and elected a member in the House of Representatives; was re-elected in 1886 and took a leading part of the General Assembly of 1887 with such men asEwart, Pearson, Overman, Crawford and other distinguished gentlemen of that body. In 1888 he was nominated for Lieuten ant Governor on the Republican ticket. His joint canvass with the Hon. Hezekiah A. Gudger, who mad the canvass for the II' n. Thomas M. Holt, candidate for Lieutenant Governor of the State, will be remembered us one of the most brilliant canvasses that was ever male for that office in the State. It was thia canvass that gave to Jeter C. Pritchard a State reputation. In 1890 he was elected President of the North Corolina Protective Tariff League, which was organized under his inspira tion and leadership. He also took an ac tive part in politics that 3 ear; and al though not aspiring to a nomination for any office, he accepted the nomination in his cunty for the II use at the urgent reque-t of hia p litical friends for the sake of party harmony. He waa nominated by the Republicans of the Ninth Diatrictfor Congrsiin 1893, his opponent being the Hon. VV. T. Craw ford. Thy, too, made a joint canvass, . with immensj crowds to hear them. When the spieadir g was over, both sides proud of their man, claimed the victory io discu-ai n. In 1894 he was elected to the United States S nte to fill out the unexpired term of ibe Hon. Zerulon B. Vance. Im 1878, s 0011 after Mr. Pritchard moved to Malison, he began the study of law working on the farm during the day and reading law at night. Without even a preceptor to instruct him, he continued bis studies from year to year until he ob and a Close Vote. tained a license to practice law. in 1887. and at once began the practice of law, and it was only a few years before he took his position as one of the leading at torneys of the 12th Judicial district. Mr. President, Mr. Pritchard: although defeated for Lieutenant-Governor in '88, and for Congress in the Ninth dis trict in 1892. never faltered. He had an abiding confidence in the ultimate success of the Republican party: and while some des paired and fell, faint and weary, by the wayside, Jeter C. Pritchard marched at the head of the Republican column,, with such brave leaders aa Russell, the Settles, Dockerys, Motts, Boyd, and other distin guished Republicans, bidding the Repub lican hosts press forward, boldly declar ing that the party was right, and would ultimately succeed. The leadership of the minority of the State House of Representatives by Jeter C. Pritchard in 1890, was equal to that of Thomas B. Reed in the 53d Congress. If any one man more than another is entitled to the credit of the success of co operation in 1894, it is Jeter C. Pritch ard. After the election in 1892, with his keen eye he detected the advantage of co-operation, and it is to him that the large majority of Republicans and Popu lists in the General Assemblies of 1895 and 1897 are indebted for their election. Shakespeare sajs that there is a tide in the affairs of men, which, taken at the fl)od, leads on to fortune; omitted, all the voyages of their lives are bounded in shallowa and miseries. Mr. iresioenc, a great opportunity is offered to North Carolina. No man ever entered the halls of Congress of the Uni ted States who attained a higher or greater distinction in two years service than Jeter C. Pritchard. The eyes of the people of the United States are to-day turned to North Carolina, and the ques tion is, will the honor be accorded to her of sending a man to the United States Senate who will help frame and enact a tariff law that will yield a sufficient rev enue to meet the expenses of the general government, stop hard times and main tain the honor and integrity of the nation. Mr. President, when the Republican party took control of this government, immediately after the war, it found an indebtedness of $2,600,000,000. Under wise tariff laws, enacted and maintained by the Republican party, the National debt was reduced to $585,000,000 at the close of Harrison's administration. Although Grover Cleveland was Presi dent during four years of this period, the United States Senate was Republican and the tariff laws remained unchanged. During all. these years the Democratic party went before the people asking for their suffrages, insisting" upon tariff re form, and claiming that if they ever ob . tained control of all the branches of the government, they would reduce the taxes and put the people on the high road to prosperity. They obtained control of every branch ot the government, and enacted the Wilson Gorman tariff bill, but the expectations of the people were not realized. In four years, under this bill, the President had to issue 262,000,- 000 of bonds, and to that extent increased the National debt, which had the effect of plunging the country into an almost unprecedented panic. It was thi3 disap pointment that caused so many to leave the Democratic party and go to the Pop uliats. Mr. President, it is objected by some of our Populists friends that Mr. Pritchard is not a good enough silver man to recive their support. Speaking for myself, I wish to say that I am not in favor of the free and unlimited coinage of silver. Candor compels me to make this state ment. I disagreed with Senator Pritch ard on thia subject two years ag'. His views on this subject are well known. If re-elected, he will vote for free coinage of silver as an independent measure, but will Dot vote for a free silver amendment put upon another bill aa a rider. After