The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1880-06-17

very next year Rutherford was redeemed.
George Martin Wtitesides carried the conn
ty by 3 votes over Judge Logan's own son.
This astonishing victory coming from the
dark-coruer-'the Banner county Of Re
publicanism'-electrifed the whole State.
In the next election the State went Demo
cratic by 1000 votes.
Next year. at the urgent argument Of
prominent Democrats, Shotwell went to
Asheville. and started the North Carolina
Citizen. There was no paper in % noun
tain counties: Buncombe, Madison,
Mitchell, Henderson, and surrounding
counties were held by the Red strings; Kirk
was about to organize his legions; ard the
true people of the land were we'll
nigh hopeless Of escape from Radical rule.
Shotwell rode across the mountains, Oh
horseback, in a bitter storm, during the
Christmas holidays, without a dollar in his
pocket nor a subscriber on his lists. But
by the aid of some whole-souled young Dem
ocrats, the Citizen was made to visit nearly
two thousand homes throughout the Blue
Ridge region. Merrimon, Carter, Coleman,
Johnston, Cooke, Atkinson, Davidson,
McCloud, and others, set at work
to organize the county; and Bun
combe rolled up 400 Democratic
majority. Shotwell cannot lay claim to
any special credit for his editorial work in
Western North Carolina; but so long as he
holds in his possession autograph letters
from Gov. Thomas Bragg, chairman State
Central Committee,) Gov. Vance, Gov.
Jarvis (then about to become Speaker of
the House, Plato Durham, and a score of
other we'll known Democrats, thanking
him for his labors in behalf the par
ty, he need not fear for his record"
Gov. Vance wrote, You certainly have
done as much work for the party as any
young man, i know of, in the State"
CONCERNING II KHAN.
As for Shotwell's ku klux record, he is
not ashamed of it. He was a member of
the Order less than three months, and took
part In it from motives of as pure patriot
ism as any act of his life. He had no per-
sonat object to attain no private benefit to
reap. tie was not an asplrant for any office,
had no personal enemies, was naturally
quiet and retiring, and would not have
dreamed OF any connection with the khan
had he not been sent for, and urged to
All that he did was for the good of the
party, the State, and the people generally.
Consider the fact that Shotwell's bitterest
enemies, (politicaD the Logans, Scoggins,
Carpenters, and others were never moIested
by the khan, and you can see that be acted
for the party, not for himself. Yet he is to
be hated, and prescribed, while far more
active members of the Khan have been hold
ing fat offices for the past eight or ten
years, sitting upon the Judicial Bench,
drawing their thousands as Congressman,
or enjoying the honors and emoluments of
high office, State and Federal
Even the Republicans are ready to admit
the injustice aud wrong done to Shotweil in
this ~ NJ ION jar n wolf - ny tbai, ,artu
plotters 10 the past. Scores of the respect
able class OF Republicans, in office and out
of it,--have come to him with assurances of
respect and esteem and regret as well. 1t
may not be known that one OF the most
prominent c0lored men IN the State wrote
to Gerrlt Smith to visit Shotwell IN Albany
Penitentiary, and proposed 10 Judge John
\. tIilmer. OF Greensboro. to make a trip
to see Grant. Greeley. and Smith, if deemed
advisable, to urge his release.
THOSE SKETCHES.
This recalls the further sheer Of the Pro.
gress at our historical sketches which have
been running for a year or more in the
FARMER AM MECHANIC. No true South
erner, no right-minded North C~arolinlan.-
we feel sure, will endorse this brutal as
sault. On o desk are hundreds Of letters
expressing qualification at the perusal Of the
sketches, because they have brought out 50
many facts to the honor and glory Of our
North Carolina soldiers, living and dead.
Instead OF writing the sketches TO get Of
fee, it Is universally known that Shot
well steadfastly refused to apply for any Of
flee, has never sought office, has always
avoided publicity declined all invita-
ions to attend public meetings, : and has
not even consented to accept office until
within the past month, and because private
necessity demands it.
Alas for the petty malice that could
seek to stab and wound an u~noffending gen
tleman under such circumstances. Curious
indeed must be the mind that can see ego
tism' or 'immodesty' in the endeavor of
a young man, (already cruelty injured in
person and prospects as the penalty of hav
ing served his party and people too faith
fully to shield himself from further loss,
aud protect his name and memory now
while the truth can be established, and a