The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-08-27
LONG SERVICE AS AN EDITORIAL
SENTINEL

1t IS something TO have ocSii du COa-
tor in North Carolina before the war;"
and nearly ever since peace was de-
~clared. Thirty-one years we be-
gan the work Of fighting bad politics
In North Carolina. The carpet-oaggers
were to the front and Sambo became
a factor very potential and damaging
in North Carolina politics. Since 1855.
with the exception of two or three
years, we nave been trying to serve
our native state with our pen. We
have done all we could against the re-
publican or radical party. 1t was venal.
vicious, base, deceitful, low and dem
agogic in the sixties, and it it all that
In the nineties. The old political leOp-
ard has not changed a spot or lost a
tooth. 1t Is the same old hungry,
prowling beast of prey now that it was
in 1866 and later when it "ravened i
a wolf" We nave never wavered for
a monen in our opposition since the
old corrupt party was organized In
North Carolina. 1t was born in lust
and has lived on predatory warfare.
We have never voted for a republican,;
we have never accepted for an hour it's
principles and have never dallied for a
second with it's leaders. We ave OPP
posed it from the first because it was
the enemy Of the south: the enemy OF
its peace and prosperity; the enemy OF
genuine democratic, republican govern
ment, regulated and limited by consti-
A..x:-Ao1 Io-, IT, hoc hoop for a cfrOnO
governments p%aternal government
from the very start. We have antago-
,nized this party of destruction, OF rob-
Der taxation, Of trust favoring not for
a few weeks or months, in a heated
campaign, once in a while, every two
or four years, according as we might
be looking ahead and seeking Office.
But we have stood on the watch tower
a sIeep1ess sentinel through the years
as they pass away, and have fought
from the first day of January to the
last day of December, AND then begun
ngain the next day in the new year for
the long, unceasing battle for the
right, for the south, for the democra-
7cy, for a government of the people and
by the people and for the people. This
has gone on for nearly three decades.
Tt has been no little brief spouting
business with us. We hav been awake
when others slept, watching, waiting.
We have been instant in "a and
out Of season trying to teach the truth
such as the great democrats, ever
true and faithful, in the past have held
and taught and defended and enforced
with all the magic Of ~eloquence and
all the fervor of honest convictions.
We have written enough about democ-
racy to fill a dozen 400 page duodecimo
volumes. We nave never thought of
reward beyond the pleasurable con-
viction of duty done. We have held no
office, sought no office, desired no Office.
The good opinion Of our fellow men is
all we sought. With that there is re-
ward enough. We have never desired
to be struck by the "pone of bread" or
TO have our patriotism and democracy
measured by surprises of office and the
hope of a better place. It is honor
enough to be faithful in the place in
which you are called under Providence.
".Act we'll your part" is the incentive,
and consciousness of fidelity and zeal
for the right is the reward. The
watchmen on the towers of liberty and
constitutional government-the faithful
men Of the press with %sleepless vigils-
are still on guard, watching the enemy
of the people. holding up the great
fundamentals of genuine democracy.
and advocating all wise measures that
look to the betterment of their fellow
men n the prosperity and safety of
the state.