Newspapers / The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, … / May 17, 1909, edition 1 / Page 10
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1 V TnHiiJu Follctwlna; is the address of William p.Bynum,- Jr.. prwullny to th 8u eretne Co art portrait of the tote Chief turtle, David M- Furchea. on May 11; 'May ' U plea your honors: I have the pleasure of presenting a por trait - Of David M. Furches late Chief Justice of this court. In se lecting ne to perform thla friendly ufBce, Judre Furches showed a per sonal confidence and regard which I " keenly appreciate and which I shall endeavor to justify by using that plainness and directness of speech which I think he would approve !f ! he were here. Many of his contem poraries at the bar and on the bench "'knew him longer and better perhaps than I and could speak more fittingly ' of Ms professional and official career. ' My only qualification is an intimate ; acquaintance and association with trim during the last years of 'his life atd a aincere admiration of his sturdy i-V qualities as a lawyer, a Judge, and as a man. "The biography of Judge Furches ' thaa already been written. I need not repeat it here or refer to it further than to recall some Important events eahtcb throw light upon his career. Indeed his life throughout was so plain and unpretentious, so free from display and the pomp which usually - Attends the noisy honors of ambitious public life, that its record is little more than the simple story of a steady country lawyer who. by unremitting Industry and tho practice of the prin ciples of strict integrity and virtue, won his way surely and steadily to ' the highest Judicial office of th State. This was the ambition of hi life; this he set out to attain, and with Its attainment came only the earnest desire to discharge Its duttea ' faithfully and acceptably to all of hi fellofw-cltiaens. "The ancestors of Judge Furches were from Delaware. His grandfather came to Ntorth Carolina from that State about the close of the revolu tion. A relative of the family had died unmarried In that part of Rowan (which is now Davie county and left his estate to a kinsman, the Judge great-grandfather, of Kent county. Delarware: and a nnn of that legatee was sent here to look after the prop erty. H found It. and what was better, he also found for himself a iwife among; the daughters of Rowan end decided to make hln home amongst her people. This settler v named one of his sons Stephen Lewis, after the ld bachelor relative who . had bequeathed his estate to the an ; cestor in Delaware, and this Stephen Lewis Punches, a country gentleman : noted for hia generonlty and klnd nes was the fHther of the Judge, the Idest child, who wan born April 21, 1833 "The future rhlef Justice waa ft f typical country boy. He helped his father on the farm: In the winter he attended such whools as the commu nity afforded, and when ho grew older v: he was sent to the high achool or academy for thrc. years, and that completed his education He had ' already chofen hhj profession, and at t the age of 14 passed from the acad- emy o the la w Bchool of Judge Prar eon at Richmond Hill. There he re- - malned for the uaus) period and at : the ago of 2) recehed his license and r astaJbiished an office in Mo-ksvtJi, th. county eat. Hla legal ability, as , well vma his hold upon the confidence of his fellorw-citlitens, were soon attested by ' hla -election to the of)W of uollcltor i. of the County Court, n position most ' helpful and stimulating tn the young . lawyer.' That position, with the ex : .ception of a few months during th" reconstruction period, ho continued to hold until the county courts wcrn abolished In INKS. "Judge Furches was in the Confed erate army only about one month. : The ahortness of his service there wa due to two things: First the office, y f county solicitor which he held ex--mpted him from the provisions of , 'he conscript act; and. second, having ,i three brothers and Our hrothers-ln-'W In the army, to use his nnn wnnk : he 'concluded to stay out." '"When the war whs ov. r and the i wk of restoring the smtc to Its former relations with the I'nlnn was hegun. Judge Furches was sent as a delegate from Davlo county to . the constitutional convention, which met for that purpose in Raleigh in October. 