Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1870-06-03
E.a,y!essnesa and Its Causes.

The murder Of ex-senator Stephens, OF
Caswen county, the particulars of which
we have already published, is another re-
potion Of one of those bold and helnous
offences against tho law which have TOO
frequently occurred in our State, and
which have done much to injure the good
name Of North Carolina. AS has been our
CUSTOM VIC have refrained from making
any haety and passionate comments upon
the matter We have contenteG ourselves
with giving the particulars, and IN denoun-
cling the diabolical deed. Even yet the
authors Of til. outrage are unknown. SO
far as we are advised, suspicion does not
point to any person or persons. Partisan
journals, indeed, with q view to manufac-
ture political capital rather than to furth-
er the ends Of Justice, have assumed shat
he was murdered by the members of a GER
tain secret organization for political pur
poses, N which bald and bold assertions
arc made to supply the place Of facts, and
preiudices arc expected 20 answer for evil
dence. The Governor has taken more
pains TO have M e. 10,ic t1legraphic state
ment Of the affair read III Congress, than
to have tho perpetrators arrested. Indeod,
the political uses to which his party friends
are putting the death Of the unfortunate
man, might we'll lead us 10 believe that his
murder is q matter for party congratulation.
The event is treated in business point of
view altogether, and the signs over his IN
timely death arc hushcd amid tho calcula-
tons Of its advantages.
Those politicians who have sacrificed
the prosperity Of North Carolina for their
own selfish purposes; who have defrauded
her people and corrupted her Legislature
who have broken down her credit and Grip
pied her resources who have stolen her
school funds and destroyed her University,
can we'll afford to speculate upon the most
heinous ohenses against the laws. Law
lessnoss and crimo are merely cIrcumstan-
ces TO further their wicked purposes
They have no interest in the peace and
good order of the State if they can make
anything by disorders. Men who have
been thrown into power and wealth by po-
Htical and civil connections fear a return
to peace and an observance of law. The
cold order Of things is fraught with dan
ger md death to their professions. The
prejudices and passions of the ignorant
must Ice kept actively aroused, or unworthy
men Will surely be driven from authority.
Begat Of. and nurtured by. ignorance and
crime, the Radical party must be sustain
ell i'll the sins from which it sprung, or its
death Is dccreed.
But the law-abiding and property own
ing citizens Of the State, whose social
well-being and material welfare arc bound
up in North Carolina, cannot afford to bar
gain and sell such transactions as the muir
der OF Stephens for any temporary poit-
ical Advantages. AS much as they NAV
desire the defeat of the Radical party, and
as much as their prosperity and social
happiness arc involved in the result, the
observance Of laws and the punishment
for crimes are vastly more important.
Political victory would be more than USE
less if obtained by sacrifice of the
security Of person and property Such
persons should and must discover and
have punished the authors of this startling
murder, while they investigate the causes
s-~E~a< -
and apply the remedIGa
Why is it that we areo; ASloAaiiy snocA-