Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1874-06-05
JUDGE USS ELL.

1t is possible we arc not in the
secrets of the Radical party, bnt il
docs seem strange to us that EefOre
any nomination is made an individual
should be solicitiong support not in
the Convention but at the polls. One
| would think that in the natural order
OF things, the first step would be to
secure the nomination and that after
wards would come the time for solicit
ing support at the polls. But the mat
ter wears a still stranger aspect when
the votes thus solicited by the Radical
candidate, are those of we'll known
| Conservatives.
| But strange as 1t may seem there is,
we are informed, just such a state of
affairs i'll our midst, and His Honor,
Judge Russell is the man. The Con-
| vention of the Radical Party in this
Judicial District does not meet until
the sixteenth day of next month, and,
therefore, unless there has been Sc
cret nomination, Judge Russeii is not
the candidate of that party. Yet we
are informed that he is writing letters
to Conservatives in various parts of
the District asking their support. We
have heard of some fair samples of
what in common talk is called "cheek',
but this surpasses them all. It is not
only check, but jowl, and, indeed, the
l., l. 10
all around. Judge Russell asking Con-
servatives to vote for him to stay upon
the beach ! There can be no doubt
We think about the parentage of such
a brain child as this. 1t is His Honor's
own. We venture to say that the idea
never occurred to any one save to His
Honor's owe ; If that lie had follow
er in tlI, Conservative ranks.
As We intimattd at the outset, it
seems strange that Judge Russell
should apparently so publicly forestall
the action OF the nominating C.;nven-
ton, but t;lstt Is !. matter that does not
concern u We care not whether he
gets a secret nomination, public
or beth, or no nomination
at ALL
The point that specially excites our
admiration iG the calm assurance dis
played in asking we'll known Conser
vatices to support him. Not that we
object to the course pursued by Judge
Russell in the slightest degree. 1t il
Judge Russell's right to
solicit the suffrages of any and all |
voters if he so desires, and so far are
we from desiring to abridge this glo-
rious civil right that it will give us
pleasure to publish any communica-
tion he may desire to make to Conser-
vatives individually Or collectively. |
and we hereby, in good faith, tender |
him the use of onr columns for that |
purpose.
Indeed, there are many questions |
about which we greatly desire to know
Judge Russelrs opinions, and which
if communicated to us with or without |
a request to support him at the polls, |
we will take especial pleasure in laying !
before the readers Of the JOURNAL.
The expediency of mixed schools for
white and black children the efficacy |
of proclamations of outlawry Civil |
Rights bills the condition of Samp- !
son county in ku Klux times; the status
Of he law Of libel AMI various other |
matters are questions upon which we
doubt not Conservatives desire to
know Judge Russells opinions. 1t
might be matter of interest too with |
some to know whether the Judge |
thinks negro inferior, equal or su-
perior to o white man. We presume
the Judge has opinions upon all these |
matters, for he is a poor Judge, in
deed. who has no opinions. Even
Judge Sammy Watts has opinions, and
sometimes opinions as are opinions
indeed.
AS Judge Russell is soliciting the |
votes of Conservatives to secure his |
re election and as Conservatives desire |
to know his views, we presume he will |
have no objection to making them pub
lie. At any rate, we tender him the |
use Of Our columns for the purpose.