1865. In that convention. composed of the ablest men of the .'State, he wan an active and influential member. Its work was quickly and thoroughly done and Is now familiar , . to every one. Among other ordi nances, which It adopted were those ' abolishing slavery, declaring the ordl- - tfanee of secession null and void from . the . beginning, and repudiating the debt con traded In the prosecution of the war. It provided for the organf- cation of a State governanent by call . int an election for members of the General Assembly, Governor and other State officers and also "for the election of members of CongTesn, and thus placed the State in a position to resume at an early day its practical , relations with the Union. Other se- .ceding States in similar conventions ? fnerely declared the ordinances by which they attempted to sever their : connection -with the Union null and void. North Carolina alone declared her ordinance void from the begin ning. The said supposed ordinance," the convention resolved, 'Is now and at aid times hath been null and void ' This was the view held by Mr. I,!n- coin and afterwards announced hv the 6upretne Court In Texas vs. White. - Mr. Lincoln. In his first inaugural address, declared 'that no State upon Its , mere motion could lawfully cot ' out t the Union and that resolves and ordinances to that effect were legally void. And In his last speech. April ll.r 1SS, referring to certain criti cisms on account of the fact that his mind seemed not to be definitely fixed on the question (whether the yecedin? frtates, eo-ca.1 led, were In the Union , or oot-ef It. he declared that uch a question wa practically Immaterial 'a mere pernicious abstraction which It were tetter not to decide or even to consider.' t- 'Finding themselves safely : at home.' said he with his usual apt ness of expression, 'it would be utterly Immaterial whether they had ever beeB ahroad.' : "Mr. . Sumner, on the other hand, held that the effect of secession was the destruction of the States, and Thaddeus Stevens lws firm and hitter i In the contention that the result of ' the war left them in the humiliating position of conquered provinces to be v dealt with as the cenquerer pleased; while Congress regarded them as dls- organized communities twhlch had for feited all civil and political right ; tnd privileges uftfler the constitution and which eould be restored thereto only by the permission and authority of the constitutional power against which, they ha rebelled' and yby which they were subdued. "Our: convention of ltd held the '- ' f: ' : -: :;,- '; - . ' ; dge David view that North Carolina, had never ceased to be a State and a State of the Onion; that the ordinance of se cession Ing veld ah initio, the State, having never ceased to be a member of the Union, bad the right and would be allowed to resume ber relations with It upon complying with the term and conditions set forth in the Presi dent's' proclamation of May, 18(5; and accordingly, in addition to pass ing the ordinances required by the President, tha convention provided for the speedy reorganization of civil government in all its branches in this State and also for the election ef members ef Congress, fully believing that when these things should be done the State would be accorded full recognition as a member of the Union. This had been the wish and plan of Mr. Lincoln and the same was adopt ed by Mr. Johnson soon after hla ac cession to the presidency. "Governor Worth and his party were equally pronounced in the same opinion, and in his inaugural address lb December, 1866, he declared that they were 'astounded by the proposi- f tion,' then advanced, 'that North Car olina, one of the original thirteen, was no longer a State but only a territory of the United States,' and that he would 'never assent to any scheme or compromise based on the idea that North Carolina was not a State of the American Union.' "That position wan held to De cor rect by the Supreme Court of the United States two years later in the case of Texas vs. Whlte to late. however, to prevent the mischiefs which the opposite view had brought upon us. Did Texas during the war cease to bo a State? asked Chief Jus tice Chase in delivering the opinion of the court in that case. Or if not, did the State cease to be a member of the Union? Answering thejte ques tion, he continued: 'The Union of the States never mas a purely artificial and arbitrary relation. . . . Not fiily. therefore, can there be no loss of separate and Independent autonomy to the States through their union under the constitution, but It may be l'Ot unreasonably said that the preser--atton of the States and thi mainte nance of their government are as iruch within the design and care of the constitution a the preservation of tho I'nlon and the maintenance of the national government. The con stitution in all its provisions looks to an InnVstructlhle union composed of Indf structible States. . . . The ordi nance of secession adopted by the convention and ratified hy a majority of the citizens of Texas and all tho acts of her If-glslature Intended to give effect to that ordinance were al .outely null. They were utterly with