Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1870-06-03

more dangerous effects, by electing or
honest and efficient Legislature, and con
denim the party by defeating its candidate
for Attorney General. much will be done
to insure renewal of the old respect for,
and observance of, the law. Peace and
good order and prosperity will follow q
! return to efficiency, economy and honesty
in our State government. Let US try it.
Criminal Echoes OF Bad Government.
Following in quick succession upon the
diabolical assassination Of ex-senator
Stephens, we have to record the startling
murder of the Mcleod family i'll Cumber-
land county. We are enabled to-day,
through an intelligent correspondent, not
only to confirm the report published yes
terday, but to furnish many interesting and
reliable particulars of the bloody deed. We
have seldom been called upon to record
the account of more horrible murder
and robbery.
The victims Of this fendish tragedy
were excellent men-plain, upright, useful
citizens-iving under their own vine and
fg tree. and beloved by THEN neighbours
The Mcleod family nas long been noted
for responsibility and character, and some
OF the branches have settled in Ala
bama. South Carolina, Mississippi and
Texas, and number among their descend
ants some of the most distinguished and
respected citizens Of those States. Mr..
McSween, editor of the Fayetteville Eagle,
and Kenneth Mcleod, of Bladen county,
formerly for many years Clerk of the
Court of that county, are nearly related to
the victims of this last and most heinOus
murder.
We learn that the Sheriff and other au-
thOrities of Cumberland seem to be very
slow to make any move to capture the
murderers
In connection with this terrible affair
we also publish letter from Il responsible
citizen Of Robson, giving an insight into
the condition of affairs in that county.
These two letters picture no fancy
sketches but are the plain and unvarnish
ed accounts of real transactions-deeds so
unnatural and so atrocious as to wear the
appearance of fiction. They present
condition of affairs in North Carolina that
demands the most anxious and earnest
consideration upon the part of good citi-
zens all over the State.
We have said that We believe the crimes
which are so frequent now result from the
effects of the bad government under which
we live, and we are satisfied that we are
correct in this belief. The people of North
Carolina, good and bad, are fully con-
WINGED that every department of their
State government, executive, judicial and
is more or less imbecile and
Good citizens have no conf
dence in the ability or the disposition of
their officials to do their duty impartially
and efficiently, and bad men seem justi-
fed in their belief that the boldest and
most inhuman crimes go unpunished.-t
This state of things, added to the great
depression in all industrial pursuits, re-
lulting from the loss of State credit and
the heavy burden of taxation, is calculated
TO create disturbance and commotion, and
to engender q disregard and violation of
law. The political aspect is the least of
the evils which curse North Carolina under
the infamous government and the more in
famous officials now controlling State affairs, |
and unless checked by the united efforts
of good men at the hallot-box it will 90
from bad to worse. until the government |
becomes miserable farce, and the widest
and most dangerous anarchy ensues.
What man can calmly review the history
Of the State for the past two years, and
observe how rapidly every moral, social, |!
civil and political attribute of our people
has degenerated under Governor Holden's
and through causes for
which it is directly responsible, and con-
vote to endorse it. Such an
State ut heart, or care for lis honor and |
The reasons for defeating |
Governor Holden and his party are so far
above the ordinary purposes of political
victory that we wonder how men who val |
ne peace and quiet and their own charac-
ters can deliberately vote to sustain them.
We must defeat tits administration; we
must drive bad men from power; we must
restore confidence in our officials; we must
renew the old respect for law or there is
no honorable or prosperous future for
North Carolina. Grimes will continue and
State credit will never be re-
stored, taxes will never be decreased, the
public debt will never be paid, railroads
will never be completed, public schools
will never be put into operation, the Uni |
versity will never revive, business will not
prosper. the people will never be quiet
and happy until we control and eradicate
the active agents of these evils. Let the
people speak in August.