The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1880-12-02
independence Of Opinion.

The fact that for ten years the better
classes of the Southern people have been
compelled to stand together, through thick
and thin willing or unwilling year after
year, in blind support of the Party ticket,
because otherwise our local and general af-
fairs would pass into the control Of Republ
cans aliens, negroes, and demagogues, this
fact, (ant necessity, has wrought many
evils; not the least among which is strong
tendency to intolerance Of opinion in the
masses, and great arrogance of deneanor on
the part Of officials who either by accident,
or the skilltul manipulation Of conventions,
attain important positions. We could cite
cases, by way Of illustration, that would
shock the fair minded reader. 1t may suf.
fee to say that such person after spend
ing few years at either Washington
Raleigh, or perhaps any other Southern
capital, must acquire an intense disgust with
politics, an utter contempt for popular IN
stitutions, and very vivid realization OF
the idea that kissing goes by favor, IN
official circles.
Happily, there are signs of better things
Recent elections show that while our people
dislike the Republican party as strongly a.
ever, they will not permit themselves to be
dragged to the ballot box to do honor to
mere professional politicians. And We re
joice to see many journals taking high and
dauntless ground. We quote few rece ut
paragraphs
From the Wilmington star:-"Our peo-
pie should not be factous or fault finding
but they should scrutinize the work of off
cals and see that they do their duty We
do not believe In sharp criticism save when
deserved nor do we believe in praising men
, or measures simply because they are clasoed
is Democratic The Legislature i. soon t.
meet. We hope prudence and judgment
| will prevail, and when 1t has adjourned that
! the voice fall discreet and thoughtful peo
| pie shall be-''Well done good and faithful
servants. The Star Is always glad t,
praise nen and measures, but it will not APP
prove simply because a Democrat or the
Democratic party proposes certain meas
ure. Let the press be faithful guardians OF
the peoples interests If public men fee.
assured they will be condemned by the press
Of the State if they do wrong they will b,
careful and clrcumspect Unfortunately
there are paper, that will not condemn ia
vorite or oppose a public measure OF its
pa,sy. They praise indscriminately al:
that is done. The King can do no wrong.
From the Charlotte Observer: In the
South at least, politics has been too much
regarded as the stepping stone to office OF
preferment, and when once the creature
(the Officially has been installed, all sight OF
the people (the creator) has been lost. tn,
average member OF Congress for instance
after he once gets in, thinks of little else
than his re e-electiOn, and if once sent to
Washington he claims a second term, anG
rarely objects to more, Members of the
Legislature and county officers are generally
more directly responsible to the people,
put c, en- they manage to command cotefic
Of friends, who pull the wires ana direcl
current politics. But we started out on u
different tack this morning. Politics at the
South for some years has been too much q
sentiment. Our politicians are all EN-
bryo statesmen from the start, and un lei
the guise Of craftsmanship, Or Of patriotism
or Of the general welfare, suDlimey hid
away in the labyrinths of the Federal con
stitution, their own pet schemes are kept
from the public view, and the consequent
scr.tiny of the masses of the people. 4
political party as we understand 1t is SCI
of men, citizens, having common purpose,
banded together for something like the
reasons given at the head of this article, but
now often do we see the wire pulling po
litica:. step In and grab the spells, leaving
parsisans no option, but TO support their
men and measures, OF to vote for the polit
clans Of the more obnoxious side.
From the Elizabeth City Ecoaomist:-
I'VE had supposed that the West would
show large gains over Vance vote: that the
Western Railroad sale would add largely to
to the popularity Of Jarvis administration
But in all this the result shows we were IL
error But for the East aud its fidelity to
the Democratic party, the sceptre OF power
would have departed from udah, aud Bux-
ton now be Governor elect OF North Caro-
Iina. In forming our opinion OF the vote
before the election took place we relied upon
the representations Of the State press. After
MAX ing every allowance for the enthusiasm
and devoted to party, of the State press, We
cal not but regard the press as too careless N
It's statements IN regard to tie State cauruss,
Uhen It lCds II, progress
The trouble was with the politicians
Many Of them got angry if an editor limited
at less than 10, 900 majority.
Two persons stopped the Farmer and Ne
chantc on the ground that it was damaging
the party by telling the truth about The can
vas and other party affairs.