out operation In law. The obligations of the State as a member of the I'nlon and of every citizen of the State as a citizen of the United States re mained perfect ana unimpaired. It certainly follows that the State dl.i not cease to be a Stale nor her citi zens to be citizens of the Union. . . . Our conclusion, therefore. Is that Texas continued to be a State and a State of the Union.' "After the convention Judse Furches returned to his duties as so licitor and to the practice of his pro fession generally. To him the arena of practical politics was never very enticing. His ambition was always along the line of his profession, to iwhich. In all. he devoted nearly fifty years of his life. He attained his ma jority In the expiring day of the old Whig- party, of which he was an en thusiastic adherent and from which the transition as easy and natural lo the Republican party. In a meas ure, lis successor. Loyalty to his party nnd Invalty to his friends was a gov erning principle of his cnndiio', though frequently he did not agre- with the policies of the one nor the fitlois of the other. His party fre quently honored him with Its nomi nations for high and responsible oftlee. Twice he encountered the Democratic. pi;mts of Hie ucst as a candidate for Congress Major RobWn?. In 172 and Judge Armrield. In 1SS0, and, though tho champion of a forlorn hope, each time he reduced hLs opponent's ma .i rity more than half. For three years he was a Judge of the Superior Court, where he presided with pa tiencs. firmness and ability in irks he was analn ailed Into party s-rvlee as a candidate for Ansociate Justice of this court and again four vears later as a candidate for Governor: but the common fate of all Republi can candidates befell him. and he. with the others on the ticket, was each time defeated. "I'ut these successive defeats ar not to be attributed to anv lack of confidence on the part of the public In Juc'ge Furches or In his fitness for the positions which he sought. On the contr.nrv. i venture to sv "that he rossessed. In a marked degree, the respect and esteem of his fellow fltizens throughout the State. "They recognized his ability and Integrity, and more satisfied that he was capa ble of filling with entire accepta bility any of the offices to which hs pplrcd. Yet he. and others Hke him. Tere uniformly defeated as often as they ran for public office. The rea sons for this are not l,ard to dis cover. It was no fault of theirs nor of the rink and file f their party In this State. Rut the maloritv of the white people of North fVtrollna had rot forgiven the national Republican party for its stupendous blunders In the reconstruction of the State gov ernment In 18S7 for the reaction of Mr. Lincoln's plan and the enforce ment of that of Congress placing in power In the state men who. In manv instances, were distasteful to the peo ple and wholly unfit for leadership in such a crisis. These blunders Judge Furches and manv other patriotic r.epuDiicans like hhn in North Caro lina opposed and tried to prevent. The constitutional convention of hlch he was a member had readily complied with what the people of this State understood to be the demand or the President and the people of the North as necessary before the State should be permitted to resume its relations with the Union. The machinery of the State tovrnim.nt hrd been taken from tha hnli at those who had adhered to-h. r-nn tornte in the hands of those who had !ene.vd tneir aHegiance to the Unit ed Statts The great body of the peo ple had accepted the offered amnesty, fr.ken the o.ith required end votsd at he elections be vhk-h these sweeping change vere made, and -the State government, t: iS restored, was al ready performing it functions Fmoothly and satisfactorily, and peaca and order prevailed. The presence f the State in the Union had t)een emphatically recog nized toy submitting to its "Legisla ture the thirteenth amendment for ratification, and the Legislature had promptly and - almost unanintouslv approved It. JLnother recognition of M.Furches our state-hood, squall emphatic, so far as .the executive - department of the national government could snake it, ft ad coma when, on June 1(. last, the Secretary of 8ta4e sf the United States formally transmitted to the Governor of this Stats the fourteenth article of amendment proposed to the constitution of the United States, to te by hhn submitted to the Legisla ture for adoption oor rejection. To the original conditions to be complied with before the South ern States should be permitted to resume their relations with the Union, the ratification of that amendment was added. It was vaatl more far-reaching and objeetionablo to the South than the other. The people of the South were, never