The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-05-09
THE RUSSELL-PEARSON ROW

mlnlStratlOn.
Would not the head of the Republi-
can party in the State avail himself
of the means in his hands to be aVeng-
ed? Having already declared in favor
of the amendment would he not reit
crate that declaration in such manner
and such language as should compel
respectful hearing from people OF
all parties. and thus spoil the fight
his party would make for the negro?
His LEXcellency was glib in threats
to this effect, but when it came to
carrying them out he lacked the cour-
age.
Instead he turns aside in mad-bull
fashion to attack the Hon. Richmond
Pearson. Believing that he has been
done to death by Pearson he deter
mines to secure that stateman's COM
panv in his misery, and sWears that
Richmond's bright bronze poll shall
shine no more athwart the waste of
politics.
In this frame of mind he Monday
morning dashed off an interview
which. the official imprint of it says
will doubtless have its effect in Wash
ington before the Republican Con-
gress."
Having in this half sentence married
the fair form and sweet face of the
Duke of Richmond Hill, the Governor
thus proceeds to do up his record in
curl papers:
"Pearson's attempt to steal the Ninth
district does not hurt his reputation. 1t
only sustains it"
a choice compliment with which to
open the proceedings and make things
pleasant. And observe how nicely the
lead is followed up:
THE late Republican Convention in
permitting Pearson to smuggle through
resolution commencing himself and his
contest, but for the fact perhaps that
most of the convention did not know it
was in the platform would have disgraccd
the Republican party of North Carolina"
This hole ought to be large enough
to allow all but the Hon. Mr.. Pear
son to escape.
And now that we have him alone
listen while the Daniel-come-tO judg-
! ment sticks him wriggling on the end
} of a sharp spit and toasts him and
turns him:
THE State Convention meets; it APP
points a committee on resolutions and
platform. Pearson schemes to get him
self at the head of the committee. He
fixes the resolutions especially the one
which eXtos himself, and condones his
contemplated larceny. And then what a
| sight for the gods! A platform denounc-
| ing fraud and demanding honesty-this
platform prepared and reported and read
| with a sickly effort toward the dramatlc)
| by a man who has been, is now and was
| at that moment making the supreme eff
| fort of his life to disfranchise by bald
| fraud all the voters of the city of Ashe-
Vile and to steal a seat in Congress by
methods substantially as lawleSs and deS-
perate as those which are known of all
men to prevail in the non suffrage
States
Having thus pushed down the bars
and crossed the lot His EXceuency
grows wonderfully bold and takes the
gate without touching a hair. Hear
him sing as he fairly burns the air
down the pike toward the house OF
Butler. And incidentally it might be
mentioned that he burns some prOml-
nent Republicans too:
Party politics are coming to that, are
| they? Stand up for any villainy, no mat
ter what, if they call it a party matter.
Law, right honesty decency, equity, JUS
tice, all to be ditched to put in a con-
testant because he promises to be a Re-
publican
And this reminds him. When did
this man Pearson get TO be a Republ-
can? The Hon. Daniel l.. shifts the
breeze contemporary and does not
recognize him as in his class:
Those of us of the old guard who
stood by the party in the days of its de-
feat. and weakness, when none of us be-
lieved that we could live to sec it in
power. have not forgotten this mans
career. His father was a Wing, Union
man, an intrepid judge in the days of
secession and war, and a Republican.
The present Pearson, because of his
fathers merits, got office and remained
a Republican as long as his father lived
and the office lasted. The office failed.
the father died, the Republican party
got beat and Pearson turned Democrat.
Like other apostates he tried to wipe
away the party by extreme servility to
the present He joined in close COM
munion with the politicians who hated
his father, pursued him with relentless
rancor and bounded him to his grave.
But he did not get his expected pay from
not to need him and proud enough not to
want him. Then he began to plot against
them and got into Congress by running
as an independent. After his election to
Congress he denied that he was Repub-
lican, saying he carried his politics under
his hat When he became satisfied that
the Republicans were strong enough to
win, he got out from under his hat and
went to sneering at the men who, through
all the years of defeat without the nope
of reward had followed the party flag.
But this is rambling from the nam
road among dog fennel and other Ill
smelling fora. Pleasant work enough
for such as Russell put not the object
of the journey. Coming back to first
principles, he declares:
The truth is. he was fairly beaten
His real complaint is that he didn't get
votes enough. The plain men of the
mountains have had enough of him.
They know that he has nothing in COM
mon with them-no sympathy with their
struggles, their labors or their wants.
They don't care to be represented by
man who. as they know, would not Will
ingly sacrifice the mint in his morning
iulep to save them and theirs from the