The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1899-07-27
Tuu EDITOR OF THE NEWS AND Oh
srHyER As a BUMORIsr.

AS we'll known in North Caro-
lima as is the Editor OF The News and {
Observer, and while everybody knew
he WAS versatile, not one in thou (
sand, even, considered him man OF
humor.
Reared on rank Republican pap
rank rs It WAS IN the days OF his
youth, he early scorned the source
wbence came his sustenance and
growth, and vigorously clsmbered
into the lap of Democracy. Gaming
potoriety, il not responsibility" as
time wore off from his breath the
onipn-odor OF his former feeding, he
sat in the councils of the party, as
sumine the attitude Of q leader. And
when men grew restless OF broken
promisss and would break away from
his party, he was the great paclfica-
tor. who set his tongue, il not his
hssrtsslose to the lips of the masses,
as though he should ne remembered
as their patron saint and mouthpiece'
1tis said he desired to cooperate
with the Populist in 1898, but the
Railroad Lawyers Democratic Con-
vention of that year dog-whipped
him into unwhiniDg submission.
They made him read from tho plat
form of the Convention that portion
of the Committees report which
murdered his Populistic aspirations.
IL you beteld the Convention, you
recall the pltiableness of his defeat,
the eagerness Of his bowling to the
yoke, and the beauty of his submis-
sion.
From fiery leader of the van OF q
popular faction to docile dirt-lifter
for the man be had essayed to fight,
the transition was perfect: and
knowing his versatility, who shall
say it was not easy
Months before all this, he had
warned like Waterman upon a
tower, the people against the aggres-
sions of Railroad Corporations IN
North Carolina. Now the sentin O.
leaves his post, and stops his cry
Nay, more-he accepts the money OF
these same Corporations knowing
Il he m 4
to care to wage campaign of muir
derous physical force in Moth Caro-
lima. IL the Democratic party won
the victory would be of the Railroad
over the people, and over the princi
Piles for the advocacy of which h
was despised by his masters. This
he, knew beforehand, and this tn
attorneys of the railroads told hin
and his Legislature last winter.
During the Session of the Legis
lature, to play before the people a
their Champion again, he shove
very clearly that the railroads i
North Carolina should be assesse
for taxation at not less than Sixty
six Million Dollars. He made US bt
lieve that to asses them for less, wa
to overtax other property in proper
ton. But when the CorporatiO
Commission in June assessed tn
railroads at twenty-four million les
than the least that could satisfy hill
and justice last winter, he expresse
himself as abundantly satisfied Wit
their figures, and bespeaks for thel
the thanks and praise Of the peopl
of North Carolina.
The Railroads, as our reader
know, objected to these figures, an
by very learned counsel appeare
before the Corporation Commissio
asking a reduction of their asses
ment. And from the standpoir
of the Railroads, their request We
not unreasonable: could they M
contend with truth that they had a
ready paid q tax upon an il
creased assessment a tax paid ~
into public treasures, ut into th
Campaign fund of the - emocrat
party which they bought last fal
and paid for with price,
Col. Henderson, one of the alto
neys before the Commission, di
some pretty plain talking. as Other
had done before the Finance Con
mi.tee of the Legislature; whereupol
the Editor of the News and Observe
always versatile, now becomes hi
morous. With great gravity, /
says: "The people of North Car
lima will treat the Railroads fairl
and more than fairly To say Il
least, that is eminently fair. 9Th
Democratic party" says he, "wi
give the railroads everything the
want" a statement which every POI
ulist believes, and which declare
to hypocrisy of the News and OF
set, rs opposition. BUT THEY MUS
KEEP THEIR HANDS OFF OUR POL
TICS" says he.
Now that is funny, for when di
the Railroads ever keep their hanG
off the politics of the Democrat
partyq
And the News and Observer no
declares that they must, only b.
cause the Railroads are grown 6
bold as not to disguise their contr
buting hand and dictatorial tongue
This, he fears, may discover him |