theless, expected to face about, to turn their backs on the man they had trusted and followed and adopt the lead of those who had no magnetic hold on their hearts or minds. This they would not do, and it was unreasonable end unna tural to expect them to do It. The Lf?ljaur ln the e"rf1" it rightful pdwers, refused to ratify or adopt that amendment. "Then, without further reaon, the government of this State, which has been duly acknowledged by the Presi dent of the United States, and which had been organized and in existence for more than twelve months and in the regular and peaceful perform ance of its functions, along with tho governments of other Southern States was declared illegal and inadequate for the protection of life or prop erty and virtually abolished by Con gress, and the Governor and other State officers who had been duly elected by the people and were tn the exercise of their public duties were subsequently removed and In their stnad were placed other officers elect ed largely by the vote of the freed- men upon whom the elective franchise had recently been bestowed. "The majority of the Intelligent peo ple of the State felt outraged and off pie juf the State felt outraged and offended by these arbitrary and un constitutional proceedings. They look ed with displeasure upon the govern ment and the officers thus thrust upon them against their will. To them the rule of that govern ment was Irksome and sure to lead speeJily to disorder and trouble. It iwas unnatural and Im possible for it to last. Men like Judge Furches were not to blame for It They opposed this scheme of Con gress from the beginning and acqui esced In It only In the hope that their fears and misgivings might prove groundless. They rightly be lieved that reorganized political gov ernment with proper security for per son and property could not exist In the State unless those who were, hv their Intelligence and character, th-5 natural leaders of the people and who would surely lead them by and by. were permitted to lead them in that crisis. And time has proved the cor rectness of their position. "Nor were such men of the South alone In that belief. Many Republi can leaders In the North agreed with them and urged the adoption of such a policy by Congress an the only proper solution of the grase difficulty then confronting the nation. The sen timents and apprehensions of those Republicans were never so truly and prophetically expressed s they were by the great war Oavernnr of Massa chusetts In his valedictory address to the legislature of that KtHte ln Jan uary, 1866. more than a year before the first reconstruction act was pass ed. Said he: The Southern people . . . fought, tolled, endured and per severed iwtth a courage, a unanimity and a persistency not outdone by any people In any revolution. There wa rever an acre of territory abandoned to the Union while It could be held by arms. There was never a rebel rgiment surrendered to the I'nlnn arms until resistance was overcome hy force. . . . The people of the South, men and women, soldiers and civilians, volunteers and conscripts in the army and at home, followed the fortunes of the rebellion and obey ed Its leaders, so long as it had any fortunes or any leaders. Their young men marched up to the can non's mouth, a. thousand tlmM. here they were mowed down like grain by the reapers when the harvest is ripe. . . . And sinve the President finds himself obliged to let in thr great mass of the disloyal ... to a participation In the 'business of re organizing the reibel States. I am obliged also to confess that I think to make one rule for the richer and higher rebels and another rule for the poorer and more lowly rebels Ik Im politic and unphllosophlcal. " 'When the day arrives . . . when an amnesty substantially uni versal shall be proclaimed, the lead ing minds of the South, who. by tem porary policy and artificial rules had been, for the while, disfranchised, will resume their Influence and their sway. The capacity of leadership is a gift, not a device. They whose courag?. talents and will entitle them to lead, will lead. . . . We ought to demand and to secure the co-operation of the strongest and ablest minds and th natural leaders of opinion In tha South. If we cannot gain their sup port of the Just measures needful for the work of safe reorganization, re organization will be delusive and full of danger. ... It would be idle lo reorganize those States by the colored vote. If the popular vote of the white l ace ia not to 'be had in favor of the guarantees Justly required, then I am in favor of holding on Just where we are. I am not in favor of a surren der of the present rights or the Union to a struggle between a white minor ity, aided by the