the platform of the Republican party was framed at St. Louis, although Mr. Pritchard did not secure what he desired for the white metal, he decided, as a good party man, to stand on the party platform. He does not believe in political secession, but in fighting under the party standard. ' He believes that more can be accomplished by remaining in the Republican party than by going outside of it to accept a Democratic promise. Our Populist friends, as a mattter of gratitude, should never for one moment Consider the question as to whether Sen ator Pritchard is a free coinage man or not; for although the Populists only had about forty thousand votes, five Populists have been elected to Congress by Repub lican votes more than the Populist party hasin the State of Kansas, the birth place of Populism, which casts 160,000 votes for that party This being so, the Popu lists should not hesitate to give their sup port to the election of Mr. Pritchard, although his position on the money ques- i tion may not meet with their approval in every respect, especially as the right 01 local self government together with a free arsd fair ballot, which was the funda mental issue of co-operation, was restored to the people of North Carolina largely through the efforts of Mr. Pritchard. Mr. President, the 55,000 white Repub licans in the State of North Carolina, the 100,000 or more colored voters of the State, and about one-half of the Populist voters demand the re-election of Jeter C. Pritch ard to the United States Senate. The record of Mr. Pritchard in the Republican-party has been distinguished by extraordinary efforts in behalf of the peo ple and his course has excited the admira tion of all the people in North Carolina, and his influence keenly felt by his oppo nents. He haa been true to friends and faithful to promises. When he moved to Madison county in 1878, that county was very close, politically, having been represented in the Legislature for several successive terms by a Democrat. And now. in large part through the influence of Mr. Pritchaid, the county gave nearly 100,000 majority in the last election. The county of Mitchell, which formerly gave small Republican majorities, in which his influence was felt, rolled up 1,200 majority at the last election. In short, the record of Mr. Pritchard during the past ten years has been intimately associated with the struggles and tri umphs cf the Republican party. With thia grand record, I submit bis candidacy, to the intelligent members of this Senate, confidently believing that wisdom and justice will prevail, and that he will be chosen by the General Assembly his own successor, and his course in the United States indicated by the action this day of the chosen Representatives of the" people of North Carolina. Mr. Person, (Rep.) of Edgecombe, made a short speech seconding the nomination of Mr. Pritchard. Mr. Maxwell, (Pop.) of Duplin, made a speech nominating Dr. Cyrus Thompson. tie made a ppeech that was favorably re ceived, concluding with the declaration that he could not supprrt any one for Senator except a middle-of-the-road Pop ulist. Mr. Abell, (Dem.) of Johnston, nomi nated Hon. R. A. Dough ton. He spoke earnestly, forcibly. and impressively. He was not abashed by the fact that he was a minority, but was all the prouder that he was a Democrat. Mr; Wakefield, (Pop.) of .Caldwell, spoke, seconding the nomination of Mr. Pritchard, as follows : SPEECH OF SENATOR WAKEFIELD. Mr. President : I am a plain, blunt man, and speak my sentiments. But in speaking them I do not desire to affront any of my fellow senators. I am reminded of one of the old prophets, Ezekiel I be lieve,who, when contemplating the provi dences or tne great uod, spoxe or them in the similitude of a wheel in a wheel. The Populist party, it is true, haa princi ples. which may ntly be represented by Ezekiel's wheel within a wheel; but what ever has teen accomplished in North Carolina by the Populist parly has been done by dependence upon the great outer wheel. the principle of co-operation. There is a pivotal point in the history of all parties. Caesar had hi3 on the banks of the Rubicon. Arnold Winklereid, the Swiss patriot and martyr, had his when he charged the Austrian phalanx, of whom the poet has said : "Make way for liberty, he cried; Make way for liberty, and died." Our revolutionary sires, the patriots of Mecklenburg (and I am glad that their descendents are on the floor of this Senate Chamber to day) had their's when they met at Charlotte on the 20th day of May, 1776, and declared : That this country is, and of right ought to be, a free and inde pendent nation. To-day the Populist party in North Carolina is on trial, and the burning question is, shall it keep faith with its allies, who have stood by it so nobly in the past, or shall it break faith, and thus become an mgrate? When I came to the city of Raleigh at the opening of the Legislature, I came a co-operation ist; I have been one since 1894. I came here pledged to the norm nee of a joint caucus of Populists and Republicans ; came here believing that the con tract entered into, as I understand it,- by both parties, two years ago, would be faithfully carried out, and that a Ke publican, under a pledge for free silver. would be elected to the United States Senate without a dissenting vote. I cannot speak for my fellow Populists, but for mveelf I will say. when I made the campaign in my district I promised my people that I would vote for the joint caucas nominee of the Populist and Re publican parties. Upon arriving here found the joint caucus to be a nullity a nonentity. 