The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1885-07-16
OUR OPINION.


We met a friend since the last
issue Of the DEMOCRAT, WHO said to
us, eve agree with you and endorse
all you say. and SO do nine .tenths of
all our leople, bat had we not bet
ter give our folks credit for the good
work they are doing and let the Re-
publicans publish the wrongs they
do, and we keep silent as to what
they are not doing which they ought
to do % We answered emphati-
cally, No! The time has been in the
South since the war when it was
good policy to keep our mouths shut,
when we we're in the minority, and
the other side controlled the govern
ment and was responsible for all
errors and wrongs-when we had no
voice in the matter and were not re
sponsible for any oppression of the
people or maladministration Of the
government, but now all the respon-
sibility and glory or shame, as the
case may be, are upon our shoulders
as party, in Our judgment it be-
hooves every good man, and espe~
cially every journalist to condemn
that which deserves condemnation
and to approve that which deserves
approval in our party leaders.
Now why not What is wrong in
this principle Must party leaders
and officials be allowed to commit
plumbers and go astray from dem
ocratic doctrines and practices and
not be censured and called to ac>
count? Are they exempt from being
scrutinized and criticized Are
they outside the constitution and
above the law !? Are they infallible
and immaculate We answer, No.
Such a course may suit some of our
people, and did suit The Republican
party for more than twenty years of
despotism, terrorism, fraud and cor
ruption, but we hope to find it quite
different in a Democratic adminis>
tration. If men are honest and their
acts commemorate, they can and will
manfully submit to criticisms, and
the shafts Of malice, envy and dis,
content will never penetrate their
hides. This paper proposes to speak
it's own mind and advocate the doc,
trine we conceive to be democratic,
and if we should fall in error and
can be convinced thereof, We will re.
trace our steps and repent Of our
sins with as much grace and dignity
as Lord Chesterfield practiced in en-.
tering the Kings Court. But our
friends must not expect us to play
hypocrite, or keep silent, for we dis
pise the former, and we never could
hold our tongue. We cannot applaud
publicly that which we at heart dis
approve. We cannot say we are
gratified, and sing paeans of praise
to the powers that be, at the reten,
ton in Office in the South of a horde
of men we have denounced as unfit
for the last twenty years. We say
Mr.. Cleveland and his Secretaries
have done much and are doing much
for the glory of our country, and
they are bringing about wonderful
reforms-we believe them honest.
upright gentlemen, but we do not be.
lieve them incapable of being de.
ceived and mislcd, nor Of making
blunders. And we claim the right
to express ourselvs either in praise
or condemnation as we may COM
ceive they have done right or wrong.
We think by this time the Admins
tration ought to have removed at
least two thirds of all the Republi>
can Post Masters in the South, and
it has not removed one tenth. In
this We think our President and his
Secretary, Mr.. Villas, wrong. These
people ought TO go and the sooner
the better. Here are the Post Mas.
tiers at Tarhoro, Halifax, Enfield and
ell around us that ought to be re.
placed by Democrats, and they are
not. If they are not offensive parti.
sans then the expression is meaning.
less. And this is about the truth.
But the whole exit and liking of