The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-03-24
NORTH CAROLINA.

incSs relations with the outhlue "'
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REPUDIATION IN NORTH CAKoLiNA'
one of the principal objections that The
Times urged against the late Chicago
platform was that 1t taught reputation
4 striking ycrifcation OF this Is FOUND
in tho plea OF Chicago PLATFORM
newspaper in North Carolina against
government by injunction In connection
with The attempt on the part OF the
Sttfe to annu the lease OF the NORM
Carolina railicad to the Southern RAN
way Company. We copy from an edito-
rial article which appeared in the Raleigh
News and Observer. OF March 10th, last.
and which has, for some purpose unknown
to us. been circulated in slips throughout
the country.
After expressing its amazement at the
action OF Judge simonton in granting the
Injunction. the News and Observer says:
1T Is a new thing in North Carolina ior
a Federal judge. VINO was a southern
Railway attorney before his appointment
as Judge. TO seek TO restrain the Gov
ernor of "A great commonwealth from pro-
tecting the interests OF the people OF the
State.
'The evils Of government by injunction
have grown so as TO almost destroy the
hberaiities of the people. AS protest
20 this usurpation of power, the Demo
cratic national convention passed a
strong resolution against government by
Injunction, and 1t was made one OF the
leading issues of the late campaign. ms
issue was emphasized in North Carolina
by an Injunction against the Seaboard
Air Line issued by Judge Smonton, be-
cause il had reduced freight charges. In
the west the judges have gone TO the
extent Of putting laborers in contempt
for quitting work. and for their refusal
to go 10 work when ordered TO do so, on
railroads that were in the hands Oh re-
ceivcrs.
yesterday the issue was brought sharp
~ again before the people by the at
tempt to restrain the Governor from
bringing suit to annul the 99-year lease.
"The only protection left TO the people
is "a determined resistance to TINS at
tempt to make the Southern Railway
more powerful than the sovereign State
of North Carolina. II 1t succeeds, we
not only have lost free government but
have also obtained government by in
junction by and for railroads.
I'VE call upon the Governor in the
name of the people Of the state, 10 plant
himself firmly upon the doctrine enunci-
ated in tho Democratic National plat
form. and use every effort in the power
of the commonwealth TO prevent the car
rying out of this new method Of confirm
ing government by railroads. The people
will stand by him. regardless of party, II
ne will plant himself firmly upon the
best plank in the Democratic platform
and fight to the last ditch the effort TO
destroy the last yestige Of the rights OF
the state"
Now We ask what is the great right
Of the people that a Federal judge and
railroad corporation are trying TO
override? Nothing more nor less than
the right Of a state to repudiate con-
tract made i'm good faith with railroad
company. Not only is It sought to repu-
date this contract. but the spirit of the
Chicago platform again crops out in the
Popuhstic cry against the remedy which
the railroad company seeks in law for
the protection Of its rights under the con-
tract.
The Times yields to none in its love
and if a railroad company, by Injunction
or otherwise, should attempt any out
rage in defiance of the sovereign
right of State or the will of
the people, no paper would come
more earnestly TO the defence and
support of the State and the people. But
when the State tries by an exercise Of its
sovereign powers TO destroy the rights of
an individual be 1t a corporation or not.
it dehos that sacred provision of the
constitution which fOrbids q State 10
impair the obligation of a contract and
puts Itself beyond the pale of moral or
legitimate defence. If an individual
may not rcpudiate contract much less
a sovereign State. There cannot be one
code of laws and Of morals for an indi-
vidual and another for a State.