Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1872-04-05
IS SfraWS."

Straws."
The very trite maxim that straws show
the direction of the wind, is just now re-
ceiving divers pointed illustrations in our
State politics.
It cannot have escaped observation that,
at most of the primary Radical meetings
that have been held, resolutions OF sympa-
thy with the fugitive Holden, and denoun-
cling his Impeachment, have been adopted.
We confess our qualification, as well as SUR
prise, at this. How any set of men, fresh,
as it were, from the stunning defeat OF 1870
"a defeat caused mainly, if not wholly,
bv the foolish, usurping and wicked course
of this same Holden-can deliberately en-
dorse the man and the conduct that
wrought their overthrow, surpasses COM
prehension. except upon the ground OF alb
solute faulty. IF the overwhelming popu-
lar indignation # that campaign, followed
by the JUS punishment of the chief criml-
nal, has not cured the Radical leaders in
the State e their taste for lawlcssness and
mischief we are glad thus to know 1t, That
the good people of North Carolina may
supplement their former verdict by even a
more emphatic one in August next. we
hope, therefore, that these gentry will con-
tinue their Iaudations of Holden and their
endorsement Of his crimes. In so doing
they not or y repudiate a respectable Gle
ment in t cir own party, that aided i'll
the impeac ament Of Holden, but they cX-
bibit the a.. ;r,,Ls which convicts them IF
being ready, should they have the power,
to repeat the fragrant wrongs upon law and
liberty which brought their runaway idol
to grief.
Another significant Indication III con-
nection with these preliminary meetings re-
veals the fact that they are almost eXc-u-
sively manipulated by government officials,
who want everything for themselves or
their friends, and that, in hardly single
instance, has a negro been mentioned for
any of the numerous offices to be filled.
Now this is a matter in which we ttel no
particular concern. Cuiiec has been led
and deluded by these men, ever since the
boon Of suffrage was conferred upon Linn,
and he will continue to allow himself to be
fooled; but it savors of base ingratitude
and greed, in the white cOrporals guard OF
Radicalism, thus to ignore the rights aud
claims of those upon whom they are de
pendent. 1t is hard to tell which is the
more remarkable-thc impudence Of the
dupers or the stupidity Of the duped.
Corroborative of our statement that the
Radical party in North Carolina, so far as
the insignificant white clement IS con-
cerned, is made up of Federal officials,
with few others who are h0ntng for the
crumbs that fall from the table OF poWer)
let us look at the composition OF recent
pow-wow they had in Raleigh. If there
was a single white man (so-calied) in that
meeting, who does not hold an office or
who is not prospective candidate for one,
his name does not appear. The United
States Marshal was there, several revenue
collectors and divers revenue clerks and
,inderlings were there,-all fresh from raids
on distilleries and tobacco tactorics,-and
they were all, except, perhaps, tn" ire
pressible Tim Lee, who poclleted ter
IQOuS6ilu uOildIS III OOLANio AOA 90 A''c'| '-iA-
of the eye, as it were. And doTop0s o.
that meeting we were sorry to see dis
position to give the cold shoulder to the
Accidental Governor. We have set Oul
heart, in a measure, on the nomination O
Caldwell. In the first place, we regard hin
as a Representative ofhis party,-a specimen
brick of Radicalism-a faithfal inperSOna
ton of all its littleneSs and malignity, ant
he therefore deserves to be sustained by
those whom he 50 well serves. His recen
infraction Of the law and higllhandet
usurpations, in the matter OF the femten
tiary and Charitable institutions, SHOULD
commend him peculiarly to the men who arr
resolute in praise and glor1ficatiOn Of Hol
den. He has followed closely in the foot
steps of his ignominious predecessor. II
the second place, we are especially dc
sirous of cutting the comb of the upstar
little aspirant, who was in favor OF hang
ing DAVIS and VANCE, and who has Sc
up his pigmy SELF, on several grave occas
ions, in defiant opposition to the will OF th'
people, as expressed through their repre-
sentatives in the Legislature. Messicur
Revenue Collectors and Assessors, lie
us have Tod!