The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1884-12-24
The "Boys in Blue. I"

,Eqqic, seems to have soured on the
state Guard. Does the fact that Gov.
Jarvis is Commande-in-cEief stir his bile.
Bro :. is a gallant gentleman. and
when Gov. Scales takes charge. we hone
there will be less said by our contempo-
rarv about '.red-tape, brass buttons.
euauletts, feathers, etc. Large num-
hers of the citizen soldiers think well OF
our esteemed brother and hope that be-
fore long he will overcome ANYTHING like
color-blindness.-Tarboro Southerner
You greatly mistake! We have never
made any sort of reflection on the State
Guard. We approve of the Guard. We
should regret to see it set back. We
do regret to see it retroerading. We
note with regret that so many compa-
MES have disbanded. We note with re-
gret attempts to organize several new
companies, like the Raleigh Guards"
have failed, or hung fire. We regret
that the press in many parts of the State
contains complaints of mismanaeement
of the State guard. We regret that the
old Confederate soldiers in the Guard.
n some instances, We're made TO throw
aside the Estate Color,''-the battle
Lonored ''Grey''-to put on the Yam
kee Blue" We regret that four of tie
leading officers Of the Guard Colo
nels, Lieutenant Colonies, and Majors)
were placed in a position which led them
70 say to US, personally, that they would
resign from the Guard before they
would put aside the Confederate Grey to
nut on the Yankee Blue.
No, Brother Shotwell'' has not
soured on the Guard. The most bill
ious" pieces we ever printed about the
Guard came from the Soatherner. and
were supposed to emenate from either
Mr.. Powell, or Major Williamson both
of them members of the State Guard.
Although when your editorial was corr
rected by General II. p. Taylor. we pub
Iished his correction. We lay a wager
of 80. that we have more subscribers.
both officers and ~privates, who are MEM
bers of the Estate Guard than the
Sgutherner, leaving put the town of Tar
boro. We wager half that amount that
we have DOUBLE the number, inelud-
IN Tarboro.
This is not a boast. We occupy a more
central position, and naturally have more
subscribers in the body of the State. But
the fact carries Its " suggestion.
namely that the State Guard does moi
consider us an enemy, but on the con
trary a rue friend who wishes to see the
Guard brought to its highest and best
state OF praetlca. efficiency and popularity
AS for Governor Jarvis the only a~llusion
to him 10 connection with the State Guard
We recall was the .S0utherae~s editorial,
which alleged that the leading officers
were SO minutes IN His Exeellency's Of
lie. drinking toasts To old hummer
~IlAwley on Exposition Day
In relation to Gov. Jarvis We have |
never said anything which We did not at
the time believe 10 be true, and which
We DO not TO day believe to be true. We
have never said anything about him Tor
any other many that We did not stand
wiling TO ~retract, aud hUmbly apologize
for, if found to be incorrect. We have
never refused to grant any man s~atistac.
ton for anything VT have said; and have
always been easy To found at our office
during the six working days of the week,
am week these seven years past.
We have never charged criminal cor
ruptiou upon Gov. Jarvis; but We believe
he has used the whole power aud iut1l-
ence of his office (Which was given him
10 fll-as the Servant OF the people,
ehiefy to build up his own personal po
litical fortunes. In short, he debauched
the politics Of the State, by using the
power of his Office Unto which he first
got by the promotion of Gov. vance, to
further the interests Of Tom Jarvis. The
part played by a great Railroad In his
nomination is w~ellknown. The fact that
that road had projects which the Cover
nor could influence was as well known
then as now. The fact that the first va
cancy upon the Supreme bench there
after was offered to the hired attorney Of
that road, who had been defeated 10 the
State convention, AMI had resigned even
his Superior court JudgeShip TO become
the railroads lawyer, Is also we'll known.
We have always said that in matters
where his personal interest. or dislike,
vas not affected, Jarvis made a good
Governor; but 1t is all fudge to credit the
advancement Of the State the past four
years to his administration. There are
half dozen Southern States whose prog
re.s has been greater than North Caro-
DINA, although they had much greater
negro incubus; and have nothing like our
advantage in situation, climate, and nat
UIal resources.
Washington Gazette says: The recent
selection Of officers by different regiments
Of the State Guard suggest a pertinent
inquiry. Upon what basis are promo
lions made and what are the quali6ca-
tons necessary to the election of ofhcers7
Are long service and proven capacity to
be recognized or is personal favoritism to
be the standard of promotiou2 One
course will strengthen the guard, the 9TH
sr will disrupt it aud tend to d%isorganiza
ton. The Gdzette has firm faith in the
future of the State Guard and has viewed