The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-02-13
TRYING TO MAKE A FALSE ISSUE.

They see that the prosperity uhey
promised the people has turned to ashes
on their lips, and that five cent cotton
represents along all lines the terrible
depression and losses. Republican rule
has brought TO the masses of the peo-
pie.
They see that the turning over of
white schools to negro committeeman,
the appointment and election of negro
magistrates and negro postmasters, the
| selection of negroes on county boards of
education, and the placing Of inc0mpe-
tent negroes in important positions has
irritated and outraged all self-respecting
white men in the State.
They see that the prevalence of rape by
brutal negroes upon helpless white wO-
men has brought about Il reign of terror
in rural districts that BODIES destruction
for the party under whose administra-
ton of affairs those crimes have be-
come prevalent.
They see that the scandals in the adj
ministration of State government, be-
ginning with the DIR. Kirby Smith scan
dial in the department for the criminal
insane, and ending with the Robert
Hancock scandal in Newbern, has put
every good woman in the State, and
every chiEalrous man in open antagOn-
ism to their retention OF power.
They see that office swapping, nepOtism,
incompetence, law-breaking, the eleva-
ton of defaulting sheriffs to office, and
other like crimes has made such "a low
tone in government as to compel the good
people of the State to hang their heads
i'm shame.
They see that through their Western
leader. Senator Pritchard, the Federal
offices are used TO pay the debts of his
own political strikers, and TO reimburse
the Southern Railways political mama
Kinley, and to elect pritchard TO the
Senate, and that the Republican attitude
on the money question is proof that the
party is dominated by bondhoklers and
political cooperation. The recent ut
terance Of Ex-Governor Curtis Brog-
den, the only living ex-Republican
Governor, denouncing his party for
doing the bidding of the bondholders,
shows that those Republicans who are
not office-seekers and gold worshippers,
are indignant at the latest betrayal of
the people by their party.
They see that through their Eastern
leader, Governor Russell, the State
offices have been used to pay the debts
to political heelers and buccaneers who
stole county delegations in order to Sc
cure Russelrs nomination for Governor,
the public institutions debauched and
made the prey of incompetent and COR
rupt white and colored politicians, and
the good name of the State furnished
and its reputation smirched.
They see that not Il salary has been
reduced in the State, not an expense
decreased, nor promise of retrench-
ment fulfilled. On the other hand, they
see offices multiplied to make places for
sorry camp-foll0wers, and general reck-
lessness and waste in most all depart
ments in their control.
Nobody sees these things so we'll as
Pritchard, Russell and their associates.
They are ever present with them in the
day, and their invisible presence haunts
with them is: How shall we escape
the wrath of the pcaple?" They think
of nothing else and it is the wool and
warp Of their dreams. They are all
agreed upon one point, and that is that
something must be done to make the
people forget the failure to restore pros
perity, and the disgrace which the pres
ent regime has brought upon the State
They differ only as to the false issue
10 be raised.
/. Senator Pritchard had himself inter,
viewed in the Washington Post a few
days ago, and after stating that 1.-THE
campaign in North Carolina this fall
viii command my closest attention." de-
clares the great necessity is keeping
the Legislature out of the hands of the
Democrats" That is a programme
worthy of an East Tennessee carpet
Dagger, but not worthy of the man who
occupies the seat of Vance. If Senator
Pritchard thinks he can escape the
wrath of an outraged people for the de-
bauchery and bribery of the Legislature,
the hard times McKinleyism have made
harder. the high tariff, his subseryiency
to corporations, and the scandalous APP
pointments made upon his recommends
tions-if he has any such idea The is des-
tined to rude awakening when he
leaves the artificial atmosphere of Wash
ington and confronts an indignant con-
stituency who have been given a stone
when they asked for bread.