The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1898-05-05
HESSRS. HALL AND BOWERS
WRITE ABOUT THE "U1HI1E
FEA THEIRS"

The references that have been made In
certain quarters to those companies OF
the State Guard which have not volun-
teered as ':white feathers" has stirred
up little indignation.
Mr.. R. S. Hall, member OF the
Scotland Neck Rifemen, wrote to Sat
urday's News and Observer making
some pretty positive statements as to
what the boys here regard as their duty
in the matter. Among other things he
makes the following statement:
s.The people of the county subscribed
about $500 to buy uniforms and lnstru-
ments for band. We have received
nothing in the way OF equipments from
the State or the United States, except
| guns and belts. We are willing to
obey the Cover nor's orders at any time,
| and to go wherever he may order us
within the State, but we are not WILL
ing to JOIN the United States army ;
and we do not think we are showing
| the Wlll0 IcdtilCl, yOuA PoPOA
OF those who do not volunteer. when
we are organized for home protection.
Halifax county has always done her
dut, the records of the civil war VIII
show that, and her citizens are as ready
to defend the honor of the country as
those of any other county"
MIR. BOWERS WRITES THE MESSENGER.
Sundays Wilmington Messenger
printed the following letter under date
of April 2Sth, by Mr.. J. S. Bowers, who
is one of the active and highly esteemed
business men of Scotland Neck:
1T seems to me that the criticisms,
INDUCED in by certain newspapers IN
regard to the companies in this State
not volunteering to go to Cuba Or else
where, are unjust, as we'll as unreasona-
E, Bile. 1t has been insinuated by some
that the companies not volunteering
would be regarded as white feathers
etc. 1t is certainly no more the duty
of the companies of the State Guard, or
the individual members thereof, to
. volunteer than it Is for any other lndi
viduai citizen. And not half as much
as it is for the jingo editors who have
done everything they could to bring or
} war by trying to formulate public opln
: ion .nd to persuade the congressmer
that the people wanted war. Justice
would require that they who talked
and wrote the country into war shoule
fight the country out Of war. But TIT
/ fact is. that these will be the last to g
! to the front. But we have war ant
9 now these same editors are doing eve
rything they can to get somebody els
to volunteer They seem to forge
e that the call for volunteers apple
b equally to them rs to the members O
= the State Guard. 1t is not 'whitefeath
- ering,' nor cowardice, for any membe
ct the State Guard or any one else t
decline to volunteer, that Is, decline
say: I prefer to leave home, business
l. family and friends, and join the arm
and go to fight Spaniards in Cuba an
r elsewhere Some, with no family d.
. pendent upon them, with small bus
r ness interest to leave, may prefer this
r others with wlyes and children d.
Is pendent solely upon their daily labe
ST Tor support, with large business inte
ests at home, may prefer to stay g
e home than wrestle with Spaniards an
Cuban yellow fever On $l3 per mont
it until duty calls them to the front {
,r until ordered. No editor or other pc
son, can, with self.respect, taunt til
- members of the State Guard or an
"a other person as white-feathers OR GOV
It ards simply because they do not volul
% teer until ne himself has volunteers
i and enlisted as private on $13. Ho
many OF these editors have so enlisted
" Not one. They seem to think th'
Ell their duty is to stay at home and d
ut nounce others for not going.
!. Gas is well known by all except ma
row minded editors-these war men c
paper only-many of the companies
lie the State were organized for home pr
30 lection. They know, too, that in man
re- sections In the eastern part of the Sta
- where the negroes outnumber IL
~ whites three or TOUR to one, condition
1t would be intolerable and race rio
ed would be frequent without the pre-
a ence OF the military companies. The
40 know further that men of families ar
large business interests in the ca
H. joined these companies for home pr
he lection. Now, because these men
1e not volunteer to leave their iamlli
I'd and business they are tainted as co
ards and white feathers. These COZ
40 panies will do their duty when CALI
II upon like men. When their servic
ne are needed they will be called upo
Be and they will respond like men. Tai
the Scotland Neck Riaemen. Some
~ the largest taxpayers of the county a
et priyates in this company. The mel
so bers of this company are among tt
T." most prominent men in the count
n, whether in business, social or poll
cal sense. Twenty-slx are marri
~ men. In the private list are six of Il
In largest and most successful farmers
nd this section of the county, six succe
ke full merchants, the president of t
bank, the manager, secretary al
treasurer of the large knitting mil
IN manager and proprietor of the Mt
it knitting mills, proprietor of large 81
OK mill plant, five brokers and comm
90 sion merchants, principal of Vine HI
~ Academy, book keepers and statesmen
. the largest firms here. IN fact, the
nd is not an interest here that is not rep
sented in this company. q will &C
too, that there is not drinking man
the company It Will be seen til
fhoco mon bovo fovoiI,ao ord h,,,;.,>