The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-03-01
Uhr Messcmer.
AN EXTREME CHARGE OF OFF,
GAL GUILT

If Hancock is not most grossly SLAM
sserinS Governor Russell then the lat
Ger as a much worse man than his per-
spnal or political enemies would have
That the governor Of an old
and honored state could be guilty Of
fne dastardly crime of bribing a fellow
under grave suspicion to obtain his
official favor conditioned upon the sus-
pected fellow making a personal as
sault upon an editor not ~suspecting
such an attack, is lard to believe.
The Messenger is no personal enemy of
Governor Russell but deplOres his
politics and despises his ways, and is
therefore 10th to believ such a ter
rible accusation. It would prefer TO
have Russel1's words for the sake of
public decency made ue-"Hanco
is a liar" An who know the governor
know that he is a man of high pas
sion and ~revengeful feeling, but they
are hardly willing to believe Hancocks
statement. 1t is r that in the war
Russell made an attack upon his col
onel with a weapon deadly or other
wise, and as we have heard, from the
rear. But he was young then and it
gave him great trouble. But he is
more than fifty now, has been a judge
on the bench, (Where he gained no
plaudits and wore no laurels) and has
had no little experience, and is now
Irnrighteously governor OF North Caro-
lima, and is it to be believed that the
would instigate a brutal assault upon
one who had offended him by Offering
a rich reward is indeed almost beyond
belief. But Hancock in his published
letter says this:
$50 long as your wishes could be
Obeyed without the sacrifice of my per
eonal honor | was your servant, but
when you delivered your ultimatum on
the 18th day of January that l should
make a violent assault and battery
upon the person of JOSephuS Daniels,
editor OF The New and Observer, and
retain my position, otherwise i should
aose it, I felt that indeed you were
4~respassing upon sacred ground and |
was compelled to decline to continue
In a position purchased at SO great a
cost. / endeavOTed to move you to a
sense Of justice because | was fully
cogniZant of the effect my removal
msuSi have upon the charges against
me, but | have found that your selfish
ness has destroyed your sense Of JUS
tfce, and that gratitude is a sentiment
to you.
Subsequently 1 have received several
messages from you indirectly urging
this violation of law in order doubtless
that your private thirst for revenge
might be satisfied, and each message
contained am assurance that this. act
would absolutely guarantee my reten-
ton in office, but, Your Excellency, [
declined to be your u~nscrupulOus tool.
thankful that my repealed
the temptation ever in my present
unfortunate condition."
If in this statement of Robert Ham
cock he gives the truth, the exact
truth, then is Russell a more depraved
man than his worst enemies perhaps
ever suspected him of being, or than
his acquaintances at large would have
believed him capable of being. It is
indeed a fearful accusation, a terrible
charge of personal vindictiveness and
official turpitude and guilt. 1t would
prove him to be one of the most viO-
dent and depraved of men. If true it
would cause him to be broken of his
office he so unwOrthily fills. Let there
not be hasty judgment in 50 grave and
rious accusation.