freedmen on the one l.End, against the majority of th hlte race on the other. I would not consent, having rescued those States by arms from secession, to turn them over to anarchy and choaa. . . Wc ought to extend our hands with cor dial good will to meet the proffered hands of the South: demanding no attitude of humiliation from any. In flicting no acts of humiliation upon any; respecting the feelings of the conquered.' "To the stubborn refusal of North ern Republican leaders in Congress to heed such warnings and to follow si-ch advice and to the arbitrary and unreasonable enforcement of a con trary policy may be Justly attributed, in my opinion, the political . aolidity of the South and the miafortunea of the Republican party la that section from that day to this. There, in my .uegment, was the prime mistake, the inexcusable blunder. Other mistakes, it is true, may have been, and. Indeed, ttere made; other offenses undeniably were committed here ia the South where social and political chass en sued, and the Influence and effect of them re it a in with us to this day. But the origin and cause ef these trauhia vera cot wtioilx tn the 6outh and. 1 Southern XUptlkssjs ware not alto gether responsible nor ars they the only proper apologists for theta.: . "The same also, has feeea trva with rvspect to the management of 'Repub lican affairs ln ths South down to the present time. Not all of the blunders, not all of the bad management and mistakes; have been made) hers; Just as frequently. Just as persistently, and Just as dlaatrousty. have they been made at Washington. And. wherever aid whenever and toy whomsoever they have been made, those who have suffered most hy them politically have been Southern Republicans of ths type and standing of Judge Furches. "But happily we are now assured of the arrival of a "better day ln which the unfortunate policy heretofore pursued towards the South shall be abandoned and reversed; when, in the language of Governor Andrew, the co-operation of tha strongest and ablest minds and the natural leaders of opinion in the South' will be sought snd, let us hope, twill be secured; when the wishes of her people are to be consulted and no effort spared to find out the facts In respect to the character of all proposed appointees to Federal positions, and when, in the language of the President, only those will be selected 'whose charac ter and reputation and standing in tbe community commend them to their fellow-citizens as persona qualified and aible to discharge their duties well, and whose presence ln impor tant positions will remove, If any such thing exists, the sense of alienism in the government which they repre sent.' "It remains for me to refer to the most Important part of the Judge's life his career at the bar and on th'j bench. In 1866 he moved from Motksville to Stateavllle and soor. a iuired a lucrative practice ln Iredell and the adjoining counties. He met as antagonists huch men as ArmfieM, Folk, Clement. 3ailey, McCorkle. Watson. Linney and others, among whom lie was numbered as one of the v. isest and the best. As an adviser and counsellor he was careful and tafe; as an advocate he was earnest. forcible and convincing. He never trusted a client or even a brother awyer lo prepare his cases; he pre pared them hlmgelf, and thus not only performed a duty, but furtherel ;ustlce and enhanced his chance o success. "He was scrupulously faithful to his clients, but remembered that good fsith to a client can never Justify or :equire had faith to one's own con science, nnd that however desirable It may be to 'beknown as a success ful and great lawyer, It Is even bette. to tip known as an honest man and that there Is no Incompatibility what ever in the possession f both of these titles. The as&eitlng of truth, the ac complishing of right, the doing of what is Just these he believed to be grander, and better than the transi tory victories semetimes questionably Avon In the controversies of th: courts. Above all. he was honest; he v. as honorable in the practice of his profession an In his dealings with his feUowmen. and this gave him h power far superior, more persistent and per manent than mere skill and strategy When he spoke to the Jury or the Judge his argument carried the weigh; of sincerity. his eloquence th-j strength of his convictions. "His elevation to the bench was directly In eccordance with his tastes and desire I have said that he was for three years Judpre of the Superior Court, from 1875 to 1878. In 1894 Po was elected an Associate Justlco of this court and acted as such until January. 