Weekly North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1858, 1858-03-03


tions and so Chill faded from his gaze, and ST.
Thomas loomed up before him as the sugar-plum
waiting to be tasted But Mr. McRae did not like
st. Thomas, and So like Oliver Twist, he kept ask
ing for more" He did not get it, and thereupon he
became indignant, and in the midst of his ndigna-
ton he thought once more of the public lands and
of the distribution triumph, which he thought he
had achieved in the State Convention in 1852 The
Congressional campaign then going forward.
and Mr.. McRae took the field in the Wilmington
District against Mr.. Ashe, the acknowledged candi-
date Of the Democratic party. lie at once mounted
the distribution hobby. and appealed to the Wing
party of the District to "come to his relief" there
by demonstrating the singular fact that his ardor in
the distribution cause was increased or diminished
just in proportion as office eluded or within his
grasp. He succeeded in his object, and at length
rendered the Consulship at Paris He promptly
accepted it. and, to all human appearances at once
forgot distribution. The Democratic party, with
magnanimity and long suffering which Mr.. McRae
should never forget bore with him in his dsorgani
zing demonst, atons against Mr.. Ashe and the Ad-
ministration of Gen. Pierce, yielding NEST probably
to the kind interposition of Mr. Dobbin, and with
the implied approval of the Democracy of the State,
snatched Mr.. McRae as brand from the burning"
placed him in an honorable and lucrative Office in
foreign land, where it hoped he would avail
himself of the opportunity to review his blunders
and his attempts to destroy his party, and form bet
ter and more disinterested resolutions for the future
If Mr. McRae distributionist in 1852, when
the recommendations to Office to which he refers
were given him, it is quite certain that those who
gave them did not know it. Having given them,
they did not withdraw them during account
Of his contest with Mr.. Ashe, though they might
have done so with entire proprety and justice and
it is fair to presume that they had weigh: with
the President in making the appointment. And yet
those who to this extent stood by Mr.. McRae while
he disorganizing. and who raised no voice to
prevent his appointment, are sought to be held re
sponsibe for his errors and Mr. McRae himself would
inure them politically for the charity and kindness
which they extended to him, and which aided in
some degree, at least, in preventing his destruc
ton as public man!
We have said that in our opinion Mr.. McRae is
not very deeply concerned on the subject of dstri
button and the public lands; and that he is the VIC
tim of disappointed ambition. Do not the facts
which We have presented prove what We say? His
ambition has been mortified and he has been dsap-
PN'SSN AAOPSS
the Chilian mission; and far as distribution and
the public lands concerned, ho gave them M rs
soon as respectable and desirable office was ten
dered him. For four long years the plundering and
the squandering, as he alleges, went on, yet he was
far away, apparently oblivious of the issue which
had served him so handsomely in 1853, while his
present Know Nothing supporters oblivious of it
also, engaged in the godlike work of persecu-
| ting the stranger and the Catholic and burdening
mems consciences with horrid oaths. We heard of
him at the Ostend Conference, we heard Of him trav-
elling upon the Rhine, and We heard of him inter
esting himself to establish commercial intercourse
| between the Southern United States and France
but the winds bore to the Atlantic no lam
enations from the gentlemen over the rapid loss to
the old States of the Conederacy of their share of the
public lands. Perhaps he was nursing the issue
| with view to another demonstration for Office
Perhaps he regarded it as his cheshire cheese, .
which would not spoil by keeping-as a hobby toe
valuable to be mounted and put under whip and
spur except for given purpose and with the Ger
tainty of an adequate return. But of this We will
speak in our next ...