Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1871-09-29
OC6hH IAIU tCIlP65I tUcSO
To watt fea Their or drown fly"



We have already published briefly tina
this gentleman had severed his connection
with the Conservative party, ceased t.
edit the Salisbury Old North State, apc
had announced his intention of acting ii
the future with the National Republican
party. We make the record with regret, -
a regret arising from our personal regard
for Mr.. HANEs rather than from political
considerations. We have never thought
he was in hearty accord with the Conser.
vative party, and he acknowledges as
much himself in his valedictory. Indeed
his opinions now are, in fact, not more hos
tile to the tenets of the Conservative party
than they we're a few years since, when
several newspapers followed his lead, with
more enthusiasm than judgment, into the
third" or Liberal Republican" party
movement. He says truly that mono OF
the plans which he advocated, after the
failure of President JonNsoE's policy, re-
ceived the support of any party i'll this
State.
| In purely political point of view, then.
Mr.. HANEs can do the Conservative Or
ganization less harm by his open opposi-
ton by the hesitating and unwilling sup
port which he has heretofore rendered.
Editors who have no fixed political prin-
ciples themselves are in no danger of being
led eetray through his influence.
We have always regarded Mr. NAMES as
a man OF the highest integrity, and aotu-
ated by pure and honest motives. And for
this reason We regret to see him affiliate
with party leaders he must know to be
dishonest, and with party whose very
excuses and corruptions have brought
North Carolina to the brink of utter ruin !;
at time, too, when the redemption and
safety of che State depends upon reforms
and retrenchments. We have long thought
these very facts had prevented his co-ope-
ration with the party with which his sym
pathies evidently were enlisted, and we
are somewhat surprised even now that he
has taken the step, which at best was only
a question of time.
His excuse that being "Unionist" dur
ing the war, his place at its close would
naturally be in the Republican party will
not commend him to tie warm embraces
of Governor HOLDEN, Judge RoDMAN, Col
onel ERWIN and others who found them
selves in that party from departure quite
different. Nor does this reason apply any
more to Mr.. HANEs than it does to Mr.. B.
F. MOORE, Judge MERR1lIoN and Thousands |
OF others whose Union record is quite as |
we'll established as his, who are honored |
and influential leaders Of the Oonser- |
vative party.
Mr.. HANEs' conversion is not sufficient
y complete to make him q useful Radi-
,al, or one likely to be taken into their
counsels. In failing to sur
render his right of private Judgment, and
refusing to 60 back upon his political re-
cord he will not salt the demands of his new
party as an editor or leader. In claiming TO
agree with such men as Judge TRUMBU1L,
ne remains as much separated from Presi-
lent Grant as when, as editor of the Old
North Stats he labored, under protest, for
he election of Governor SEYMOUR. Judges
JHAsE, Senators TRUMBULL, and SCHURz,
1ov. BROWN, of Missouri, and the Liberal
of to-day differ more from
he leaders of the Republican party, in es.
entail principles, than did President
Crimson, Senators DooLITTLE and CovAN,
he ADAMS, of Massachusetts, the CANT q
ELLIS and Ew1NGs, of Ohio, and hun
reds of other liberal Republicans of 1865,
tho are now Democratic leaders. The {
xact time at which the former class will
ct in full accord with the Democratic Ii,
Asty depends somewhat upon the ''pro- 10