The weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1869-18??, 1869-11-10
Retrenchment and Reform.

It is a common practice with the opposi-
ton press to raise the cry of ARetrenchment
and Reform, " before the party in power has
fairly gotten under way, in the administra-
tion of the government. There is always,
under any circumstances, room for reform
among moralists, religionists, as well as
among the political world. 1t is human to
err-we all know this; but there is not
enough of charity in the world to concede
the fact, however difficult the crisis through
which the dominant party is called to pass.
We do not belong to that class of hide
bound persons who can see no error In their
own family. Looking as we have, and ln-
tend to, to the good of the people. we have
freely spoken out against any and all viola
lions Of their rights, and we have with equal
candor, advocated all laws that seemed to
us necessary to the protection OF the COM
mon good of all, without regard to party
predictions. 1t is fair and reasonable that
political laos cannot be enacted-the law
bears equally upon saint and sinner, and II
the Republican party, now in the ascendant
cy, should undertake to frame a code OF
law for the Republican party, cannot our
readers see the abslrdity. Nothing OF this
kind has ever happened, and can never
happen. IL
We have opposed, and do now oppose,
excessive taxation. We are pledged against
the appropriation of another dollar Tor any
kind of works of internal Improvements,
until the State shall have been relieved OF
the heavy tax which now weighs her people
down. From this position, we do not ex-
pect to recede; while, at the same time, we
do favor the works already commenced, as
they are necessary to our prosperity, and
the immediate and pressing wants OF the
people demand their speedy completion.
We look for Retrenchment and Reform
even in our own ranks, when, through In
advertance or recklessness our leaders, or
our representatives have committed error.
This is fair; but, be it SO considered or not,
we hold to the truth of the position, and
shall not be backward in pointing out any
shortcomings that may occur with those OF
our own household, though they be our
most intimate personal friends.
Holding these views, as we most assured
ly do, we have set our seal of condemnation
upon the recent action of the Penitentiary
Board of Commissioners in appointing a
man to office, who, while we have nothing
against him as man and citizen
he is, nevertheless, an enemy to the
Republican Party. The act is an
outrage, and cannot be reconciledl We
60 further, and say, it ought not to be com
promised. The servants of a constituency
should obey the wishes of their masters, OF
they should resign; and if they will do
neither, then the power that placed them in
office will be exercised to hurl them from
their positions position which they have
abused, and are unworthy of retaining.
In this matter, we are earnestly in favor oil
Reform, and that speedily. The veterans,
who, through the most intense political
abuse, have been firm in their allegiance to
the doctrines of the Republican party
have stood nobly up, and in the face OF
sneers and taunts, have been called the
niger party" have, nevertheless, stemmed
the torrent of vituperation, and anchored
the old Flag safely on the ramparts of the
enemy, claim that their labor shall not be
expended upon their bitterest enemies W lille
they have good men, whose claims are un-
deniable, and whose qualifications cannot
be called into question.
This is one of the Reforms we demand,
and insist on.