The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1898-01-27
A CRYING EVIL.
EDITOR CAUCAsIAN'

EDITOR CAUCAsIAN'
There is an evil abroad in our land
viii, h, like the deadly npas, is spread
ing its branches, and poisoning the at
mos here of cur civilization, 1t is q
species Of anarchy, producing restless
discomfort in the hearts of our people,
attacking the very foundations CT our
institutions, a worm gnawiDg 1t the
yitsls of our social fabric. 1t was as
mustard seed, planted on the bank of
the stream of Mort h Carolina j urnal-
ism, few years after the close of the
civil war, by one, Josiah Turner: and
since that time, rooted in the dark soil
of unrest, watered by the stream on
whose banks it grew, made muddy and
foul by political strife, it has grown
until the vultures of journalism hatch
their scandals in its foliage, and from
its lofty branches dart down upon them
high in authority. and tear their vi
tails out. The first fruits we're no doubt
bitter to the men, who, Ono matter
what they may have been socially or
politically, had branded on their fore
heads such names as "Kildee" and
"Blow your Horn" and many other
cognomens Matched in fertile, though
peculiar brain. After long years we
have another crop from the same tree
called "Hallelujahs," '"A ltoge.t h er
"Righteous" "Tyrant," &C. 1t is really
alarming to one who has been, in the
language of the learned student of Ca
maliel, Put in mind to be subject to
the principalities and powers, to obey
magistrates, to speak evil of no man.
to see the columns of our great
city dailies reeking with attacks
upon the officers of our State,
from the Chief Executive down
to the keeper of the Capitol. If
the newspapers are to be believed, we
have not single State officer with q
vistage of honesty or an ounce of brain.
Indeed, this evil has extended itself to
malicious and unfair attack upon the
judiciary of the State-not even spar.
ing for the sake of decency, the high.
est court in our State. I want to say
in passing, that these attacks on our
courts are species of cowardice. The
writer's of these scurrilous and Outlines
groundless attacks, know that q Judge
is loathe to punish for contempt in such
cases. 1t seems to me that some of our
newspapers are ready and willing te
bring into ridicule and contempt, and
to ruin the private and official charac.
ter of any citizen, in order to pandel
to the demand for sensation, and tt
please the "powers behind the throne
n this short communication can only
cali attention to this "Crying Evil
hoping that the writer's for newspaper,
in this city. and elsewhere will ceas,
their I'm. called for attacks upon oul
State officers and the judiciary, ant
get back into the legitimate field O
journalism, and as leaders of though
and moulders of public sentiment, in
still into the youth of the land a higl
regard for "the powers that be-givini
true and unvarnished accounts of tn
doings of our people, both in their pri
vate life, (if necessary and of the of
GERS and judges in their official capae
ity, without the use of opprobrious ep
ithets and Sensational trimmings. LIE
our newspapers remember that our 80
cial fobric is SO interviewer that "
j.. cannot draw out q thread withou
drawing the whole piece. That if "
+ bring into ridicule and disrespect til
!, officials of our State, we 1njure tn
# whole people, and every individua
, That, if they sow the seeds of contemy
q .sfor the powers that be-" we will rea
d anarchy and rum.
= One more note of warning and hav
done: The money powers of the Ian
e urging the Federal judiciary to NAL
b further entertainments upon our Stat
+ rights, and to further set at naugl
= our State laws, hasten with delight tt
.. day when the people will lose respe'
l. for, and confidence in their State go
'e eminent.
- God grant that the time may new
"a come when the people of this good o.
ss State shall sell their birthrlght to CO
porate greed for mess of Federal pc
ia tage.
10 w.