The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1899-07-27

LOUdy.
General Assembly of 1899.
Editor Bailey in Biblical Recorder,
March 18th, 1891
The men who came to the capital
and took their seats at the first of the
new year had come through one of
the most remarkable revolutions our
State has known, one that will prove
memorable beyond any in our history
as the beginning of the end or the end
passion and violence and fear and hor
rors in North Carolima, and the inau
guratiOn of the era of principles and
reason in their stead as the ground
of political differences. North Caro-
linians have determined to break the
bonds that have enslaved them to fear,
and they will march ON until their cit
izenship has been so improved and
purged that no man can be shamed
out of his principles-the subversion
of the very essence of self-government.
This will be good for all political par
ties, for all principles, for all patriots,
for North Carolina.
Between those who really desired
protection against over-pOwerful capt.
tai and those who have got themselves
into the habit OF prosecuting the rail
roads and the corporations the Cen
eral Assembly pursued q steady and
commendable course. The passage Of
the bill to render foreign corporations
subject to the State courts, and that to
provide separate cars for the races,
clearly indicated the Assembly's indie
pendence. The quick response to ap-
peal for more equitable adjustment
of the merchants purchase tax showed
a fine disposition to treat capital just
~. The failure of the effort to inflict
upon the railroads gross income tax,
at the same time providing for such
taxation if it shall come to be expedi-
ent, indicated the desire of an indie
pendent Assembly not to go to ex-
tremes in obedience to any clamor.
The passage of an antitrust law
may Indicate either the opposition of
the members Of the trusts or it may
indicate the Indifference of trusts to
laws; for it is not to be hoped that the
law passed, or any other State law,
will make an end of trusts.
Every recent Legislature has ad-
dressed itself to three laws that apply
to all the State-the school law, the
revenue law, the election law. 1t is tes-
timony to the air-mindedness of the
recent Assembly, as well as a rare
monument to the wisdom in this mat
ter of that which it succeeded, that the
school law of 1897 was not materially
changed-the most important changes
being the provision for optional local
taxation elections instead Of a general
and compulsory election, and the pro-
vision for local school committeeman,
and for the division Of funds with the
view to running white and colored
schools the same length of time in
stead of race per capita. The revenue
act is considered just, apportionins
the burden of taxation equibably and
much after the manner heretofore OBJ
tanning. 1t does not reduce taxation,
but it does not increase it. The cleo.
ton law is one-sided-of course, the
advantages being in the hands of the
dominant party. We earnestly hope
they will not be abused.
And this brings us to the constitu-
tional amendment. which we fondly
hope will so reconstruct the suffrage
that election laws will never be made
ed this amendment in full we will not
discuss it at length. We believe it will
bring US into a freedom in which much
can be done for the common good that
has long been out of reach. The
amendment was offered to the people
at their bidding-nOt on the campaign,
but after it had stirred their souls with
a bitterness that set them determined
to avoid another like it. About it a
great campaign and a passionate one
will be waged. 1t must be seriously
for.
In the matter of appropriating pub
lie money there was linked a scrupu-
lOus regard for economy and a glorious
Every eleemOsynary insti-
tuition was provided for, but mercy
did not carry away the senses of the
Assembly. The educational instttu-
tfons received no increase for mainte-
nance, but their necessities were not
The penitentiary was
found greatly in debt, and for 1t $780,
600 in bonds and $4,000 annually had
to be given. Above all, epoch-making,
is the act giving the
free schools 100000 sending that
much Of the peoples. money back to
their children, putting the State on
record as making direct appropriations
to popular education, thrilling the
hearts Of those who have labored in
darkness. for these schools, eloquently
declaring that interest is awakening.
We fOrsee the day when men will look
back to this act as marking the great
est and ncblest change in the States
educational policy. If any lack hope
for the public schools and her 600, 600
children it is no fault Of the General
North Carolina Baptist.
Indications multiply that the consti-l
tutional amendment will be carried.
We would advise that every citizen
get a copy and study it for himself.
It means much for US as State.