Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1870-12-23
Fault EEnEfiE1a


Fault Finding.
Some Of the Conservative papers OF the
State seem to think that tho highest duty
of newspapers IS TO find fault. 1t they
would always be sure that what they COM
plain Of was wrong, or that the alleged
fault had been committed at ell, there
might be some point to these objections.
No good surely is to be accomplished by
Inducing in unnecessary and unfOundcd
complaints This show Of honesty is not
what the people want. tt is the substance
they desire. We cannot, with inpunity,
complain Of or abuse the leaders OF our
own party for imaginary Or trivial short
comings without injury to the cause We
all have at heart.
We do not, on the other hand, believe
that party men should be upheld if their
public conduct Is not in keeping with
strict honesty, exact justice end the high
standard of reformation and economy IN
our State administration set up by the
Conservative party. This much we must
demand from our representatives. But
we are disposed to allow the members of
the Legislature time to develop their
policy before we fnd fault; we will
not attack them upon trivial matters, even
il we may differ from them.
We find in Conservative paper severe
censure upon the members q the Legle-
Iature for voting themselves five dojl1rs
Ssr diem for their servces. IL ito first
place, no such bill has passed. IL the
second f~l@co, we are not prepared TO con-
DEAN it if it hid been Il me. The people
Of North Co. tIiaa ars willing TO pay Their
REPRESENTATIVES reasonable com pensation
Tor their lab rs They do not asG men {"
!eRve their families aud homes ana Dusl-
ness, to give their time .nd services for
nothiny Dc .Lil4. is certain, that what
ever may be the sum voted themselves, i
is expected Of the members to render ser
vices to North Carolina worth millions Oh
doIlars-nay, benefits which cannot be
estimated In dollars and cents. We agree
with the dis inguishel Senator from
Arson, that if the ouiy difference between
the Conservative and Radical parties con-
sisted in saving Of two dollars day III
the pay received by members OF the Legis-
lature, the August victory would be O
very fruitless one.
We do not know at what the per diem
will be fixed, but we are satisfied that
the action in this matter will be just to
the people of the State.
Another finds fault that it is proposed TO
raise the salary of the Attorney General. |
The salary of the Acknowledgement has
not been increased, and if it had we see
no cause for O cry Of extravaganza
He is not paid enough, and we should at
least be just. The salaries OF useless Off
GERS are being cut down to nothing, and
others materially decreased, TO render the
proportion between the salary and the SER
vices rendered something like equal. If
in the opinion OF the Legislature the |
salary paid to the Attorney General is not
in proportion to his duties, we are per- |
fectly willing to leave the matter to the |
decision of those who have already shown |
such good Judgment upon this question.
Yet another paper launches its thunder
bolts at the Legislature because it has
agreed to pay fair and reasonable price
for printing. AS custodians Of the public
moneys we do not ask that body to take (
better care Of it than they do of their
own. We are willing for them TO make |
contracts for printing and for other things |
at prices which are just to both parties. We
do not believe that the people of North |
Carolina are unwilling to pay those who
work for them a fair compensation. |
Surely if this be an error it is not one
which calls for such special denunciation.
Then, again, there is another set of fault. |
finders, who think they make great dis
play OF independence and fairness in de-
aoBneing the action Of the Senate in un-'