The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1893-03-09
TIE uHD EuoCRlTIc D=nocRIcY.

The legislature of North Carolini
a few days ago, engaged in the un
democratic act Of electing magis
trates. 4 great list Of about ,3Ot
names, prepared by the committee
was placed in nomination. In all
there are about 1900 magistrates
in the State, chosen in the same
way. An inperceptible percentage
of this army of ofIice-holders may
belong to some party other than the
Democratic party; but substantially
the whole mass are Democrats.
They are elected by those who
hays no personal knowledge of the
men. or their character and qual:ii-
cations. This would not perhaps be
80 important were not the magls-
trates chosen to transact home busl-
ness. Their duties are important
and multifarious. They are close to
the people, yet the people have moth
ing 10 say in their selection. They
are appointed by members OF the
General Assembly and by political
committees. The Legislature does
no more than to ratify nominations
made by irresponsible politicians.
The law which permit these things
is iutolerant and undemocratic.
Mr.. Vance introduced a bill into
the lower house to elect the magis-
crates and commissioners of Bun
combe county, by the people. He
said the members of the Alliance
favored its passage; but on motion
of a Mr.. Lowell, the bill was tabled
by q overwhelming majority. The
wishes Of Mr.. Vance's constituents
were contemptuously ignored and he
was sat upon. Yet there was really
no reason why the people OF Bun
combe should be favored any more
than those of any other county.
Before another general election
takes place the magistrates of Bun
combe, and of every other county in
North Carolina, will choose new
county commissioners. These will
all be Democrats. The commission
ers will appoint registrars IN every
precinct of the State, who will all be
Democrats. The commissioners will
also select judges of election for
every polling place. The Demo
Gratis will have control of every reg
istration book, and of every election,
board, in every precinct in ninety
six counties.
Under the operation of this unjust
system, another General Assembly
of Democrats will be elected or rath-
err counted in in 1894. That legisla-
ture, under the direction of local po-
litic1ans, will elect Is, 900 more Dem
ocratic magistrates. The new set of
magistrates will help to elect a new
set of Democratic county commits
sioners and so on, and so on. Thus
the Democrats hope and aim to re-
tain possession of the State govern
ment, and of the local governments
of the counties. All of this is clear
ly undemocratic. I
In spite of these Infamous laws !
the Peoples party, in North Caro- {
lima, polled 47.000 votes in the late
election, that is, the canvassing .
boards permitted them to be counted,
and it was so announced. If any ,
votes were suppressed by the Demo-
cratic election officers, it is known .
in the various precincts. With this I
one sided election machinery, in the ,
hands of Democratic officials. it was ,
possible to suppress votes; and it was ,
done by the wholesale. Z
But inspite of unjust laws, the {
Peoples party, if true to itself, will
grow and wax exceeding strong, and {
will never give up the fight until
Home Rule shall be established.
The time will come when bills like
that introduced by Mr.. Vance will
not be tabled Shy an overwhelming c
There will be free bal {
oft and a fair count in every county,
Town, city and precinct in North t
Carolina. The people will do right. l
The Democratic machine may take :