1 consider myself, then, .Mr. President, subject not to a second caucus, but to the hearts of my constituency, five out of six of whom are Republicans. And I am satisfied that my action will meet the approval of my Populist friends, 6ince I told them in my canvass that I would vote for a Republican under a pledge for free silver. I believe that the highest duty of any public man is to carry out the wishes of the majority of the people whom he represents. And just here, Mr. President, I rccal that the lamented Polk, who, just befoie he crossed the mystic river, said that "when he mingled with its dark waters belonged to cast one lingering look behind upon a government of the people, by the people and lor the people. He, as well aa the other leaders of the Alliancu and fcfee Populist party in North Carolina, have always taught that the demands of the people are more sacred than the ties of the party caucuses. The Republicans have marched loyally to the ballot box in two campaigns, and have deposited their ballots 'for Pcpulibts throughout the length and breadth of the State as a result of which we have gained two grand victories. These victories car ried with them grand results to the Pop ulists aa well as to the Republicans, giv icg to-the farmer one United States Sen ator, five Congressmen, one-balf of the State officers, fifty-eight members of the lieneral Assembly of the present session and one half of the county officers throughout the State, without mention ing the much needed legislation tbat has come through co-operation. Mr. President, it does seem to me that it would be selfishness gone to seed for the Populists to demand, or even expect the Senatorship in this contest. An attempt has been made by threats arid otherwise, to coerce men and deny them that liberty and freedom of con science that burns within the breast of every free man to shake that spirit of liberty that moved our Pilgrim fathers to brave the mad waves of the Atlantic, that they might find a refuge where they could worship God according to the dic tates of their own consciences; to smother that God-given inspiration that was in the bosom of our forefathers, which nerved them to add the matchless deeds of Concord, Bunker Hill, King's Moun tain and Yorktown to the already glorious pages of our illustrious history. Mr. President, we know our rights, and know in?, we dare maintait them. There is a phase of this Senatorial question that so j e seem to have forgot ten. It is its geographical relation. We must look to the interest of our entire State. All sections must be represented from the sandy beach on the east to the forest clad mountains of the west. There is a precedent that must not be ignored. The honest people cf the west the sturdy mountaineers are calling for a man to succeed Vance who is to the manor born. They are calling for a man as lofty in character, honor-and worth as the moun tain upon whose crest the noble Vance now sleeps, keeping silent vigil over the people he loved. Well may it Le said of him : . . - - " Sleep, for thy name is cherished By the biavest and the best ; And freeman's hearts and woman's love Are with thee in thy rest." " Co-operation has given the east one Senator, the Hon. Marion Butler, a Pop ulist of whose record we are all proud. Let co-operation now answer this call from the west by electing a Republican a man in every way worthy to wear the mantle of Vance. That man is the Hon. Jeter C. Pritchard, of Madison County, whoso nomination I rise to second. SPEECH OF MR. GRANT. Mr. Grant (Rep.), of Wayne, said that, they who made history knew it best. When he conceived the idea of co-cpera-tion with the Populists, he wrote a num ber of letters to prominent Republicans throughout the State, broaching the sub ject to them and requesting an expres sion cf their views. The first favorable response he received was from Jeter C Pritchard, who gave the clearest, strong est and best reasons for co operation that he had ever seen. The circumstances surrounding a white Republican in the East, Ma j. Grant said, were entirely different from those with which western Republicans are familiar. It was not necessary to speak of them in detail, but he spoke of Democratic frauds against the Dallot-box, declaring that the Democratic party was raising up a generation of thieves. Speaking of the understanding between the Republicans and Populists regarding the Senatorship, he declared in the most positive terms that there was a definite agreement that Butler should succeed Ransom for the long term ; that Pritch ard should succeed to the unexpired term of Vanca, and that the Populists should vote with the Republicans at this session of the Legislature to re-elect, him for a term of six yearp. Raising nis hand im- Eressively he said : " If there is a God in leaven, what I state about this is the truth." - Major Grant said that as a Republican he was in favor of the free coinade of sil ver ; tbat as a delegate to the National Convention at St. Louis he occupied the same position ; that he voted with a ma jority r f the North Carolina delegates for the Telhr substitute lor the financial plank of the platform, and when that was lost be accepted the judgmentof the party as expressed by the Convention. He could not do otherwise than remain in the Republican party. The position of Mr. Pritchard was substantially the same as his own. The course of Mr. Pritchard in the Senate had been honorable, but by reason of