Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1871-05-26
Catawba and ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
and RadtcalIsm.


A correspondent of the Charlotte Demo-
c1iak in writing of Oatawba county, says
"She is moro than three-fourths Demo
4' cratic, and has not more than twenty
" five cases on the criminal docket, and a
majority of them are against negroes.
"Our jail is empty, the county is out Of
'debt, and has several thousand dollars
" in the treasury"
So much for the West.
Now in the Fast. Columbus county is
nearly or quite as largely Demo cratic. It's
criminal docket is nearly as small. and
most of the cases there are against ne
groes. It's Jail has but one occupant, and
he is not confined for crime. The county
owes but few hundred dollars, with a
handsome surplus in the treasury.
Both Catawba and Columbus counties
ever since the war. before and after re-
construction, have been under the con-
troll of Conservatives. Their own citizens
have file the county offices. Tax payers
have collected the taxes-have contracted
the debts and liquidated them. There
have been no unusual disturbances. The
friendly relations between the whites and
blacks have never been disturbed. The
citizens of these two counties are not now
being oppressed with taxes to pay debts
contracted by the itinerant thieves and
vagaboads who have impoverished their
neighbors.
How do these records compare with
those of neighboring counties controlled
by Radicals. For illustration, what has
been the effect of Radical rule in New
Hanover, Bladen, Robson and Cumber
land, counties Immediately around Colum-
buss What is their criminal record How
have their finances been managed What
have been their expenses And what is
the condition of their credit
We have here practical illustration of
the difference between Conservatism and
Radicalism. Columbus and Catawba have
suffered in common with all the other
counties of North Carolina, through the
baneful influences of wicked and corrupt
State government. The Radical officials
who have plundered our State Treasury
and destroyed our credit, have heaped the
burdens Of taxation upon the people of
these two counties. But while they share
the fate, they do not divide the response
bility. They protested at the ballot box,
and their representatives in the Legisla-
ture did all in their power to prevent the
destruction of the prosperity and the hon
or of North Carolina.
At home, however, their good works
are visible. Radicalism, which swept
Alxr - $hr TOT foko
force, spent its fury in vain against the
solid walls of honesty and principle,
behind which the people of these two
counties had entrenched themselves.
Their reward has come. Their jails are |
empty. The counties are out of debt |
Taxes for county purposes are as low as it
is possible for them to be under our ex- |
pensiye system of government. Their
are as prosperous as could be ex-
pected. Throughout their borders peace
and.good order and kindly feeling prevail
How much better are these examples of
the difference between the practical work
lngs Of Conservatism and Radicalism than |
the ten thousand theories and falsehoods
upon which the legislation of Congress is
based, and Which make up the sum and
substance Of the speeches and editorials
upon Republican government which food
the country. The condition Of thesa two
counties furnish appeals more potent than
those of a partisan Governor. Their
falsify the charge that disorders
attend Conservative success, and establish
The fact that the most prosperity, the best
order and the greatest economy have
esulted from continued Conservative con-
Erol. Governor CALDWELL might very
yell have held held them Up as examples