Wake County, NC - Bicentennial File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Barbara Kawamoto Reprinted with permission of the News & Observer and cannot be reproduced without permission. An Advocate for Common Folk The News and Observer December 29, 1991 Raleigh 200 By Horace W. Raper William Woods Holden was a dominant figure in mid-19th century state history, yet he has remained an enigma to most North Carolinians. Born out of wedlock in Hillsborough in 1818 and without traditional family benefits or formal education, he rose to become an influential newspaper editor, a leader in the formation of three political parties and twice the state’s chief executive. He helped shape the state’s history in the desperate years before, during and after the Civil War. At the age of 10, he was apprenticed to the printing trade, working with the Hillsborough Recorder and later the Raleigh Star. During the latter job, Holden studied law and received his license in 1841. But journalism was his real love, and in 1843, he became owner and publisher of the Raleigh North Carolina Standard, the Democratic organ. As editor, he had a brilliant record and won the popular support of the people throughout the state. A strong advocate of the "common folk," he championed equal suffrage, universal education, internal improvements, labor reforms and a balanced economy for the state. By the early 1850s, Holden had become the tactical leader of the Democratic Party, which he led to power by directing the successful gubernatorial campaigns of David S. Reid and Thomas Bragg. In 1858, having "elected" men of lesser ability, he sought the party’s nomination. When it and the U.S. senatorship were denied, because of his vigorous reformist stance, he began to break with the party. But the break did not become final until after the secession crisis of 1860-61. Earlier, as a Calhoun Democrat, Holden had supported the Southern views on the expansion of slavery to the west and on secession, but by 1860 he had shifted his loyalties to the Union. He had the support of most of the people in clinging to the Union, but the outbreak of hostilities at Fort Sumter forced Holden and the people in to the secession. In 1862, he engineered the formation of the Conservative Party and election of Zebulon Baird Vance as governor. Sensing the futility of the Civil War, however, he worked for an honorable peace rather than unconditional surrender. For such views he was denounced as a traitor, his Standard office was destroyed by Georgia troops and he was defeated in the 1864 gubernatorial election. His peace movement activities led President Andrew Johnson to appoint him provisional governor of North Carolina at the end of the war. Although his administration restored federal authority and some prosperity, he lost in the November election. Later as Radical Republicans gained control of Reconstruction policies, Holden believed it would be disastrous to resist further congressional control. Thus, he not only embraced Republicanism, but organized the party in the state, leading it to victory in 1868 by winning the governorship. As governor, Holden faced many problems in reorganizing local governments, establishing an integrated public school system, enacting penal reform, rebuilding and expanding the railroads and obtaining equal justice for all persons. Personal animosities prevented political harmony in his administration, his critics charging him with being an opportunist and a tyrant. Although opponents accused him of financial excesses and favoring blacks, he was never proved to be dishonest or lacking personal integrity. When civil rights, suffrage and rights to hold office were extended to blacks, resistance developed throughout the state and the Ku Klux Klan was organized to restore white supremacy. Holden was forced to take strong measures, with President Ulysses S. Grant’s endorsement, in maintaining law and order. These measures culminated in confrontation, or the so-called, "Kirk-Holden War." In 1870, Holden declared Alamance and Caswell counties in insurrection, organized two regiments of state troops and began arresting leading Klansmen, including Josiah Turner, Jr., the strident editor of The Raleigh Sentinel. Before the Klansmen were brought to trial, they were released by Judge George W. Brooks of Salisbury. Holden was impeached, convicted and removed from office. In 1871 he was named political editor of The Washington (D.C.) Chronicle, although he was never happy in the position. Subsequently he returned to Raleigh in 1872 to serve as postmaster, a position he retained until 1883. In retirement he devoted his energies to local civic affairs, church work and writing. His home, at the corner of Hargett and McDowell streets, became the focal point of lively discussions among politicians and professionals from all persuasions, but his political disabilities were never removed. Holden suffered several paralytic stokes which left him a virtual invalid. He died in 1892 and was interred in Oakwood Cemetery. ============================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. The electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. 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