slanders most foul he bad found it necessary to make statement after statement to vindicate his position. The shackles, of political slavery, long endured by Republicans and Populists in the east, had been stricken from their hands by the joint efforts of the two par ties, io continue co-operation he was willing to sacrifice everything but honor, The Republican party was bound by every honorable consideration to support Mr Pritchard for re-election, and the Popu lists were equally bound to support him to carry out in good faith the understand ing made two years before. Mr. Pritch ard was the candidate of the Republican party before a single Populist was nomi nated for the Legislature, and any prom-. lse made by. a Populist to support the nominee of a joint caucus was pledged to support Pritchard, and was so understood by all Republicans and most Populists voting for such candidates. The Repua lican party had kept all its pledges to the Populists. In conclusion. Major Grant said that the Populist party was at the parting of the ways, fopunsts muse now aeciaa whether they will keep faith and honor or sacrifice those virtues at the behest and dictation of any man. The balloting then began and proceed ed as follows : For Pritchard Anderson, Ashburn, Barker, Cannon, Dickson, Early, Grant, Henderson, Hyatt, Maultsby, McCarthy, McNeil, New some, Odom, Person, Rani say, Rollins, Sharps of Wilson, Sharpe of Iredell. Smathers, Shore, Wakefield, Whedbee and Yeager 24. For Thompson Alexander, At water, Butler, Clark, Geddie, Hardison, Lyon Maxwell. Mitchell. Move, Merritt, Mc- Caskey, Parker of Raudolph, Patterson, Robeson, bhaw, Utley and Walker 18. For Doughton Abell,-Anthony, Bir ringer, Justice, Parker, Ray, Scales 7. Mr. Earnhardt (Pop.) was absent on ac count of sickness. PROCEEDINGS IN THE HOUSE. It was exactly 12 o'clock Tuesday when Col. Sutton, of Cumberland, arose to a point of order in the House of Rep resentatives and cut short the dispatch of routine business with the declaration that the hour had arrived for the balloting for United States Senator. The Speaker sustained Col. Sutton's point of order, and declared nominations for a United States Senator, to succeed Jeter C. Pritchard, in order. Immediately thereupon Representative V. S. Lusk, of Buncombe, arcs?, was recognized by the Chair, and proceeded to nominate Sena tor Pritchaid to succeed himself. MR. LUSK S SPEECH. . Mr. Speaker: The much discussed and long expected time for the election of a United States Senator for the term begin ning March 4, 1897, to succeed Jeter C. Pritchard in the United States Senate,has arrived. Could the people cf North Carolina have beard the announcement from tbat Chair that the election of a United States Senator was in order, and could this House have heard the great outcry for the favorite sonjof North Carolina, this would have rolled up, this House would be so unanimous for Jeter C. Pj itchard that be would be nominated and elected by acclamation. Thia self imposed work is not to me a task, but a pleasure. I shall deviate from the prescribed cus tom in making nominating speeches, by saving that I now present to the House the name of Jeter C. Pritchard as his own successor in the Unites States Senate. I will be as brief as poesible, because the history of Senator Pritchard is well known in this State. It ia a biography that might well be re peated for the instruction and edification of the rising generation. He is not a na tive born citizen of North Carolina, but was born in Tennessee in 1857. Ilia father was a valiant Confederate soldier, who lost his life for the Confed eracy. His" mother, a noble Christian lady, waa left with four children to sup port, one of whom is the subject of this nominating speech. Thus was he reared with meagre school advantages and at poverty's very door, his dear mother scarcely able to keep the family together. Young Jeter waa early put out to an apprenticeship to learn the printer's trade. It is no di-grace to have been brought up thus and to have risen thus from a poor apprenticed printer to one of the first men of this country. His, however, is only one of the many examples of phe nomeral American enterprise. The able Lincoln was a rail-splitter ; U. S. Grant a tanner, Blaine a Pchool teacher, Garfield a canal boy, and Jeter C. Pritchard a poor printer. When a young man, we find Mr. Pritch ard in BakersvilleMitchell County, with out a penny ; but fortune was kind to him and threw in his path a great-hearted man, who placed him at the head of a large printing business. . In the course of time he moved to Madi son County, where he was married. Here he read law by night and by day he cul tivated a small farm. At this time Madison County was Dem ocratic by a large majority. Republicans were casting about for a leader, and rec ognizing the worth and ability of young Pritchard, turned to him tot spouse their cause. He went forth without money and won Madison Cpunty for Republi canism, and each year it has been distin guished by a decided gain in the Repub lican majority, UDtil now she rolls up more than a thousand strong. Jeter Pritchard made a brilliant fight for the Republican cause in the Ninth District against Mr. Crawford, one of the most astute Democrats in North Caro lina. He ia grown to be a star of the first magnitude, and our hearts have swelled with pride as we have watched his as cendency. It has been the custom of the people of North Carolina to have one Senator from the east and one from the west. It is a custom whereof the