Charlotte home and Democrat., 1882-06-30
The Countv Government Question.

1t may De accepted as IaCL, LnaC IL Cne
action Of the Democratic party is shaped
against the present system of county
government, then will the East be lost to
the Democratic party, and the State given
over to the Republicans. This is 80 clear
that it does not need argument to sustain
it. The East. deprived of all it's defenses,
and abandoned by It's friends, has nothing
more to contend for. 1t fares as badly at
the hands of it's friends as it can do at the
hands of it's enemies. Knowing such re-
suits, can any Democrat persist in q step
So disastrous
The Charlotte Observer, which seems
to have planted itself on this dangerous
plank, says, the system of electing by the
Legislature is undemocratic. How so?
How long has it been part of the popu-
lar creed that the act of the servants of
the people was not accepted as authorita-
tive, binding and acceptable as the act of
the people themselves? If the Legisla-
ture cannot be trusted to shape public &C.
tion for the safety and we'll being of an
important body OF the people whose
rights or interests may be in jeopardy be-
cause it is not democratic SO to do, with
what can it be trusted? :? In this matter
of the election of magistrates, for ninety
years it was not thought undemocratic
that the Legislature should be entrusted
with this power. The Statesmen who
framed our first Constitution were reckon
ed to be men as jealous Of popular rights,
as watchtul over the preservation of the
liberties of the people as any men who
had learned the inestimable value of both
in their long conflict with the arbitrary
power from which they wrested their
freedom. Successive generations Of wise
men inherited their principles and defend
ed and preserved them and did so with
out incurring the imputation of infidelity
to democratic principles.
1t was LETT to new creation of adven-
.turers and entranchised slaves to teach US
what true democratic principles are. To
corruption and to ignorance is given the
glorious privilege of leading The people in
the paths of purity and enlightenment.
We do not wonder at their presumption.
We know what they want aud what they
mean. But We do wonder that any sane
or sound democrat can fall SO blindly into
the trap set for him; that he can be mis-
led by arguments or motives that can on
ly be tolerated in the party using them,
but which ought not to have feathers
| weight with those who are selected for
deception.
The negro and the Republican party are
| the sole benehciaries OF such movement.
The white people and the Democratic
party are the victims marked for ruin.
AS between these alternatives of success
| tor the one aud ruin for the other, who
ought to hesitate? The two modes for
the selection of magistrates have had
their ample illustration. In the one, the
| now wealthy counties of the East were
robbed, swindled, oppressed, pauperized
| to an extent that has become a matter of
history. Under the other, these same
counties became free from debt. free from
| oppression, rich, prosperous, inviting and
receiving the benefit of foreign capita, de
veloping a multitude of great resources to
the advantage of both races and to the
aggrandizement of the whole State. To
restore former system will be to hand
over rich prey to the vandals who have
| by the interposition of the Democratic
party been held back at safe distance,
and made to respect the rights of person
and property.
We adhere to the position that the sys-
tenn of election of magistrates by the Leg
islature is good democratic doctrine. We
| accept it as party-not partizan-doc-
| trine What is done for the best inter
ests of the great mass of the white people
| who constitute immeasurably the largest
portion of the tax payers and property
holders, we conceive to be done for the
best interests of the whole people. That
| is the very essence Of Democracy. Main
tanning this idea, the negro will be secure
in all his rights; and the white Republi-
cans may whistle for the spoils.-Ashe-
viLe Citizen.