The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1888-02-16
READ, PONDER AND REFLECr.


READ, PONDER AND REFLECT.
The North Carolina of To-Day Com.
pared With N. c. Under Republican
Rule.
The State Chronicle of last week,
contained an extensive article, show
lug by official figures how the Repub.
licans robbed the people of North
Carolina when they were in power
and how the Democrats have saved
the peoples money.
The article is too long for our col
umns, but we append a digest that ev-
erybody ought to read "Hear the con-
clusion of the whole matter -
Under Republican rule in North
Carolina there were no public schools;
the permanent school fund of the
State, amounting to upwards of six
hundred thousand dollars, was squan-
dered the State debt was increased,
according to Treasurer jenkins, near
| ly eighteen million dollars the Leg
islature was in session 304 days and
| the members paid themselves over 3d.
100 each for their services; the rate
of State taxation alone was eighty
| cents on the one hundred dollars
worth of property, although the Con-
stitution provided that the State and
county should not exceed sixty six
and two third cents on the hundred
dollars; the special tax bonds were
issued and over two hundred and
eight thousand dollars raised in q sim
gle year from an impoverished people
to pay interest on this iniquitous debt;
the Judiciary Of the State was, in some
part, ignorant, and justice was sold;
there were no charitable institutions
erected no provision was made to aid
the disabled war veteran or his widow;
native North Carolinians were pro-
scribed from official service, and car
pet-baggers and ignorant negroes were
elevated to positions of trust and re-
sponsibility; the Eastern counties
were bankrupted in a word the Re
publican administration was worse
curse upon the State than the dsvas-
tations of war, and no progressive or
rehabilitating measures were commen-
ced or encouraged by them.
| Let us turn to brighter picture.
and draw the contrast:
| Under Democratic rule there are
public schools in every district in the
State, for white and colored children;
the school fund has grown steadily
until now upwards Of six hundred
thousand dollars year are expended
for public schools the Legislature of
1879 passed an act authorizing the
settlement af the State debt, and un-
der this act the State reduced, by
mutual agreement with the State and
the bond holders-the debt to s., $780,
600 bearing four per cent interest and
payable in thirty years the legislature
conyenes in iennial sessions Of sixty
days and the pay Of each legislator is
not nver 1925 for the session the rate
of taxation for State purposes has
steadily decreased from eighty cents
, on one hundred dollars worth of props
erty until now it is only twenty cents,
one fourth the rate under Republican
rule two insane asylums-one for
J the whites and one for the negroes
and one institution for the deaf, dumb
and blind for the negroes, have been
erected; the penitentiary has been
built and furnished, and the labor of
the convicts has been used to build
railroads and other works of internal
improvements small pension has
} been given to needy ex-Confederate
soldiers and their widows the orphan
asylum has been given an appropria
, tion sufficient for all its needs the
State Guard has been strengthened !;
, the University has been fostered the
e Agricultural Department has wrought
: a good work for agriculture, and pur-
, chased large building for its uses |;
, the Bureau of Labor Statistics has
been established; the Agricultural
3 Mechanical College has been provid-
ed for +; the Superior and Supreme
Court of the State have administered
: even and exact justice to all. and no
breath of suspicion has attached to
t. any Democratic judge; new Su-
: preme Court and Library building
= has been erected, and home for the
Governor is nearly completed the
. county finances have, in the main,
: wisely and economically managed
!. native and State-loving North Carroll
L mans have administered the govern
ment affairs, and no state in the
v Union has had cheaper or better gov
e ernment i'm word the Democrats
=, have given low taxes, good govern.
d ment, and originated and carried into
b effect, measures for the betterment OF
y the people. 1t has made some mis-.
e takes, but 1t rectifes them. 1t is in
;. North Carolina the only party o
n Honesty, Economy and Progress.