memory of man re membereth not to the contrary. We now have an honored Senator from the east. Republicans and Populists put him in t ffice. I have never regretted that I cast my vote for Senator Butler, and I trust that I may never have occasion to do so. Now, all we ask of the eastern people ia that you give ua your support for our western man in the United States Senate. Divisions have grown up in the allied parties since the last Senatorial election. I tell our Populist friends that fusion shall not be broken up. If we would have good government in the Old North State we must be friends and must continue to stand together. ' . . Two years ago Mr. Pritchard declared for the free coinage of silver, and today he stands right where he stood two years ! o JU9' strong a rnend or silver as ever. Now; then, mv friends, such is the record of Jeter C. Pritchard. and in him rest the greatest hopes of the people of im oiaie. We are on the eve of an era of irreat prosperity, and only deed Senator Pritch ard in the United States Senate to reach the geatest possible prosperity. ue us, then, see to it that Jeter U. Pritchard succeeds himself in the Senate of the United Sta'es. MR. BLACKCURN SECONDED PRITCHARD'S NOMINATION. When Mr. Lusk had concluded his ab'e and forcible nominating speech, Repre sentative Blackburn, of Ashe, arose and most eloquently seconded Mr. Pritchard's nomination. He spoke as follows : Mr. Speaker: There is a tide in the affairs of men which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune." True to myself, true to my constituents, true to party convictions, true to my country, est con ceive it, I rise to second the nomination of our candidate for United States Sena tor. In so doing not a sentence shall I utter, not a word, not a breath escape me that pan be distorted or construed to the det riment or depreciation of any citizen whose name shall be presented by any party to thia General Assembly for that exalted position. Under this glorious system of ours no long line of lineage or aggregated wealth stands as a barrier to those who deserve recognition. The principles of govern ment with us are such as to place a pre mium, not upon the greatness of those from whom we claim, but upon the force, the worth, the character, the integrity of him who claims it upon personal merit. "The boast of heraldry, the pomp of power," in this great republic of ours, is but a tocsin of alarm for him who claims it, before the steady tread and onward march of the great masses of our common freemen. The words of the greatest Amen can parliamentarian, "To be privileged is splendid, to be a freeman is glorious. but to be an American citizen is magnih cent, we only comprehend in the vast ness of the possibilities that await our young men from the common walks of life. Tis the pride of every American citizen, tbat, from the farm and fireside, a country home, have arisen, by stern per severance, the first men of the first great nation America. In making this nomi nation I am not unmindful of the fact that we have variety of interests, diver 6ity of industries, great and momentous questions to be considered. These should have our attention and careful considera tion. The policy of inaction, the continued uncertainty of legislation should be stop ped, and stopped at once. To day the eyes of an anxious nation are turned hopefully to North Carolina to watch our course in this grave struggle. Will we stand in thia awful moment, "like dumb driven cattle," unheeding the appeals of a paralyzed nation? or will we be " heroes in the strife," come to her rescue, lend a helping hand and etart her in the race of progress anew? For four long, weary years, as a conEe quence of a changed national policy, we have htard the plaintive cry, the smoth ered sob. the earnest appeal of millions of struggling people, reduced to want bv a mistaken policy of a mistaken party. We have had uncertainty long enough. We have suffered too longalrtady. Millions of dollars nave been heaped upon our heads as a national debt, instead of a sufficiency of revenue fof all purposes and an additional surplus in case of an emer gency. Our expenditures are in excess of our income. Our progress has been impeded, our commerce crippled, our in dustries almost destroyed, and even our national honor assailed. How much longer will we allow this condition to continue. To-day the people of this great com monwealth are standirg behind us as' their representatives, trusting our judg ment, watching our course, to relieve them from their present strain, and im minent danger yet threatening. Let us rise to-day like men to the importance and gravity of this occasion, and by our votes break the fetters that bind us, loose the hands of the legislative power, return to the policy that gave us progress and Erosperity, and let no one man stand as a alance of power to clog legislation to the detriment, disaster and ruin of a whole nation and its millions of anxious people. To do this we must select one from the many worthy sons of whom North Caro lina is proud. And in this connection I do not wish to say that the man of whom I speak is the superior of every other man in North Carolina, or that be is the supe rior of every man in the other parties of this State. That would be far-reaching, even if conceded. You have your choice. I have nine ; but when the balloting is over and the selection made, we all join in one round of applause. That the man selected is not the repre sentative of the Democratic party ; not the representative of