Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1897-03-11
RETROSPECTION

deal to say editorially during the
session of the Legislature in re-
gard to that body-the make
up, conduct, and contumely of its
fusion majority. We have en-
deavored to preserve our soul in
patience, pending their reign OF
terror, knowing that in their in
famous rioting retribution was
laying its foundations strong and
sure.
Before these lines reach our
readers that body will, in all
probability. have adjourned. God
grant that the State may never
look upon their like again. And
unless all sense of decency, pa
triotism and progress is oead in
North Carolina-and certainly is
it not-there will be nc more fus
ion legislators in the ascendency
in this State.
Confusion worse COMPOUNDED,
drunkenness, blasphemy. rioting
have prevailed in the halls of
legislation and in the Office of the
Governor of the State, and their
vile language and odious epithets
haye gone forth to the world a
burning shame upon the fair
name of North Carolina.
But other was not to be expect
ed of men who prostituted every
principle of political ethics and
honest mauhood-if indeed they
were capable of comprehending
the former or we're ever possess
ed of the ~latter--to their inordin>
ate greed for Office.
In the midst of this hetero
genous mass of bowling animals
in human form the minority DEM
ocratic contingent have sat dig
niied in the consciousness Of
honest principles, earnest in
their efforts to uphold righ-
teous laws and thwart un-
Cody legislation. They came
out of the melee with clean re-
cords, bearing aloft the banner
of Democracy. which will surely
wave in victoy in the next CAM
paign.
For legislation of venom, hat
red and direst oppression the
fusion gang of this General AS
sembly will go down through
history a stencil in the nostrils
of decent people of all genera
tions: while for superlative pers
tidy our own Senator Grant
and our delectable Representative
"Fox" Person commend them
selves to the odium of every self
respecting citizen, of whatever
party, in the State who believes in
liberty and the right of local self
government. The damnable at
tempt of these two men to saddle
upon Goldsboro the Police Com
mission and upon Wayne county
the "Dispensary', without the
sanction of the popular vote,
should subject them to the Kisses
of righteous indignation, and, as
language is inadequate to express
the contempt they deserve, they
should be passed in silence as the
veriest traitors to their own pro-
fessed principles and the enemies
of liberty and the public veal.
We have never witnessed more
of hatred, spleen, venom, dire de~
sign and deep damnation than was
depicted on Fox Persons couDs
tenance yesterday as he made his
villainous tyrade against Colds
boro on the floor of the House in
advocacy of the passage of Sena-
tor Grants pet police bill. 1t
was appalling to behold and ter
rible to contemplate. 1t did
more to defeat the bill than all
other influences combined. Mem
bers who had contemplated and
some who had intended to vote
for the bill fastened now to re-
cord their votes against it, and
it was swept from before the body
by an avalanche of defeat, while
Person and Grant stood pale and
trembling under the weight of
passion and the contumely of de-
feat.
Too much credit cannot be
given to eur intrepid and unter>
rifed Democratic Representative,
Hon. T. b, Parker, for his Wigs
orous fight against Grant and
Persons infamous Police bill.
The heroic fortitude with which
he confronted the direful situa-
ton and fought for the liberties
of his people won the admiration
of all and drew to him in the SUI
preme moment of need the aid
and votes of even those who had
at first intended to support the
bill purely as a partisan meas