Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1862-04-23
/" Watch and Waif.V


to what they call our swatch and wait" policy
Actuated themselves in this great crisis only by the
spirit Of party and selfishness they hope to blind
the people to the real condition of things, and to
inJure US because are true to the people. LISA
libel to say that the Standard ever advocated do
nothing policy in public affairs. Our motto was,
" Frepare-get ready-and then Wateii and aoait"
1t was sound policy at the time. Every intelligent
mind in the South now admits it, and events have
proved it. The sentinel, armed, watches and waits
for the foe In 1860, Immediately after the John
Brown raid, we proposed that one million of dollars
should be at once appropriated, to procure arms to
manufacture powder, and thus prepare for war, as
the best means avoiding war but wiseacres shook
their heads and talked about expenditures and said
it would injure the Democratic partyl Afterwards,
we supposed of course there was some common
sense and some sagacity in the Montgomery Con-
gress and we took it for granted that that body
getting ready. We supposed that agents had been
sent to Europe to purchase arms ammunition, iron
clad steamers, and every thing necessary for pro-
longed and bloody war. We did not dream that
Southern men who were determined to break up
the old Union, would make no adequate prepare
tons for events that would follow and so when
Lneons proclamation was issued, calling for troops
to coerce not North Carolina but the seeded States
we resisted it in the belief that the government
had already provided as far as it could, for the wal
which was upon us. We were the first in this State
to denounce this proclamation, and we knew when
doing that hundreds of thousands of men on both
sides must soon be in the field When as men,
Der of the State Convention, we signed the act of
secession, we knew it might cost US our life but
we did not hesitate The time for watching and
waiting had passed. From that day no man in the
State has been more consistent and persevering than
we have been in urging vigorous prosecution of
the war. Our columns show that we have opposed
all unnecessary delays all ruinous retreats, all neg
ects Of the government to prepare at all points for
defence, and all party movements which tended to
divide and distract our people When the govern
ment has oeen dilatory, we have chided it when
! inefficient officers have been placed in command
and when Hatteras, and Roanoke Island, and New
| bern were so shamefully neglected and fell, the
Standard did not cease to utter its remonstrances
and warnings and we verify believe that if the ad
vice of the Standard had been taken, our sea coast
| would still have been under our own control, and
| our people would not have been called to depore
! the loss of Hatteras Roanoke, and Newbern In
the Convention we have voted for every measure
that promised in the slightest degree to encourage
soldiers, to provide for their wants and to pro-
tect their rights. The soldiers know this, and the
people know it. We have also voted for every
measure designed to sustain the public credit and
in addition to this, our private means have been
cheerfuly bestowed on the cause. Every honest
man in the State knows, that before the war came
on, counsel was "Prepare !-aoatch and acdit ~
| but since the war began motto has been "On-
scard! onward!.r'
And yet a'vagabond press in this City, and other
presses in this State not of yagabond but party
character, would have the people believe that We
are not true to the South. The more forget par
ty and self the more they assa and revile us and
the reason they do so is, they fear will
build up conservatism in the State and break them
| down. They made the revolution, as they say, and
they, therefore, claim that they entitled to
| duct it. They have done so until the Southern
cause trembles in the balance If that be lost
the loss tc be attributable to them. Destructives
by nature and education, they have shown a capac-
ity to pull down; but they lack the discretion, the
! foresight, and the wisdom to build up They have
adopted only half of our former motto. They neg
lected prepare and to tcdtch for the stupendous
war, which, in secondary sense, they were instru-
mental in producing; and they have been 1oaiting
for Europe to intervene and retreating and calling
but half the volunteers necessary and providing
no navy, until the enemy has we'll nigh enveloped
| US in his mighty folds. Nothing but quick, hard
| fighting will save now. Whose fault is it Not
/ told hat how oh in
the way of war, but they laughed at US, and, by
'Oaiting, by partyism by favoritism, by Incompe-
tent commanders, and by want of preparation, they
have brought the country to the verge of ruin
We tell them that despotic acts will not save
! u.s. Liberty cannot be achieUed By despotic means.
The rights of the States must be respected and faith
must be kept. The Constitution mustno be broken.
We must rely on the affections of our soldiers and
our people, not on their fears and we must fight
as the Spanards fought against Bonaparte, as the
HungaraEs fought against Austria, as the Texans
fought against Santa Anna, as Beauregard fought
at Shiloh if we expect to triumph. These arc
"words of truth and soberness." And yet for ut
tering them, because they rebuke those who have
been negligent and faithless shall be denounced
as traitor Let those who thus charge US with
| being untrue 10 OUT ndtlNe idiu, pOnueT
ing, from the 21st chapter Of Revelation All ldrS
shall have their part in the lake which burneh with
| fire and birthstone; which is the second DEATH"
Prof MechIor, who comes highly recommended
from the South, is at present in the City, and pro-
poses to appear before Committee of the Conven-
ton, on the subject Of a system or modes of home
industry, by which our people may be able to sup
ply themselves with useful manufactured articles.
The subject is very important one, and informa.