The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1894-08-23

the eve Of this the most important
political campaign for many year8
past, if not in fact the most momen-
tOus campaign IN the history OF the
State, are persuaded that some words
Of advice aS well as warning to the
voters of North CarOIIua Inlay III this
crisis Of public affairs serve a good
purpose, and aid III arousing popu-
lar sentiment to the patriotic duty
Of having free and fair elections.
1t is truth which 10 man dis
putes that frequent recurrence to
the fundamental principles Of gov
eminent is essential to the preserva-
ton Of liberty. All political econ
omy, as well as human experience
teaches that political power is con
tinualIy passing from the MANI t.
Jhr few IL our OWL, As well as '
every other republican system ot
% ernmcnt, the ballot ) the only III
3tromrnt through which the Will Of
the people, the source Of all sover-
eIguty,--can be eXpresse d, and the
man or set Of men who would de-
stroy or impair the free and untram-
meled use Of the ballot IN elections
must be regarded, to say the least OF
it, as unfriendly towards republican
institutions. Viii e many Of the
States of the Union are overrun with
voters imported from foreign coun-
tries by the ship load during the
quarter of "a century last past, and
who are unaccustomed to the system
of government which obtains in d
republic. we of North Carolina can
happily boast of the smallest foreign
population of all the States and
have, according to the last census re-
port, less than five Thousand foreign
ers in IA total population of more
than one million and half. For
many years past we all know that
Federal interference and supervisor
sh p in our State elections while ac-
complishing little or no good IN Il
practical way towards securing fan
elections, has been a constant source
of irritation, and excused in some
measure a resort to methods of con
triyance, trickery and fraud as d
counter-irritant, which upon occa
sion and in some localities has most
efft ctually suppressed a free ballot
and a fair count. Two wrongs, how
ever, never make right. Thi:
. Federal interference in elections by
common consent Of all parties anc
the cryStalized popular sentiment o.
our State is now a thing Of the pas
and, it is to be hoped, is behind u
for all time to come. Now let us al
good citizens Of the State rise to 1h'
full measure of our patriotic duty
and on our part discard forever anC
roct out of our political system al
fraudulent methods and practice
which tend to impair the ballot anC
suppress the voice of the people fair
" expressed at the ballot box.
While men may honestly differ a
to parties and political principles le
us by earnest endeavor i'll this cam
palgn be more vigllant and watchtu
than ever before to the end that
whatever the result of the pending
, election may be, we may all have tn
satisfaction Of feeling and knowing
that henceforth in North Carolin
'seIections shall elect"
No intelligent man this da
pretends to deny that the poisonou
seeds of dishonesty at elections haV
been sown broadcast over this Reput
lie, and are maturing now bount
full crop of untold evils which folio
as "a natural harvest. To the credl
of the great State of New York 1t
recorded in her criminal courts tha
men once potent there in electlo
frauds are now doing service for ths
State in penitentiary garb, while
our shame be it said that in our OW
State those equally guilty go I'll
whipped of justice and even hay
the brazen audacity to aspire to pos
tions Of honor and trust among tt
very people whose rights they hay
trampled upon, and being thus en-
bo!dened, stand ready to repeat pa
iniquities of equal if not great'
y atrocities.
d And when and where shall it end
IL Cheating ut elections, like frauds
/ business, will and does, lead fro
E. one infamy to another. 1t saps at
y undermines the very foundations
N government, destroys confidence
'r the stability of our institution
T. makes capital timid of investmer
'V destroys confidence among nelghbol
ty fosters and encourages a spirit
II lawlessness, breeds anarchists al
n mobs, strikes down the principles
morality and turns backward t
v progress of our revered christi;
P civilization, brings reproach up
O. our people and our State, teach
men to violate law, and if persist
v in must inevitably as its logical
d, suit, destroy the very last vestlge
liberty which is as deaf TO our W
ny hearts as it was to our patriotic a
IL cestors who fought the battles OF t
III Revolution.
VS. We therefore most earnestly q
Us pea. to all good citizens irrespecti
ah of party affiliations to awake to tn
IN duties of the hour, and to unite Wi
OF us in actively oondemning the L
nj just perversion of our election lay
nj and to firmly resolve that in this
M lection the laws shall not be u.s.
MS as they have been, and can be aga
* to cheat and defraud citi2ens
ne their rights. We appeal to ev'
n fair minded man, and especially
me LII honest men of the nemOcra