1901, when his cherished niwbition was gratified by his appoint ment as Chief Justice. After holding that office for two years he retired to private life, carrying with him that which he. ever so highly prl'ed the love and respect of his brethren, the confidence of his fellow-citlens. and the consciousness of duty faithfully und courageounlv performed. "On the bench Judge Kurches ",vai lenient, hard-working and thorough in his Investigation of questions oil 'vhlch the court was called upon to psss. While making no pretense to polish or finished style, his written opinions are clear, forcible and In cisive. He always speaks to the point nnd when that has been reached and explained he Is content. "He was fond of the society of the I bench and 'bar and was delightfully iovlal and reminiscent with all hi? personal and political friends. He be lieved in standing by the old land marks and the old decisions and had unbounded admiration for the great :u!nf. who preceded him as mem bers of this court. "In presenting his portrait to the court I have said of him only what all who knew him will readily coit i ede. l render to his memory suf ficient trrhute when I portray hbn precisely as he was 'a true and brave and downright honest man.' His heart iwas always open and sin cere. He was plain, straightforward and unostentatious In everything he. did and In everything he said In private and in public life he always sought the path of rectitude, and righteousness and nothing pleased him so thoroughly as to be able to perform his duty well. He made no claim to erudition or brilliancy, but lie possessed the richer endowment of saving common sense and 'stood foursquare to all the winds that hlew." He was what Carlyle calH Aincere; he was what he seemed to be, no sham or make-believe, but a real, genuine man. ln all his rela tions he was Just and charitable. Hi love and devotion to his .wife and kindred were remarkably tender and beautiful. Surrounded by them. In 'the full possession of his faculties and the love and respect of neighbors, ho gently passed away In the early morn ing hours of June 8. 1908, leaving a name untarnished and the "record of a useful and well-spent life. Here where Justice reigns supreme. In the company of so many of those whom he venerated and loved, may his honest, rugged features ever receive a hearty welcome from thoe who frequent and abide In this place. Wliet is eform? Puck. In politics, turning the government over to the tender mercies of people who imagine that if the police were only honest and fearless, hades might oe raiaea most any night and the devil put out of business. In theology, making, from time to time, such advances on the old order as will enable the lit to survive with out having to give up their pews. In business, discovering at the psy chological moment, an adequate scape goat, and sending him forth laden with those of our sins that are no longer commercially profitable. In nearly all fields of human d en deavor, something of a convenience. For there is almost always that ele ment of sincerity In It which will make It a stalking-horse ' to cover designs need lag to be covered, HERE AflDTHEBM V , BT TROJAW- 4 ' Mr. Taft is bow ceiled a Democrat fey many, tout if elected again to tha presidency it it ill bo on ths Republi can ticket.- Ths Indications at pres ent are all pointing- that way. If hs makes a good President, looking after the interest of tha entire country, why should any of us be sorry If he should ibe his own successor? One of tha numerous funny, reasons alleged by bis opponents In tha campaign mm that he was not Ills awn man; that be belonged to Mr. Roosevelt, and as clay ln the hands of the potter, so would hs be tn ths bands of his boas. But, of course, nobody thinking for himself took that otherwise than Joke. He and Governor Kltchln ap pear to be very wise men and say but little out do much work la the offices to which they were elected and can be found at borne wban wanted. 'Even The New York World Is finding no fault with Mr. Taft. al though it calls itself a Democratic paper. It says: "Mr. Taft seems t have a more exalted conception of tho duty of the Democratic party than the party itself has." Harper's Week ly felicitously says ln noting the fore going: "Tes, the party's idea of ib duty, these many years, seems to havo been to boost Brother Bryan's lecture business." That is good enough; tho party. Indeed, for all the years slnco he came to the front, has been for Mr. Bryan the most remuneratlvo press agent of which the country has knowledge. Of course, Mr. Taft would ba pleased to see some of the Southern States wheel into the ranks of th Republican party and he will do all in his power to bring this to pans, and do it in an honorable way, too. He would like to see the South set op hop for Itself. His Southern policy rll be supported by thousands who nave not voted for him. He is going to treat the South, apparently, as he does the rest ot the country. That U the right thing to do and he knows it as well as we do. He will have a big time on his visit to North Carolina. The Charlotte people will do the occasion to a fine brown and th? 