the Populist party ; not the representative of the Republican party, but the representative of the great masses of North Carolina freemen. In praise of the man whose name I shall mention, I wish not to be fulsome. There's many another noble person in the Populist and Republican parties of whom we are justly proud. " Not that we love Caesar the less, but Rome the more." This is an hour of vast and awful con sequence, and upon our selection to-day may depend the weal or woe of a nation a life, our children's heritage. And where can we better select than from those who have "trod the wine press alone." and climbed all the way up the ladder from the bottommost to the highest round un aided and alone. From the weary foot steps cf our own " Pathfinder," at the age of fifteen, across the peaks of Alleghany's high range, we nave followed throvgh many a shifting scene, to find him to-day in me counsels 01 me wise men 01 ine 1 1 . . 1 m American republic. We ask nothing save what merit de mands, and that we ask as a just reward more than "nine times the space that measures day and night to mortal men." This warfare has been waged, watched by an intensely interested public, and now the result must be declared. Let us de clare it as men, and promulgate through out the length and breadth of North Caro lina that the will of the people must pre vail, and no one-man power control ibis commonwealth. The day of political thraldom in the Uld North state ended with the dethrone' ment of the self-constituted oligarchs of a corrupt Democracy. Race prejudices, born of sectional strife, have gone with the receding wave of the foe's misrule. and the bleached and broken-boned skele ton of the dead past is buried beneath the force of a younger generation a amity and love, taught to live for the future and its great possibilities. And from the smoul dering ashes of civil stiife has come the unity of a cation's cause. Here no more Shall the war-cry sever, Or winding rivers be red ; They banish our anger forever - 'When they laurel the grave of our dead. To him can we look as one of the younger generation, guarding alike the rights of all the white or the black, the rich or the poor, the high or the low who knows no North, no South, but loves alike our Elaine and our Grady. From the humble walks of life, through every condition, he has moved at elbow touch with his fellows ; true to himself, true to his friends, true to his contracts, true to his word. The same honesty, the same bold spirit tbat led the pioneer boy from the hearth stone 01 an numble home to seek his for tune in our midst, to-day directs the course of North Carolina's proudest son, Jeter Connelly Pritchard, 'of the United State Senate. I ask my fellowi to day to join me in hia elrction, and the old ship of state will sail out into deep, smooth water. We'll nail to the nwt her holy flag, Set every threadbare sail ; Give her to the God of storm. The lightning and the gale." When Mr. Blackburn had concluded his speech, J. B. Schulken (Pop.), of Co lumbus, was ncognizpd and proceeded to nut in nomination Dr. Cvrus Thompson. j-5trange to say, hia announcement of the gentleman whom he proposed to nomi nate did not elicit a Bingie cneer. lie aa- dressed himself first to the Democrats, assuring them that Dr. Thompson waa a true and tried advocate of the free and unlimited coinage of silver at the ratio of 16 to 1, and calling vpm them to rally to hia support, He told, the Republicans that they could not afford to sappor t other than a silver man, or fail to co-operate with the majority Populiats. THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE. B. F. Dixon (Dem.). of Cleveland, was -the nexlspeaker recognized by the Chair. He said that he had boned that the mem bers of the General Assembly in favor of free silver would have united upon a man for the Senatorship. Democrats, he said, lad made every advancement to bring about fusion. Addressing the Populiats, Mr. Dixoi said : " We have stretched out our hand unto you, and you have not heeded ; we have cried unto you, and have had to answer save the hollow echo of our cries." He concluded hi3 speech by nominating Hon. R. A. DoughtoD, of. Aileghany Countv. There were no further nominationsatd calls were made for the ballot, which pro ceedei with the following result : For Pritchard Abernathy (P.), Adams, Aiken, Allen, Alexander, ArlerJge, Ar rington, Babbitt (P.), Bailey, Bingham, Blackburn, Brown (P.), Brower, Bryan of Chatham (P.), rsryan of Edgecombe, Bryan of Wilkes, Burgess, Cat.dler, Cha- pm, Chucutt, Uook, Crews, Currie, Dan cy, Daniels, Dayton, Deweese, Duncan, Elliott, Ecifcley, Freeman, Green, Grubba, Hancock, Hare, Harris of Halifax, liar ris of Hyde (P.), Hodges (P.), Howe, Lusk, McCrary, Meares.Oimsby, Parker of Perquimans (P.), Peace, Petree, Pin nix, Pool. Rawla, Roberts, Rountree (P.), Somers, Snruill, Sutton of Cumberland, Sutton cf New Hanover, VWruyss, White of Alamance, White of Randolph (P.), White of Bertie, Wreno.Yarborough (P.), Young. For Doughton Bunch, Conhy. Creech, Cunningham, Dixcn of Cleveland, Duffy, Ejddma, ierguaon, Uallop, Htrtness, James, Lawhon, Leak, Lyle, McKenzie, McLelland. McPeeters, Murphy, Nelson, Parkerof Wayne, Pearson of B'irke, Han son, Reed, smith, Walters, Watts, Wil son. , For Thompson Barrow, Carter, Cath ey, Chapman, Craven, Crumpler, Dixon of Greene. Drew, ragan, Jterrell, roster, Hauser, Holmes, Johnson, King, Mc Bryde, Morton, Person of Wayne, Person of Wilson, Plctt, Price, Schulken,Ward, Whiti ner. Not voting Cox (Rep.) of Pitt, absent; Dockery (Rep.) of Richmond, presf-nt; Jones (Dem.) of Alleghany, absent: Pur- gason (Pop.) of Rutherford, at sent; Rey nolds (Pop.) of Montgomery, absent ; Um- slead (Dem.) of Durham, absent (he has pneumonia); the Speaker, llileman, of Cabarrus. The struggle in Wednesday's joint ees sion of the General Assembly was short and decisive, the ballot resulting as fol- ows: Pritchard, 88; Thomposon, 43; Dough- ton, 33. The balloting was, of course, by roll- call, and the vote of each bedy was as follows: Senate Pritchard, 24; Thompson. 