Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1870-02-25
Too Late.

L
across the Tee Dee and on to Charlotte.
| Too Late.
Now that the Legislature is about to
adjourn and done all the mischief it can
possibly do; after the lobbyists have made
all the money they can. not because OF re-
turning honesty on the part Of the ma
iority of that body, but because the State
Treasury is empty and its credit is gone
now that nothing can be made by cajoling
the members, and the party may gain
something by denouncing their short
comiugs and crimes, We find Republican
Journals, even L1ttlefield's paper, pouring
out the walls of their wrath upon the un-
fortunate and no longer useful members of
the Legislature.
It strikes us as q little unfortunate for
the reputation of that paper for unseltlsh-
ness and consistency that the Raleigh
Standard had no words of censure for the
Legislature while that body was busy
"ruining the credit of the State, while 1T
was forcing dishonor upon the people. "
So long as the owner of the Standard was
EOAAAAO-S
through the Legislature and was corrupt
ing the members with brides and liquor,
and growing rich by means of the public
printing and binding, and by manipulating
the bonds Of the State, the members were
"intelligent," liable, "digni6ed," and
sspatriotic.'' That paper was fond of
giving the personnel o. the leading Repub-
licans of both Houses, and exhausted the
vocabulary of newspaper compliments In
extolling the merits of the members COM
posing the Radical party.
Now, what q change! To be sure the
credit of the State is gone, but the fnan-
cial condition Of the Standard has i'm
proved Tt has magnificent Office, with
every appurtenance belonging to first
class newspaper. Its manager, the ''nephew
of his uncle" but few months since
penniless bartender in this city, is the
most magnifcently dressed man we meet
in Raleigh, driving the finest and fastest
teams in that city.
To be sure want stares our people
in the face and taxes are being multi
piled beyond their ability to pay. and
still the interest on our debt remains
unpaid; our railroads languish; our institu-
tons of charity are impoverished. Yet
Littlefeld buys railroads in Florida, es-
tablishes lines of steamships across the
Gulf of Mexico, and INDUCES in pious rec
reations by making liberal donations to
churches.
IS irht
been potential with its party friends in
control Of the Legislature in the "green
leaf" Of these rascalities and crimes, which
have brught ruin upon the credit Of the
State and dishonor upon its citizens. But
now, gloated with the favors of q corrupt
Legislature, and secure in their possession,
it is too late after the General Assembly
have discarded the good offices of that
paper, and withdrawn its almost exhausted
and worthless patronage, and ordered the
Executive proclamation against the pro-
prietor to appear at the bar of justice or
be treated as a convicted criminai-it is
too late now for the ends of justice or the
protection of the State, or even for the
good of the Radical party, to denounce
the members of the Legislature. The evil
has been done-the record is made up.
Those at least who have reaped the lions
share of the spoils should be careful not
to be too bold in the denunciations of their
corrupt but too generous patrons. Their
zeal might be little overdone, and their
questioned. Whoever may
with propriety cast the first stone at the
retiring Legislature, the Standard at least
cannot do SO.
But these remarks were only penned by
way of introducing double-leaded leader
from the Raleigh Standard of the 22d inst,
to show its ingl altitude and let the people
know what Radical friends think Of each
other. 1t gives faithful picture OF North
Carolina Radicalism. Says the &andard:
TO THE PEOPLE OF NORTH CAROLINA.
The course of the Legislature has been such
thati has lost the confidence OF the people OF
North Carolina We have long known this, and
have repeatedly warned it that the time would
come when no party would be willing to sustain
it. There some good men in it to whom very
much credit is due for the manner IL which they
have battled for the right. But their efforts
have been unavailing. Bad and INSCRIPTIONS
men have obtained 8 crowd Of weak-minded mem
bers and now control the Legislature.
It's every act now directly Injuries the State.
Under pretence Of benetting the people,
bills are passed wL.ch are antagonistic to the
interests Of the people,
It has ruined the credit OF the State.
It has forced dishonor upon people whose
good name none have dared till now to traduce.
1t has, led by men who care for nothing save
their unworthy selves, passed laws which will
render its name Infamous forever and ever.
AS a. Republican paper the Standard can no
longer by, it's silence seeming give support to
such body;
AS representative of the people of the Repub-
lie an party it cannot support body which has
proven itself hostile to every principle OF the Be-
publican party;
As North Carolina paper it canno. sustain a
Legislature which is dong all in it's power to
ruin the people OF North Carolina and to blacken
her fair fame.
Hence we denounce this Legislature unworthy
the support OF the Republican party, or of the
support of any honest man irrespective of party.
We denounee it for having endeavored to
force dishonor upon State and people who