The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-01-13
THE GOVERNORS INAUGURAL
ADDRESS.


The inaugural address of Governor
Russell is like the man. 1t is bold TO
rashness; malicious and malignant in part
as the long-pent up venom that at last
finds chance to sting; defiant and ag-
gressive, with the defiance and aggres-
sion of one who in the hour of his tri-
umph cannot rid himself of the passion
and prejudice that have mastered him for
a generation; vigorous, strong and effee-
tive when he leaves partisanship and
prejudice to discuss important State
questions, such as the lease of the North
Carolina Railroad and the educational
policy of the State; wanting in the cour-
tesy due his predecessor by attacking
him while protesting land protesting
rightly against his action in leasing
the North Carolina railroad slanderous
in the limitations that the State has
not heretofore been loyal to the Union,
tolerant, hospitable to immigrants, af-
fording protection to capital, melting out
even handed justice to all, protecting the
weak, progressive in education, and clean
and pure in it's administration of public
affairs.
The new Governor is a positive man.
His inaugural shows that he has both
the courage Of his convictions and the
stubhorness of his prejudice. He hates
Democracy because Democracy stands
for white supremacy and the destruction
of those public men who seek to open the
places of public amusement upon equal
terms to both races, and destroy the civ
ilization that is essential to the material
as well as the moral and social welfare of
the State. As judge, the new Govern
or sought TO bring about this condition
of affairs. As a political leader, two
years ago he put the city of Wilmington
under the administration of the negro
and his allies. There is an intimation in
his message that would indicate that
as Governor he would recommend
towns and municipalities may be saved
from the government Of the ignorant
negroes who are now clamoring for new
charters that will give them control.
The position that the Governor takes
on the lease of the North Carolina Rail-
road is along the line taken by this paper
- ~ 40 ]o1
against it, criticising the public
officials who effected the lease, and left
no stone unturned to arouse public senti-
ment against the action. In taking an
aggressive stand to have the lease an
nulled, and pointing out ways that will
save this road to the State, the Governor
shows that the visiting statesmen, attor-
neys of the Southern Railway, who re-
Gently visited him to dictate his course,
found him to be man Of his own con-
victions, and not open to their persuasion.
That portion of his address is impregna-
BILE, and will be endorsed by the masses
Of all the parties in the State. In his
hlgn once, II he VIII IOlloW up Ills IlAS-
ing words Of good counsel with exercise
all of his influence, the ninety-nine year
lease will be annulled, and the profits of
that paying road for the next century
given to the people instead Of a for
eign corporation. Governor Russell well
aud truly said, discarding his manuscript
for the moment:
LET me stop here and speak on
the impulse Of the moment, but not
without due deliberation, and a deep
sense Of its import, and with all re-
spect to you, if this foreign corpora
ton is not compelled to pay for the
property sum commensurate with
their needs and its value to them,
the fault win be with this General
Assembly"