17; Doughton, 7. House Pritchard, 64; Thompson, 26; Doughton, 26. Ine hands of the clock in Repres?nta tive s hall indicated exactly 12 m. when the doorkeeper announced that the mem bersof the Senate were without ready to enter for the joint session to elect a U. S. Senator. The dcors were at once thrown open and Lieutenant-Governor Reynolds wa8etcottd to a seat on the speaker s stand, where he assumed the duties of presiding officer. Ihe Senators were seated in chairs placed in the aisles. Col. Sutton, of Cumberland, made a motion that the roll 01 both houses be called to as certain if there was a quo rum in attendance. On reflection, how ever, be withdrew the motion, inasmuch as the roll call for balloting would show the attendance of a quorum. The chief clerks cf both senate and House read these sections of the previous day's journal pertaining to the Senatorial election. On motion of Mr. Dockery, cf the House, amended nd seconded by Mr. Satton, of Cumberland, speeches in ex planation of votes were limited to two minutes. By request of Senator Parker, of Ala mance, President Key noi ls announced that each member would be required to rise at hia seat when he announced bis vote. Senator McCaskey asked that he be al lowed to annburce a pair with Senator Parker, of Randolph, when hia name should be calltd. Permission to explain their votes wbb granted to Messrs. Pearson, Hodges and Ray. The balloting by roll call was then en tered upon, with the following result: For Pritchard senators Anderson,Asn burn. Barker, Cannon, Dickson, Early, Grant, Herdeison. Hyatt, Maultsby, Mc Carthy, McNeill, Newaome, OJom. Per son, Ramsay, Rollins, Sharpe of Wilson, Sharpe of Iredell, Smathers, Wakefield, Whedbee, Yeagar, Representatives Aber nathy, Adams, Aiken, Allen, Alexander, A r ledge, Arrington, Bibbitt, Biiley, Bingham, Blackburn, Brown, Brower, Ifryan of Chatham. Bryan cf Edgecombe, Bryan of Wilkrs, Burgess, Candler, Cha pio, Chilcutt, Cok, Crews, Currie, Dancy, Dame's, Deyton, De eese. Dun can, Elliott, Ensley, Feeman, Green, Grubbt. Hancock, Hare, Harris of Hali fax, Harris of Hide, Hodges, Howe, Lusk, McCrary, Mearea, Ormsby, Parker of Perquimans, Peace, IVtree, Pmnix, Pool, Rawla, Roberts, Rountree, Somers, Spruill. Sutton of Cumbtilnd, Sutton of New Hanover, Wernyss, Wbit cf Ala mance, White of Randolph. White cf Bertie, Wrenn, Yarborough, Young 88. For Thompson Senators Alexin Jr, Atwater, Butler, Clrk, Geddie, Hardi son, Lyon, " Maxwell, Mitchtll, Moye, Merritt, McCaskey, Patterson, Robtrioii, Sbaw, Utley and Walker, Speaker llile man. and Representatives Barrow, Car ter, Cath-y, Chapman, Craven, Crum pler, Dixon of Greene, Drew, Fagan, Ferrell, Foster, Hauser, Holmes, John son, King. McBryde, Morton, Person of Wayne, Purgerson, Person of Wilson, Plott, Price, bchulken, Ward, Whitener 43. For Doughton Senatora Abell, An thony, Barringer, Justice, Parker, Ray, Scales, and Representatives Bunch, Con ley, Creech, Cunningham, Dixon of Cleveland, Duffy, Eddens, Ferguson, Gallop, Hartness, Lawhon, Leek, Lyle, McKenzie, McLelland, McPheetra, Mur- 8hy, Nelson, Parker of Wnyne, Pearson, arisen, Reid, Smith, Waitera, Watts, Wilson 33. INCIDENTS OF THE ROLL CALL. When the name of Mr. Hodges (Popu list) waa called, he arofe and explained hia vote.. He said that in voting for Pritchard he felt that be waa fulfilling an honest pledge made to the Republicans in 1894, and renewed at Edenton, N. C, in 1896; and he believed that the best in- moted hy Jeter U. Pritchard a r , ; Jlnn io ine ouueu ointa ofonLc. The call of Mr. Pearon'B ni, alao tared brought out an explanation. IU , i hit he cat hia vote for It. A. Ijt . but if he thought that he could Rtr i the cause of free silver by voting f Cy. Thompaon.he would most gi j po. ion. hen Dr. do When the name c f Senator h key waa caned, he announced thut , fairr d with Dr. D. Reid Parker, , rom Randolph; that if he v..t , ator be would vote for Thorn pson, and th Par. ker, if prtser.t. would vote for p(j ,. ard. Wnen the roil call was comply I the Vof ballot for United States Senator Th Chair ruled that it waa Dermi.w(.i. whereupon an appeal waa taken from the decision of the Chair, On a n'ra voce vote the Chair was unable to decide whether the decision was sustained or reversed. On motion of Mr. Blackburn mittee of notification wasannoini. iom bo, on the amendment of Younir (! t.T I . . . V '.), of wane, were instructed to lu Senator-tlect into the hall. the President R?ynolda appoii i. t Mr. Smathers on the part of the Sen md Speaker Hdeman selected Col. )v..,i for the Hou?e. These were tbe ge'itli- pan who made the nominaMng sp e( l,efor Mr. Pritchard in th Senate an. 1 it 4193 on Tufsday. Toia committee retired at on- md soon returned accompanied, n-it o by Senator Pritchard, but by Uevrfuor Russell and Col. II ury Skinner a wtU. A perfect storm of applause ;-r. tbe appearance of the trio of i)i-i,in-guif-Tied Statesmen, -all of whotu v ere especially active in the Ser atom, fig