The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1897-03-25

AND IhE nAILuOAD NOhrOnA-
TON.
The recent amalgamation, of Dem
ocrats and Republicans, brought
about by the 80 year railroad lease
controversy, are playing q shrewd
little game by which they hope to
obscure the truth and merit of the
Lease question. 1.-The amalgama-
ton" and the recently united Rep
Dem press which represents the
amalgamation are advancing semi
plausible statements and dealing in
sophistry that might catch a care
less citizen mapping. For instance
they refer to the 500 year railroad
lease" as a CONTRACT BETWEEN THE
STATE AND THE SOUTHERN RAIL-
WAY. There is a falsity and VEN
atty in this representation that
cannot be described. There is no
such thing as a contract between
THE STATE and the SOUTH ERN
RAILWAY. There is only a SECRET
DEAL on between the SOUTHERN RAIL
WAY COMPANY and THE NORTH CARO-
LIMA RAILROAD.
Everybody who intends to give the
matter any attention should be care.
full to make this distinction. If the
STATE had made q contract with
the Southern, even though it had
been such deal as that now pend
ing, the fight on the lease coult
never have come up in the legisla
ture.
Suppose the State Treasurer o.
some other State officer should b,
entering into some deal defraud tn,
State in any way. Would any bed,
be SO absurdly foolish as to So,
that because a man who was a Stat'
officer, or who represented the Stat
in any capacity had made the fraud
ulent deal, that it ought to stan'
and must standi We hardly thinl
so. THE STATE would repudiat
it and also repudiate the man con
cerned in trying to effect it.
| Now. while the lease deal is a mat
ter between the Southern Railwa
and the North Carolina Railroad,
SO happens that TIE STATE ha
some interest in the North Carolin
Railroad, and there were some me
whose business it was to properl
represent that interest. When thes
men accepted the position of dlre<
tors on the part of the State, it be
came their duty to properly look al
ter her interests. And this is jus
what they have not done. They mad
a deal in the face of organized rotes
on the part of citizens of the State
and had there been more time bt
tween the date when it was learne
deal was about to be made and til
time it was made, that protest woul
have been hundred fold greater.
By the deal which was made TIL
STATE has been clearly defraudet
} and the State is under no more obi
CATION to stand by these men in sue
/ a deal than it would to stand
/ the Treasurer or any other officer
} any action in which the State woul
, suffer.
Let every body, therefore be on IL
: watch for such specious represent,
} tons as a CONTRACT BETWEEN tn
3 STATE AND THE SOUTHERN RA1LwA,
t There is no such contract; but
, contract Of that kind is just VIII.
I the honest people of the Stat
r want: that is, contract betwee
3 THE STATE and the Southe RI
5 aud not a contract between II
3 North Carolina Railroad and II
Southern by which the States il
9 terest in the n. G.. road will suffer.
Mr.. w. S. Pearson, of Inorganic
contributes vigorous article for tn
weeks CAUCASIAN. He goes at ma
] tiers with an honesty and courage tn
j are revivif, ing, and inspire the vii
: that there were many more men lii
b him. He writes as a Democrat, plea
u ing, nay, demanding the operation
n truly Democratic principles. v
would take pains to commend the a
ticle if the article itself were not i
own cOmmendation.
o LEGISLATIVE RIOrIN0.
Il We must never be considered q
spologist for nor q defender Of Il
( last legislature as q whole. In spe 4,
{ ing Of it, however, we may now n