'welcome accorded our great President rill his heart wlih good cheer and he will in no sen le misunderstand the demomtrstion: ont at the same time, it Is by no means improbable that when he comes to North Carolina again It may be to thank the people for Its electoral vote. These pleasant spring evenings ap pear to have an atmosphere speclall." adapted to enhance the sweetness oT the chimes that ring out calling tht people to the worship of God. I can't walk to the church or to the prayer meeting service, so I sit on my porch snd listen to the musical bells the i chimes presented to the Memorial j Methodist church by Mr. and Mrs. J. K. Stagg In memory of their saint ed mothers. Last prayer meeting night they started up and played eweetly some of the old songs "Nearer, My God. to Thee;'' "Stand 1'p, Stand Up. For Jesus," closing; with "Work. Kor the Night is Com ing." As the eweet tones rang out through the city it struck me what precious gift these two bad made to the city; something that might tender the hearts of the people and help them to meditate on the goodness and mercy of God following us all the days of our lives. The first acquaintance we have with,, God -we And Him In Genesis at work; and from the time that Adam and Eve "were driven out of the garden it has been work. If we would have the approval of Him who created us work Is necessary and to be kept up until the whistle blows that calls from labor to refreshment. When I was a boy going to fchool at Fayettevllle we used McGuffey's readers, and in one of them was a story of a boy who did not enjoy at tending school. The name of the master was Toil. The boy dldn t like him. go decided to quit and go away where he would never again see Mr. Toll. He started on the Journey and soon became tired. Nbtlclng some men at work building a house he stopped tn watch operations and everything appeared easy; the men vsing the plane, the saw, tho hammer and the drawing knjfe. It was all so pretty and he decided that being a carpenter was easy. But directly the boss on the Job came in view hurry ing up the men, exhorting them to be lively, and the voice was strangely familiar; the bov- looked up and to lils horror saw Mr. Toll was the man. He moved away rapidly. Then Ho came to the village green, and the young folks were having a fine time dancing to the music of tha fiddle. He Joined in the sport but presently found that the tiddler on the platform sawing vigorously away was none other than Mr. Toll. It was all right for the time, but the young folks had to pay the fiddler, for he was labor ing as perseverlngly as the school tewcher or the carpenters. Wherever he Journeyed he found Mr. Toll busy In every relation of life. So the boy decided to be anything he must fol low Mr. Toll, and he returned to his school and ever after that was a good boy, and. of course, in the end came out st the big part of the horn. It is certain that whatever happiness mav be, it comes ln consideration of ac oualntance with Mr. Toll. And there is no truer proverb than the Idle N-3t, the He' tl's workshop. So to be happy It becomes necessary to keep on the overalls until the Su preme Workman Informs us that It Is time to come home. Why inheritance Tax Preferred. Tampa Times. The inheritance tax commends it self to the Republican politicians In preference to the income tax because the dead can't kick and the heirs are in a thankful frame of mind that keeps them quiet. Notice Sealed Bids MECKLENBURG COUNTY. Charlotte, N. C May 11, ISO. Sealed bids are asked by Mecklen burg County, bids to be opened on Saturday, the 22d day of May, at II o'clock m., for the erection of a Steel Bridge over Catawba River at Roxzell's Ferry. Specifications In clude four spans of 153 feet each; roadway 16 feet wldv. Bids are asked on wood and concrete doors separate ly. Masonry and piers are furnished by the county. , Plans and specifications are fur nished by the county and are open for inspection at the Court House, tn Commissioners' room. Bidders are required to accompany their proposi tions with a certified check' of $1, 000.00. The successful bidder will be required to give bond la the sum of J 4,000.00 for tha faithful performance of the contract. Privilege is reserved to reject any and all bids. - W. M. IXfNCl. . Chairman Board Commissioners KecaUenbursr . County. , . , - The Vanguard -of ihe RevoluW "V . V ' islsiSBSsaBssj ps-ewma was wnusa or Rev. Dr w. Unto Theological tarisr Blchmond, Ta.. we ths . AaT'kiA iii s a .sl. . ... asryar ta UM for the be pees, on tha Mecklsnbu, fors first asvths soeasien sf the UZZ brmtkn. lfr k issn ... ecMbttrg Uin-. bratloa. May 20th. Msg)., To Piedmont Carolina, where virgin prairie soil Bespoke abundant harvests to reward the UBera toil s From homes beyond the eesaa there casta ia days of old A band of sturdy heroes, a race of yaoma bolt. On all Catawba's uplands-tor there thsy f(Mlna Those woods and wide savannahs fulftUed their lonsir. They reared their enodest dwelling, , they built tha kirk . For wen they knew hew danger grew from skeptic Ttr Behind ths walls of Deny their fathers' faith tn Oed Had tilled their souls with oourag to defy the tyrant'i Twere folly' then to fancy that sons ef sires like thass Would bear a yoke of bondage or obey unjuat decrees. Their heirloom was Volume which taught the right, 0f And made the least a king and priest free from despotic h.' The people are the soverelgna, with rights inallsnate, The people make ths government, the people are tha stats. This truth was taught by Craighead, thus Mecklonbur, bh, . .ir pni were not dtctiti. While ethers talked of redreaa as aubjecis of tha crown They boldly broke the tyranfa yoke, and Hung the gaumi.t domi From seven eonsgegatJona la which they preached and xny. From woodlands and plantations, in honMpaen garb arrava These yeoman rode to Charlotte, these men of mien e4ale While high emprise ebon In their eyes-1 bey came to found ih, s 4 And there these dauntless statesmen. i ringing words nd hirh. Declared their Independence "We'll win It or we ll die, With lives and sacred honor, with fortunes great or tmaJi We will serve the cause ef freedom, we win kreak the Brno,-, u. Next year the nation followed where Mecklenburg had lead Te all the world, with flag unfurled, her high resolve ,h retd "No more shsll sons of freemen endure the tyrant's rod Thla land ahall be as freedom free, or w forsworn to God " Through flaming broil of battle where Britons bravest stood On field and flood, by blade and blood, they made their p!e-igM ' And now. where'er their banner floats over land and sea. With grateful lays the people praise tha men who made us free Then up with granite column Inscribed with lofty phrase. Let Mecklenburg a achievements resound through endlesi dav, Her sons were first to utter the dlsenth railing word. Let men proclaim their deathless name till all the wnrld has hear Borrowing Books. Nashville American. A correspondent of The Charlotte Observer suggests that the-community appoint a certain day for the return of all borrowed books, without apol ogy, for we are "all sinners." Some very Interesting experience of such a day are given, and there is little doubt that such a custom would be a welcome relief in every community. The writer has in mind a book that is now In the old home, which he borrowed from a neighbor across the street more than thirty years ago, that he has never had the "face" to return. It was "Pilgrim's Progress," too. I ' ' PTJRE SCGCAR CAXE SVRrP. ALAQA STRTJP Is the choicest produ.t of fire AlahaM and Georgia R.ibbon Cane and Is prepared by 'he "in fashioned open kettle process. It retains the iutur' and strengthening qualities of the pure cane Ju f and iu a delicious flavor. For the table use ALAGA Is best alike for old aid young Jt is easily digested and most noruishlng. besldea navim a REAL "Syrupy" flavor. rl A claim is easily made? hard to prove. We Haim AUA is the best home syrup and its fine qualities substantiate w claim. ALAQA SYRUP Is put up in sealed, air-tight, r- cans, each of which bears the Government Pure Food ba" At all First-Class Grocers. ALARAMA-bKORGIA SY1UTP COMPANY. Montgomery. Alabama I COMING T5 CHARLOTTE MAY 20TH? We will be mighty glad te have you call and se us city. Come ln snd see where The Observer publications a" will give us areat slessurs to shew you throutn our '""Tj house. . stake our ornee yeur headSBarters. Wa will ' your service durfn yeur visit ts this sig ceiebrauea SP is! noli W-m iffla . eT rnintrrrg DAILY OBSKRTl V r:' THK BCXD AT OBSSRTKR thx 8Esa-wirxT twaJr1 --'. - ssf THE SATCRDAl E VEXING C"' ilieved. Tho party Re IVlonpd ToJ Universalis! l.eajr A matron of mo,t delirium! acter was encountered by amJ man reported on a country ptpn was sent out to lntenlr ttM rens as to their pontics. "Hi. Mf- ?" she asked nf i.-J ing woman who opened the tJ cne nouse "No, y.i can t.'' uJ the matron dec isively "Hut I J Know whst party he Mmp pieaaea tne gin. Thewomaajr her tall figure. "Well, take I look at me. ' she iJ. l ra th he belongs t"!" aid y : V ':. 'i' i. .
The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
May 17, 1909, edition 1
10
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