The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1897-05-13


the editorials written hereafter by
Senator Butter will be signed VI. i"
VIZ CCNGRATULATE TIE srATr AND
JBE COURT.
!he unanimous decision Of the Sn-
preme court in sustaining the deCis.
ion Of Judge Adams in the Asylum
cases must BE- very gratifying to a
a large number Of the citizens Of the
State. BESIDES, it is 40 clearly de.
cision entirely devoid Of any party
any criticism or pickering from any
quarter.
Governor Russell made the most seri-
Gus mistake of his administration
when he gave way to the clam0r of
those who would make y political foot
ball Of the educational and charitable
institutions of the state. He made a
mistake, not only against pOlitiCa poll
cy, but also against the best interests of
his party. The men who clamOred
for the passage of bills to throw these
institutions into the political swill
trough, are the same men who be-
seiged and ClamOred for the legisla-
ture Of 1895 to commit the same error.
II would have been done in 1893 had
IT not been for the firm and patriotic
position taken by the Peoples Party
caucus of the legislature. II would
not have been done in 1897 had not
the Republican politicians broken
their cooperative contract with the
Peoples Party, in order to carry out
schemes and designs which the POpu-
list Party could not approve or con-
done.
lt is true that the Democratic party
has used these institutions more or
less as political machines, but that
furnished one of the very best reasons
why different party, when coming
into power, should not follow their
example. rhe people will ask, why
change parties il there is to be no
change of methods?
The legislature of 1895 appointed
one-third of the directors of these in
stitutions. The legislature of 1897
should have followed the same policy
and appointed another third of the
directors. This would have made two
thirds, or more than a control on all
the boards. Therefore, it would have
been but short time until these
boards in their regular sessions
could have accomplished whatever
reforms were needed, and necessary
When the term of an officer of these
institutions expired it would have
been the d1ty of the board to elect his
successor. IT the officer in question
had not been faithful, or was not com.
petent, he certainly would not have
been reelected. If, on the other hand
any officer was found specially fitted
for his peculiar duties, then, certainly
he should have been re elected, with
out regard to his political or religion,
faith.
The most surprising thing to us il
this whole affair is what seems to hav,
been a special spite against DIR
Murphy of the Morganton Asylum
We think that a number of men cOult
be found who are the equals of thu
superintendent of the GOldsbOrO ant
Raleigh ASylums, and certainly tn,
.Sft
in no way famous as models of thei
kind. Therefore, il a change shout,
have been made in these institutions
and DR.. Murphy had been kept at thu
head of the Morganton institution
there could have been very little vail,
and just complaint on the ground O
craftsmanship. Or. Murphy is recog
nized over the United states rs bein,
at the head ot his profession. lie i
specialist of very high order. Hi
institution is considered a model, an,
il Is visited and rx ,mined by the Off
GERS Of similar institutions from ever
quarter of the country. oparty cal
maintain itself before the people O
the State who would remove such a
officer from charitable institution
simply to make n place for some on
inferior in qnalili 'ations for the i'm
portant duties.
The CAUCASIAN bel eyes in each art
rewarding its political friends. W
believe in apply ing this rule strictl
To purely political positions. A
things being equal the same principl
can b. carried into almost every pt
litical position. Bnt in the chari'ahl
and educational institutions of III
State, where the minds OF the ne,
generation are at stake, aud the we
fare Of the poor unfortunates is COZ
cerned, we believe that merit, or rat
sr peculiar fitness and experienc
should outweigh all other consid, r!
tions.
There are other Positions like II
judiciary whore We do not think
safest or wtsrst for ali Of the places
h. filed from The same political part
IT. is better to hav. some men Of eve
less capacity on the judiciary a,
have them Of different political parti
than To have even n higher order
ability and have them all OF the sau
political PERSUASION. A court all cor
posed Of the same party b-com
partisan without beir,g conscious
it,. Again, n decision Of a court shOu
be acceaieh by the people vii no
question, il possible: and this W
more frequently b. h" case where Il
court Is compose "I the represent
tives If all politicii parties. TT
present decision OF the court in Il
Asylum eases illustrates ti,is point.
Again The CAUCASIAN congratulate
the court and the state up, the d