National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-02-18
AN UNSPARLNG CRITICISM

. AN UNSPARLNG CRITICISM
North Carolina, one of the most promis-
ing States of the South, embracing in its
area of territory q Investigation of land
and climate ranging from the semi-tropical
region of broad savannahs and alluvial de-
posts bordering on the Atlantic to the cold
though not sterile mountains of the North
west, has suffered so much and so long from
do-nothing and anti-improvement policy
as to deserve the appellation of Rip Van
Wrinkle. Hers has not been mere twenty
years sleep, but the complete stupefaction
of generations. The rude shock of the war
disturbed her slumbers, and changed the
aspect of affairs from abject stupidity to
listless apathy. From this latter condition
there has been danger of relapse iato the
old fashioned somnolency. This danger
was occasioned by the do-nothing old-fogy-
ism of the Democratic Legislature. But
some of the progressive spirits of the State,
ashamed of the reputation which it has 30
deservedly borne in the past and stimulated
by the example Of other commonwealth,
have lately stepped to the front with de-
termination to arouse the people from their
torpidity. Among the questions regarding
which contest has occurred in the Legis-
lature is that of internal Improvements. 1t
is, perhaps, unnecessary to add that, the
majority Of the Legislature being Demo
Gratis and naturally non-progressionists al
lied themselves against each and every pro-
ject for that purpose. The western and
northwestern part of the State has for years
demanded the enactment of laws of this
character, and for generations the members
of the Legislature from those sections have
aided in the enactment of laws intended to
grant aid to Improvements in the eastern
and southern sections. In these latter Sec
tons railroads have been built public build
ings and asylums erected, &C., while the
vest and northwest has gone begging. The
INJUSTICE of this is apparent; but when it is
kown that the present Legislature, being
APPEALED to directly in behalf of the com
plaaing sections, distinctly refused to do
anything for their benefit, it will be under
stoodthat the responsible party or parties
are nc, held in high favor by the mountain
GERS wlo have heretofore voted the slow
coach Democratic ticket so blindly. In fact,
it became Necessary for their own protection
that some e the members from that section
should repudiate tn action of their party
and denounce it in MT unsparing terms
Others declared their Willingness 10 Join the
ranks of the Republicanbarty, for the SIM
pie and truthful reason TIT it is the organi-
zation of progress and refsm.
These facts, among othershave prompted
the Hon. W. A. Smith, Refesentative in
Congress from the Fourth NRaleigh) dis
trict, to write an address "to We members
Of the General Assembly" fro, which we
make the following pithy extract
eS4xs: propose to address to you few plain.
parting wofds ere you sink into meri,d obliy,
ion Mercy prompts me to silence, as GU sink
from the public gaze, but sense of dty i'm
pels me to point to you or hold you up tyour
true colors that those who are to come ,fter
Won NAV learn lessoi and shun the dissace
Won have Drought upon yourselves. MyEe-
nynarl- saan be conilned to such of Won as al,
.csponsible for this erpss, by reason of Won,
gross attacks upon me, pe~onally, without re-
servitude. need not say haze the biPbest
regard for many members of your',o dy. There
are good, clever gentlemen among :ou-Cun-
bingham, Welsh, Humphrey and othe.. could
name-but they are powerless in a mob q mere
numerical strength.
| "Right-thinking men regs-I you q nm i'm.
beetle, graceless set. T. am '., y. IN, sEe osste
will he searched In vi 70 nlu Sour nhe as q
Legislative body Ian, 70, hacar,.
lature,' in ec-.parson sr'n YOU oeoomes re-
spectacle, digmnea nn.s.. ron s,,n LIZZIE T. an ~
bitterness ana ann q 10 sJe, Sim N me
| tnre yosa. You VIII NC % III ycAIS 70