Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1870-04-22
COrruD4fOn


The Raleigh Standard seems DESTROYS OF
keeping the many frauds committed upon
the Treasury of this State ont of the com.
ing canvass. 1t upbraids Conservative
papers and speakers for dragging these
things before the people which should be
settled in the courts of law. And besides
it contends that if Watts and Littlefeld
not Republicans, are even more implicated
than these named. We care not who may
be involved in the exposure. Honest men
are not, nor can party iii 10 way re-
sponsible for the reckless appropriations
and more reckless issue of the bonds, and
their dishonest manipulations, be held re-
sponsible for the acts CT individuals.
Whether Swepson calls himself Demo
crat or Repub lican matters little. Neither
party is responsible for the private charac-
ter of the individuals who compose their
ranks. But who is responsible for his
official conduct Who made aim Presi-
dent of q great railroad Who placed
seven millions of bonds in his possession :?
Who permitted him to retire from the
Presidency without even filing an account,
when it was known that he was using the
bonds of the railroad for corrupt purposes
in Florida ? Who is responsible for the
election of Littlefeld as his successor,
when 1t Was known that he was interested
with Swepson in his dishonest Florida
transactions ? Who placed him in this
responsible official position whon he came
to this State with bad character, and the
foulest suspicion of corruption in connec-
ton with the Legislative ''rings" black
ened his name? Who made Watts Judge
and Lee Sheriff Who made Jones and
Sloan Presidents Of railroads, and what
was their regulations
What party is responsible for the acts of
the Legislature ? What party is response
BILE for our extravagant system of govern
ment? What party endorses the corrupt
of Governor Holden?
How ridiculous it is to talk of individual
attorneys and private
agents, who may or may not have profited
by the rascality of Radical officials. Such i
baIderdash cannot deceive the people in !
regard to the responsibility of the rascality
and corruption which have brought the !
State to the very verge of rLic. The peo-
pie know full we'll who have increased the |
State debt SO enormously, and squandered |
the proceeds of the bonds; who are respon-
'ible for the enormous cost of the State
government, and the enormous taxes which
increased debt and increased expenses
make absolutely necessary. These are
acts which cannot be hid from them. -
These will be thrown in the face of every
Radical candidate, and except where con-
are blinded by prejudice and
ignorance, will be sufficient to seal the
loom of the party.
The Standard cannot brighten any one
way from meeting the issues which the
orruptions of its party officials present to
he people, because it pretends to impli-
ate s'adi0iduazs not of its party. Even if its
limitations are reduced to proof it matters
title. No party, as we have said, can be
eld responsible for the acts of individ-
ais. But for the conduct of officials. for
ne enactment of bad laws, for extrava-
ant and corrupt legislation, for a costly
Vstem of government, for heavy taxation,
q can and do hold the party controlling
olitical affairs responsible, and the peo- :
lie will so decide in August .