On the eve of elections throughout the State of North Carolina, Past District Governor Bevin Wall presented a historical perspective on the Elections of 1898 that forever changed the political landscapes of the state.
Those elections effectively returned to power a governing party that would restore "Home Rule", disenfranchise African American voters for decades to come and roll back many of the progressive policies enacted since the end of the Civil Way. While problems certainly remain now, it is evident that our state has come a long way in defending the individual liberties and protections afforded by our "Nation of Laws".
Interestingly, even after 111 years, many of the personalities and family names cited were familiar to some of the "old timers" in the Rotary Club, according to several comments in the Q&A period following the program.
Governor Wall based his presentation on an article by Nicholas Graham archived in The North Carolina Collection at the UNC-Chapel Hill Library.
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