Wilmington journal., 1876-06-30

OF tue DcdOC1oSiO parry SuoS
we have read with surprise and regret.
It says, addressing itself especially "to
hose who were born and bred in Rich |
nond county"
"If you have thoroughly lnvestl~ |
gated the amendments and feel that
7ou cannot vote for them, then you
ire not compelled to vote with the
Radicals. Vote against the amend
nents if such be the case. but other
wise support the Democratic ticket.
II calling a convention was O mistake.
or that blunder alone no true man
IAN desert our party and affiliate with
he tyrannical and corrupt party
styled Republican.
We read the above with regret be-
cause it may be interpreted to indicate
q purpose to put the principles of the
Conser vative party into one boat while
its candidates are put into another
that is considered safer. We most
but most earnestly warn
all persons, if any such there are. who
may be disposed to give the amend
ments the go-by in order to secure
votes for any particular candidates,
that the attempt will be productive of
most injurious consequences. II our
press and our speakers will only do
their duty in explaining to the people
the amendments and the changes they
accomplish in the Constitution, there
need be no fear of any opposition to
them by men who desiresgood govern
ment. If, however. our press and our
speakers sit supinely and make no ef-
fort to correct the false representations
of the Radical party and instead of
seeking to remove the opposition if
any there be, show unseemly haste to
make terms with it, the amendments
will be defeated. How far the defeat
of the amendments will dispirit the
white men in the negro counties, and
how much the success of the party in
the State depends upon the action of
those same whites in those negro
counties, are questions we'll worth con
sidering by gentlemen Who may he
disposed to pursue policy that tepds
to defeat the amendments.
We know of nothing that would 20
Gsnd to the defeat Of the party IL 80.
vecaber ness ss thc prevalence of the
belief among pblte msn in the negro
counties bnat -..elr brethren in white
z'ouubes were disposed to waver in
support of the amendments, and this
being so, plain talk and that too at The
earliest moment is best for us all.
The policy indicated by the Courier
will be fatal to the existence of the
party in North Carolina. in that it sets
at defiance every principle upon which
the party is organized and its discip
line is maintained. 1t is idle to tall
about victory for party whose mem.
bers do not act together in harmonious
concert. 1t is a well-recogpized laV
of the existence of every party tha
when it has formally and authoritative
ly spoken. its utterances must be re-
spected by all who claim to be withir
] the pale of its membership.
That this is true, isl no less true thar
that the Conservative Democratic Par
ty in North Carolina has most formally
and most authoritatively declared il
favor of the ratification of the amend
ments proposed by the Constitutions
Convention that met in Raleigh las
year. It was done less than q fortnigh
go ~ sI~ 1s-eoss or~-.---as--- 4s..
party that ever assembled in the State
and it was done in the plainest and
most unmistakable terms. Without 6
dissenting voice the Convention thai
put in nomination our most excellent
State ticket put itself upon record
about the ratification of the amend
ments in the following words:
"ResolUed, That we earnestly and
cordially recommend the adoption by
the people of the amendments to the
Constitution, proposed by the Con.
vention of 1875, and thus largely re-
duce the expenditures of our State and
county governments and simplify
their administration, 80 that We may
be enabled to establish O thorough
and enlarged system of public schools
for the benefit of all the citizens of the
State"
With this record staring us in the
face by what authority does any one
to be a member of that party as
sumo to absolve others from obedience
to its mandates? If the Courier has su-
thority to grant permission TO vote
against the amendment will not some
other paper have an equal right to
grant permission to vote against the
nominees of the party If the Courier
prefers candidates to principles may
not others meet the issue thus forced
upon them by preferring principles to
? What can be the result
of such an issue save shameful dis
graceful defeat u? We deny that any
such right to pick and choose in mat
ters of party fealty exists anywhere.
The principles of the party and its
must all go in the same
boat.
We feel quite sure. however, that it
is not the purpose of the Courier or of
other Conservatives In Richmond
county to put themselves in opposition
10 the opinion of the party throughout
The State, as declared in the late Con-
upon the question of ratifca.
ion Of the amendments any more than
It is upon the question of ratifying the
made by that body, but
he language of the Courier is so easily
capable of misinterpretation and con-
,equent mischief that We feel called
1pon to enter our protest.
Tie Burke Btdde says:
"We met that distinguished divine,
Dr.. Pritchard. of Raleigh, on the train
asst week, and asked his candid opin.-
on of Mr.. j. @. Scarborough, our can
lidate for Sunerintandent of Pnhlic