The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1889-04-04

ever over dlJ 2liTOAA III Tue L ON4le''
States, save and except roads char .
tered by Congress in the territories
and the District of Columbia. Nor
do We believe Congress has any pow
er, under the constitution TO touch
any railroad in any State in the
Union. And it seems to ne time to
call halt.
Ard especially does it seem time
to call halt. when so dlsting uished
and prominent man, who stands
at the head. and is recognized a. the
leader of the farmers Of the State, as
Captain Alexander gives utterance
to such uarepublican uhdemocrstic
doctrines as referred to. Captain
Alexander was the farmers candidate
for Govern or, as we'll as for United
States Senator, and lie is thelr chief
captain and foremost leader and
they are controlled in a great meaa~
ure by what he says. Therefore il
behooves all democrats in this State
and lovers of Ii berty TO measure and
weigh well the public utteranccs Of
Captain Alexander. If he is wrong
the people ought to Know it. If he
Is right they ought to know it. From
our standpoint lie Is off the demo
cratic track. and We would like to
see him switch on again, for we con-
slider him very good pure, honest
man.
ln order to fully realize the results
Of placing all railroads in the hands
of the Federal government, just i'm
agine fifteen Republican Presidents,
fifteen vice.presjdents, fifteen super
inteldents, fifteen assistant.supcr
intendents, fifteen Auditors, fifteen
Superinten1ants of Transportation,
aud fifteen thousand other agents,
such AS conductors, engineers. road
masters, m1Chini:t2, station agents,
attorneys, and Others, besiles an
army of laborers ali in the en-
ployment Of the Federal government
in this State, ac>j especial? in the
employ ment of the political party in
power. Under such a State Of at
fairs, what would become Of f.eedom
in this land1 What would become
Of private individual rights? When
that day arrives letsus al put our
nccks under the yoke and bow to the
powers that be. But re would prefer
to see the land drcnchcd in blood and
theGeneral government hlottcd from
the map of nations rather than to see
ltexcrcise more power in the States
than it now mss, s,andwe shall, ,aAd every
body ought hereafter to figLt against
men rs well as parties who are in
favor Of any further surrender OF the
sovereign powers Of the States to
the Federal government.
Sipce writing the above we have
seen tue Charlotte Democrat. Here
is s. B.. AleXanGer's words as to
railroads aad Senator Kerr's allie
cations as to his being opposed to 3
railroad commission.
But to get the JpN protection
that is necessary for their Farmers,
welfare tie only way is for the gen
eral government to own every foot
Of railroads in the United States
and organize the tran sportation de
paGtm Mt, IS Suggested in the sd
dress, so as to free it from politics
As to proving that | was opposed tC
railroad commission, by nameless
men, | may have said | was opposed
TO q con mission, meaning 8 pa
ticular bill or plan Of commission
hut | am confident | never stated t
any one that | was per sc opposed
to a commission
These are his words, and we mus
admit, and we think all fair minded
minds will admit, that they don
sound much ike Mr.. Alexander wa
q very strong enthusiastic a1vccat'
Of railroad commlssIon. And be
ing the head of sixty thousand farm
ers clamo5ing for a railroa commits
! sion it does seem 10 us that Il,
ought to have spoken out durlug th
sitting Of the Legislature if he fay
ored comm sion. in 10 unCcrtajI
sound, SO that no man, though foo
and blind, coull have misunderstood
or misconstrued his position. Bu
we are off of our subject. The ide
Of organizing 2 department. Of trans
porto;ion by the Federal Congrcs'
$50 as to free it from pol.;jc-
might well be rut dov
as the thirteenth wonder {
the world. The idea OF the adnji
;.+-o.in, of Pnnuflinor form +