Smyrna times., 1896-01-08

The status of the State Sentinel
which since the retirement of Henry
w. Cannon has been published by E.
B. Louderbough, was duly changed last
week into a stock company under the
title of ''The Sentinel Publishing
Company" the name of George w.
Roberts appearing at its head as editor.
The Sentinel, since its incipiency has
been a Republican organ. The new
corporators intend to keep it so, having
besides the further interest of the po-
litical advancement of J. E. Addicks.
The editor very naturally discusses the
political situation as it now exists in
the State-the condition of low degree
to which political methods have de-
scended, backed by the courts. We
copy a part of the editOrial-as its
argument and defence-for the infor-
nation of our readers:
I'm the discussion of Republican
differences, Democratic objections do
not count. That is self-evident. In
the discussion of the larger question
we simply asserted the right of an in
iured people to defend themselves from
the further encrOachment of what we
believe to be the most OdiOus of polltl-
cal tvrannies. We are frank enough
to say. that to us the defeat and over
throw of the Democratic party in this
State-nOt simply to put the Repub-
lican Tom, Dick and Jerry into office,
but to remodel and reform the State
GOvernment-wOuld Justify the use OF
any means of aggressive or defensive
warfare, to that end, which the Demo
cratic party uses to prOlong its hold
upon the State. The Republican party
has never asked for, or taken, larger
license than this. The Hader in dis
cussing this point says:
There is no justification or excuse fOl
the commission of a wrongful act III the
argument that others have been equally
guilty. The felon. murderer, thief, burglar
and the perpetratOr of every act in the cata-
logue of crime can point to an lnnumerablt
list of predecessors IN crime. In no courl
of law, however, before no empannelled
jury, and in the tribunal of the people has
such precedent been accounted Just de
fence to the accused"
I'm a general denial of this PROPOSE
hon ME dSHGIb lldL Ill uCb Vi AAL4CAoC Is
always iustifiable. There is a killing
of man, by man, that is not murder
there is a taking of property that is not
theft: and there is a rebellion that Is
not treason. In every case when {
prisoner charged with murder has beer
acquitted on the pledge of self-defenc'
the wrong act was Justified by the
motive. The greater wickedness o.
occoT1I
excuses the killing. In thousands o.
instances have hungry men, womeI
and children been justified in steallns
food; and the free governments of thu
world are to-day, every one, a proc
that fOrceful defiance of law and au
thOritv, when law and authority arr
the instruments of tyranny, is no
treason but cOmmendable patriotism
The trouble with our lawyer friend i
that he fOrgets that law is the servan
and not master of the people. H'
ims:ines that because the letter of tn
law, made and administered to rob thu
public treasury of tens of thousands o
dollars, it is no crime; that 1t Is NJ
crime for a Democratic officer to vlolat'
his oath of fealty to the people In tn
service of his party; that it Is no crlm
for Democrats to cOnspire to defraut
their Republican fellow citizens o
their constitutional rights-these ar
trivial things well inside the statute
and customs of the people; and the.
move him not. He quotes the law anC
stiles his conscience so long as tn
party-his party-is sure to win. Blu
let the Republicans organize for re
newed, prolonged and desperate effort
to overthrow their opponents; this ex
cites his Imagination; his memOr,
comes back and his eyes are mOmen
tarily restored. What wonderful pic
lures he sees. He imagines that he i
prosecuting his enemies before a jur,
of the people. The evidence is all il
and he realizes the verdict must b
against him.