Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1874-09-25
nEmOCRATIC AND RADICAL OF
EICIALS-A CONTRAST.

FRIDAY. SEPTEMBER 70, 1879.
nEwOCRATIC AND RADICAL Of |
rICIALS-A CONTRAST.
In times like these, when on every
hand there is growing disposition to
disregard law and the rights OF minor
flies. and to throw around officials as
little responsibility as possible, it may
be well that we look into the course
pursued by those counties under Dem
r,cratic Conservative rule, and those |
few in which the Radicals still retain
power.
We suppose it is almost impossible
to estimate the money which has been
lost to North Carolina by the faithless-
ness of officials since Reconstruction
placed the State in possession OF the
Radical party. And although the debt
and taxes WEIGH that party has heaped
upon North Carolina has done more
than any thing else to sweep 1t
from power, there seems to be
disposition upon the part of the
few who still retain Office to
place their fellow Radical officials
under as little responsibility as they
suppose Judges, Solicitors aud Grand
Juries will permit.
We have been very senslbly I'M
pressed with the manner in which the
Commissioners of New Hanover have
taken care of the interests OF the peo-
pie as contrasted with the course pur-
sued by those of the Donocrat'c-Con-
servative Commissioners in this part
of the State.
In the first place, il otller coun-
ties the officials were required to
have their bonds ready on Monday,
and the Boards went immediately into
an examination of them, and no official
was given time to fix up his bond
beyond the time allowed by law.
In the next place the sheriff was re-
uuried to give bonds in double the
amount Of the State and County taxes.
In Duplin county the taxes amount
ed to sixteen thousand two hundred
dollars and the sheriff was required to
give bond in the sum of thirty four
thousand dollars.
In Columbus county the State and
county taxes amounted to ten thou
sand five hundred dollars, and the
Democratic Sheriff gave bonds in the
sum of thirty-four thousand dollars.
In Brunswick county the taxes
amounted to thirteen thousand dollars,
and the Sheriff's bonds amounted TO
thirty-six thousand dollars.
In New Hanover, on the other hand,
where partizans seem to legislate for
party favorites, and not for the benefit
of the people, the tax-collector is re-
quired to give bonds for only seventy
thousand dollars, barely the amount OF
the State and county taxes.
What striking contrast do these
cases present And it holds good in
other portions Of the State. In Wake,
where the people have elected
MANNED Confederate elder as Sheriff,
n gentleman of little means, but OF IN
bIemished character, & Denoc1a at, the
Board Of County Commissioners. four
of them his personal and political
friends, required of him bonds to the
amount OF one handred and seventy
thousand dollars.
Another striking contrast is present
ed in Radical Edgecombe and Demo
cratic Nash, adjoining counties. In
Edgecombe. one of the wealthiest
counties in the State, paying a large
revenue, the sheriff is let off with a
bond of fifty-fve thousand dollars; while
in Nash, a smaller and poorer county,
the Democratic Commissioners re-
quired bonds to the amount of fifty
thousand dollars.
It cannot be that these cases are ac-
cidental. It only goes to show the
respect paid for law by one party, and
how it is utterly disregarded by the
other. Knowing how our people have
already suffered by defaulting officials,
the Democratic Conservatives are de-
termined to protect the taxpayer to
the fullest extent, while the Radical
Commissioners ere determined to dis
regard law if possible, and to Throw as
few restraints amound their fellow
officials as they think they safely can.
Nv q
Democratic conservatives almost en-
tirely, as in New Hanover and Edge
combe, the Commissioners elected by
mountaineering negroes should be re-
quired, if there is any power Ill the
State to control them, to show a de-
cent regard to the property owners,
although they are in the minority.
We present these contrasts to let
our people see the difference between
the action of the two parties-how
careful one is of their welfare, and
how careless the other. The voters
are fast learning the difference, and
North Carolina has beec final y re-
deemed from Radicalism. We ere in
hopes that the next Legislature Will
legislate in favor of those counties in
which ignorant negroes still bold their
citizens under the tender mercies of
Radical officials. Let the laws be SO
worded that these men dare not DISC
hey them.
1.-THE OLD. OLD STORX.''
From all quarters the old charges of |
s'treason," rebellion" fill the columns |