Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1854-05-24
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.

INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.
The attempt by portion of the Wing press of
this State to use the question of internal improve
ments for party purposes devolves upon us the duty
of exhibiting the facts as they really are, and of
showing the high and just ground occupied on the
subject by the Democrats of the State and their cam
didate for Governor.
In 1886 the government of the State passed into
the hands of the Wing leaders, and they continued
to hold tiff we except the Legislature of 1912,
which was Democratic-up to 1851. During this
period various sche mes Of internal improvement
were brought forward, and of them were
established; and they controlled by Wing
policy and Wing men. Originally, the people of
both parties were, they now and as every en-
lightencd people must be- in favor of such prudent
legislation as would result in bringing out our re-
sources and in building up markets within our own
borders and plans for improvement had the hearty
support of leading Democrats we'll as leading
Wings. After time however, it became apparent
that the system of improvements which had been
established was not well managed-that abuses had
crcpt into it-that avoritism and party spirit pre-
vailed in its administraton-tha sectionalisn MARI
ed it. it has often married whatever Wing lead
have done attempted to do Ill State affairs;
and under these circumstances Democrats spoke out
in strong terms, not against internal improvements,
but against those things under Wing rule to which
we have just referred. The people became impatient
of Wing blunders and abuses in this respect; they
party in power not competent, as it protested
to be competent, to manage by and OF itself sys-
tenn of internal improvements party which mis-
managed those works which had been committed to
it. and feared to undertake ones lest it should
incur the responsibility of raising the taxes on the
people In proof of this latter assertion it is well
known that the party-in order to avoid a
showing of the Indebtedness they had brought upon
the State when they had so little to exhibit as the
result of this Indebtedness session after
session to the School Fund for supplies of money,
until fears began be entertained by the friends of
Common Schools that large portion or all of this
fund would be ultimately absorbed by the State
Treasury.
Matters in this condition in 1913, when the
Central Railroad bill, the Fayetteville and Western
Plank Road bill, and the Cape Fear and Deep River
Navigation bill were passed Parties were balanced
in that Assembly-the decline of Wing power, as
welded by Wing leaders, was followed by measures
of vast moment for good to the present age and to
posterty The eloquent voice of Dobbin heard
in the Commons in favor of all these measures, and
was largely instrumental in their passage; while in
the casting vote of Democratic Speaker. This
press also was not wanting the occasion, but
went for all these measures, we'll as for measures
for relief to the Wilmington Road, with all the
estncss and ability the Editor could command. Here,
then, was an era of good feeling and of common
hope for the State. The active and leading men of
both parties were either for these works. acqui-
esced cheerfully in the policy which to foster
and complete them; and the people required, in
every campaign for Governor from that time to the
present. that the question of internal improvements
should be kept out of the of party strife This
We have studiously sought to do but the Wing press
the Raleigh Register especially, WILL it seems, have
it otherwise.
Gov. Reid was elected The various works of in
tcrnal improvement have gone forward rapidly
under his administration as it was possible in the
nature of things they could; and to sum up the
whole matter in a few words, the Democrats have
shown themselves competent to lead in this matter,
and under their auspices the State has done in
four years to develope her resources of all kinds
than had been done during fourteen years of Wing
rule. These stubborn facts We regret to have
to bring them forward, because they of party
and we desire heretofore to keep this ques
ton out of party strifes; but acting in self
defence, and the blame, if any there be, must fall
upon the Wing press and not on
The following is the Resolution of the late Demo-
cratic State Convention the subject of internal
improvements:
"Resolred, That it is our earnest wish and desire
to the of North Carolina, agricultural
mineral and commercial fostered and developed;
and the State having already entered upon system
of internal improvements to that end and made large
investments with that view, it would in the opinion
of this Convention polite and proper for the Leg
isature from time to time, to extend such further
aid in the completion of the works already underta-
KEN and the extension of the same, just regard
for the interest of the people may require and the
means and resources of the State will prudently
allow. =, -
This Resolution unanimously adopted It
has the cordial approval of Mr.. Bragg, the Demo
cratic candidate for Governor. It ebodies his views