Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-10-26
What Does it Meant

We have been frequently approached, since
publishing the communication addressed ITO
the Working-men of Raleigh" and asked as
TO the designs of the writer and the move
ment. Some ask us if it is intended to raise
= new political party, and if SO, if we are In
favor of it? Others inquire whether 1t Is
to array the poor against the rich,
and if so, if we approve the move? Others
say the views Of the writer are monstrous-
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES, in their tendency,
and calculated to disturb the quiet relations
of social life, and put in peril even the char
acter and probity of our State finances and
State credit. Others have fancied that they
discover in the movement something that IS
akin to the motive that excited the recent
mob at Harper's Ferry, insurrection and ra-
pine. And many such startling ideas have
been suggested to US.
In view of these things, we desire to make
a simple statement: When the communica-
ton was handed to us, We told the writer
that if upon examination we found nothing
to compromise the neutral character OF the
Age, we would publish it, but at the same
time it must not be understood that IN so
doing. we endorsed the sentiments of the ar
ticle, or was in any manner identified with
the proposed movement. That if we pub
lished it, it would be simply as an organ of
communication to the Working-men, and
having done so, with them we should leave
- & - ~. 4l.z - 4bo4 ua c,,c
pected there was anything improper for the
article to appear in our columns, but to let
it be known that because we published thls
communication, it m us not be understood we
would publish others.
We examined the communication, and not
being able to discover anything of a partisan
political character, we decided to simply pub
lish it, and enter our disayowal of either APP
proving or disappearing it We did not see
: the grave o~biections-that others seem to have
Q discovered; if we ..had, we should have de-
clined its publication.
We have been told that tricky politicians
have victimized US by betraying us into the
publication of a sedition0ry article, almost
Well, if so, we1have been made a very limo
cent victim-and having so little acquaintance
: with political intrigue and.trickery, we may
: have been duped; but the plain, unsophisti
Gated Working-man who wrote the article,
certainly ga7e.us the best of reasons for be
lieving there was nothing of the kind |
there was, however, zoe were not aware of it
: and have been deceiUed.
In conclusion-for we have written NOR,
! than we intended on the subjective state
If there is any political, secret, or Interior de
sign in the movement, we know nothing Q
2 it. We are not in the. confidence of those en-
~ gagged in establishing the proposed Associs
tion-we did not attend the meeting held o
Wednesday night, for the purpose of organ
. zing the Association. We have not CONVEX.
ed with a single person that was there. W
~ have not been informed, either orally, or b
II -y ~i~. -.-odO OF communication. of til
=, proceedings of that meeting; ard finally, tn:
we have no identity, either remote or I'M
mate-personal or editorial, whit, and nev,
- expect to have.
Wemake these broad and positive disclair
ers, because it is believed by many that the
as a political complexion in the movement
and whether the belief be well founded or nc
AIN it is our duty as a neutral Editor to mainta
md the strict neutrality which we have so su
lily cessfully observed for more than ten years.
We are, however, ready and prepared
hf-i do oil that we oon onne;,4o-4J- -s4I -
OF sition, for the advancement, the prosperit
ned welfare and equality of the Working-men
OF North Carolina-one of whom we are. B
* as the questions involved in this ASSOCIATE
OF are of a character we noo see must becom
MS political issue in the State, our friends, t
'ur- friends Of the Spirit of the Age, of all parti
ore- will agree with US in saying it is proper a
me, right we should keep aloof from it.
} OF But while we say this much, to exoner
ourself from the charge of being connect
ged with any political move, we feel free to
for mark, further-that we do not belle
ne the Working-men Of North Carolina are a
lege more capable of committing a reasonable
ent. or OF doing anything to compromise the oh
too acter of the State, or put in jeopardy
title rights and interests of any portion of tn
sua- fellow-citizens, than any other class, be
gan what it may and, therefore, we denounce
and Of the limitations stated in the first pa
pas graph of this article, Gf any such accusat
ne is seriously made) as a gross and slant
lght GUS allegation upon their motives and int
a IN rity, to which they are not susceptible. 4
ours we may remark farther, that in seeking
q maintain their rights, we believe they
take no steps other than such as are guar
Pur- teed to them by the constitution of the 81
70 so in which they live-and as one of the We
more ing-men of North Carolina, we hurl back "
eacn scorn and contempt into the teeth of him t
ien'' makes it, any imputation that calls in quest
, ne their loyalty, their patriotism, or their f
ty to the Institutions of the country and s.
ends. in which they live, and with which they
i bic identified.
- LOCAL AND STATE ITEMS.
aent THE DEMocRAT ATTIC pprsS Wa IaarD &