gle just closed. There were lon l lls for the Senator to address the as m y. He was escorted to the Speaker's M.ind and make a brief but telling talk. Thia is a partial report of what he said . MR. PRITCHARD'S SPEECH. j "Mv. President and Members of the Qin eral Assembly : - "It ia under peculiar circumstances that I appear before you on thia occa sion. I have gone through thia contest with great strain, both ujon my mental and physical powers. I thank you for thia, the highest honor in the gift of the people, except the Presidency of the . United States. "Populiata, you will never regret hav ing voted for me on this occasion. I have been misrepresented, maligned and slandered, and there has been every effort to undermine me in this contest ; but I stand where I did two years ago. "To the Republicans I would say that so long as I lead the Republican ptrty its banner shall never trail in the dust. "I have tried to be frank, and will try to always fulfil every pledge made to the people. I have always contended that to open the factories ud mills and the adoption of salutary measures as to finance will assure peace and prosperity to this American people. "I hae no unkind feelings towards anyone who haa opposed me in thia fight. I believe they hive been actuated purely by a mistaken sense of duty. I shall, in the discharge of my duties, pur. sue such a course as will redound to the greatest good to the grand old State of North Carolina." Senator Pritchard concluded hia speech with appropriate thanks for a b npiet of very handsome flowers which had been sent forward when he ascended the plat form. THE GOVERNOR SPEAKS. When Senator Pritchard had con cluded, there were loud calls for Gov ernor Russell, who reluctantly responded. lie said that he had not supposed that be would be called upon to address the joint sesMon, and he would only say that while there had been a bitter conflict es to the Senatorial matter between the two par-' ties who have redeem d North Carolina, he did not believe there would beany disastrous result as to the enactment of thoe measures of State policy which the needs of the State demanded. Hi declared that he believed the mem bers of the General Assembly would go bark to the people with a record which would prove them true to the great body of the peoploof North Carolina. SPEECH BY COL. SKINNER. When the applause, elicited by Gov. Russell's talk had subsided, there were persistent calls for Col. Harry Skinner, who, with apparent reluctance, re sponded. He thanked the Assembly for the compliment and applause tendered him; but declared the proceedings not orderiy. He thought that as soon as the business of the session was concluded, they should adjourn to their resjwetive balls for the transaction of regular busi ness. Thia, he said, had been a wonderful campaign, WBged on his part for the Populist party and the best interests of silver at tbe ratio of 16 to 1. The im portance of thia Senatorial contest, he thought, had been over-estimated. The fight had been waged as though human ity must live or die by the selection of thia Uniti d States Senator. ijr. Skinner declared that no party ought to live which did not keep faith in its contracts, and that no just cause could ever prosper by any save strictly honor able methods. He disclaimed any per sonal obligation to Senator Pritchard ex cept the best interests of the Populist party in the fulfilment of an obligation made by them to the Republican party. Now, said M. Skinner, that the Re publ can party ia in power, no obstacle mut-t le put in their way to impede leg islation. Let them have every opportu nity to bring prosperity, and if they do not do so, then we mut put them down like the Democratic party is now. Mr. Skinner paid a high compliment to Sen ator Pritchard. declaring that he be- lieveVi he would always be true to hia avowed convictions. When Mr. Skinner concluded hia speech, the ioint session immediately adjourned. It was past two o'clock be fore the Senators had all repaired to their chamber, and tha House resumed routine business. Xararsa Station. Last Saturday the writer went out to this place in ihe interest of the GAZETTE. About three hundred hands arc employ td in this guano mill. It ia one cf the larg est esUblithiuenia of the kind in the South. Through Mr. J. J. Clements, the public school teacher hete, cur piper is read by quit a number cf the colored employees. They love the paper and speak for it. Messrs J. C. Wilson, J. J. Clements, E. W. Davis, T. II. IVrdie, G. IVrdie, R. Banting, Claborn Milh-r. Solomon Adkln on, Joe Kinson, J. II. Brown, Ed. Fields, James Shaw, James Edwardn, W. II, Bryant, Fortune Dick, Lewis My era and Jerry Moselt were among those we met. Mr. J. J. Clements haa moved his fam ily to Wilmington. Mr. C. C. McDonald and the Southern Branch or tbe Loan and Building As sociatlon. - Tbe Building and Loan and real estate business, which Mr. C. C. McDonald lep resents, iaa great business. It will give you a splendid opportunity to save money. The Association is perfectly re liable and safe in every particular. Mr. McDonald ia a manly, straightforward, business young man. He treats every body fair and square, regardlt saof color. We know this u true because we have known him for many years. AVe pub lish some line advertisements on the local page of our paper this week, and ask you to read them.
The Gazette [1891-1898] (Raleigh, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Jan. 30, 1897, edition 1
2
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