The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-03-03
TIME TO REMEMBER HIM
o. w. Blacknall Writes of Turner
Claims on North Carolina.
ERASE NOW The BLOT FROM HIS NAME
On This Day Of Triumph Let the Legislature
Rescnd Every Word Of CenSure Ever
imposed on the Old
To the Editor:

We like 10 say that epigrams to the
contrary Notwithstanding, republics are
not ungrateful. They may not be un-
grateful, but We cannot escape the fact
that they have unconsconably shorr mem
cries. North Carolina affords today as
striking an illustration of this as could
be found in the world.
The o2e 10 whom we owe more than
to any other living man yet fingers in
our midst. He is not only unhonored, uD-
recognized, but bears onward to his not
distant grave q load Of obloquy cast upon
him by the very people he served
may almost say saved at the constant
peril or his life. allude to Josiah Tur-
uer, Confederate veteran, member OF the
Confederate Congress ana defender of
North Carolina at the most helpless and
hopeless period Of her whole career.
There can be no doubt that not only the
most humiliatng but the most perilous
DAYS that this State ever saw were the
days OF reconstruction. Devastated, de-
sOlated, bereayed: shorn by the sword Of
q third of her manhood and OF the very
hower OF il. like one stunned by blow
TOO great for mortal frame TO bear she
stood dazed and helpless For before her
wounds had ceased tc bleed a
mandate Of the conqueror which
largely disTranchised the whites and Who'll
ly enfranchised the negroes, bound her
hand and foot and delivered her TO her
enemies. Her energies were spent, her
spirits broken as never before in the two
centuries of her existence.
And as craven and unclean things as
sail fallen lion, renegades, carpet-bag
gers, traitors. the whole pack of human
iackals were uron her. In the wild scram-
bic for 2elf that followed it seemed that
not only our property and our liberties
would 20, but also our very lives. For
under cover OF this saturnalia of rascal
ism, the basest spirits in our midst bent
OH satisfying old grudges went craftily,
but darkly TO work To strike down the
State in the person of her best sons. The
adder uses its first strength to strike the
breast that sheltered it, But the adder
strikes an alien breast These dastards
of reconstruction days, with more than
reptile basencss,' sought to drive their
poison fangs into the breast OF the the
state he mother that had nurtured them
Men knew not what to do To move
seem to be 10 court swift destruction
Federal bayOnets. Many of our best citi-
zens desYaiTed of the State Thousands
fed beyond her borders.
North Carolina must never forget
VIXEN came the first and strongest
note OF defiance TO the horde
that were robbing and throttling her.
She must never forget that il was Josiah
Turner, editor of the Sentinel, who de-
bounced and exposed this corrupt and ma
ignant horde. Such a Niagara OF elo-
quents denunciation, such whitening sar-
casm, such bold and well placed inyec-
tive, such masterful vituperaticn has
never before or since been heard in this
state.
His life was constantly threatened and
more than once attempted His, office was
blown TO atoms with gun powder. But
the merciless and telling exposure lost
no whit OF force or boldness. With an old
six -shooter-probably the same one that
he carried as captain in the Second Cayal-
ry--lying b. his inkstand on an old pine
table he went forward with his work
When 4 gang OF Holden's Swashbucklers
came IL 10 XII him he coollv laid down
the pen, cooked the old six-shooter and
poinetd TO the deadline on the floor When
they left he took IN his pen and assailed
the men whose tools they were all the
dercer
The effect OF this fearless exposure o.
Radical fraud and corruption was beyond
measure No other North Carolinian ever
welded such power at such a critical
junctUre. No other North Caroliuian ever
welded it to better purpose. For as ras-
calls lost heart, good men took it, The |
white manhood of the State rose and
overthrow Radical domination. Though not !
ill the Democratic leaders. among them
Josiah Turn ar had been arrested, thrown
into prison and had come within a hairs |
breadth OF trial and execution BIZ drum
heed court martial.
II ~*en in 20 cannons doomed on Fay /.
eceNules street and joyous and adorine |
ihrones grt,tcd this hero on his return |
from prison, ele had risen and prophe |
sied ihat the dsy could ever come wher |
these people sheuld forget or east ap-
proDlRm on tha' nan. that prophet would !
nave tared worse han the Scriptures say
lhat prophets usually fare
Nevertheless the tne ala come THO
o'o warrior u'teu = into peaceful times. |
lie saw or thought .,a cow u,,ore ,,.;tbin
the Democratic pale and ha oseailoa !, |
with all the ld-time aho,no,,oa saros.e,,,
and inyectiye IS 10 tt,,.,,, t,,,nad ~.
isht WY e not so admirable