The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-02-09
A STRIKING CONrR.sr.

this week of revolutionary and slanderous
attacks upon the General Assembly. The
day after Mr. Craig had introduced the
resolution of impeachment, while the sub
ject was being seriously and conscien-
tiously considered by the committee, the
Observer said:
This means a purpose or desire to
pack the Supreme court in certain
interest, and the very suggestion is scan
dalous and shameful.
The next day Senator Pritchard and
Representatives Linney and Pearson
wired telegram in which they followed
the line Of the Observer and said:
1--WE believe this to be the first in
stance in which the power of impeach
ment has been invoked for the transpar
ent purpose of packing our highest tri-
bunal in order to consummate end con-
firm an unconstitutional scheme of dis
reimbursement. This startling proceed
ing, as insoient and revolutionary as it
is groundless and wicked, should be con-
demned by every fair minded and pa
triotic man in the State
"Our Home, PopuIist organ, takes up
the cry and says
There is an element in this Legisla-
ture, evidently the representatives of the
red shirt anarchists of the Democratic
party. who seem to be thoroughly and
beastly drunken with power and appaf-
emily 60 into impeachment proceedings
against political opponents with about as
much honesty of purpose or conscience
as was displayed by the anarchists that
figured in the campaign.
The Morning Post (Railroad and Nc
Kinley organ) publishes Pritchard's, Lin
news and Parsons slanderous telegram
in poster type, copies articles rejecting
upon the Legislature, and often saying
it would be ''manifestly improper to dis
cuss the matter while it is at issue, later
ioin the hue and cry and urge the Leg
islature to drop it 1.-The quickest way
possible and get out of the difficulty with
credit
The Caucasian in like spirit says
"This action is taken, apparently, on
account of the mandamus issued by the
court to compel the State Treasurer to
nav Theophilus White his salary as
Shell Fish Commissioner, though the real
motive for instituting impeachment pro-
ceedings is to pave the way for the ap-
pointment of two more justices of the
court by Governor Aycock.
1.-THE action of Justices Furches and
Douglas in the White case is only pre-
text and suhterfuge.
'"The machines are solely DESTROYS OF
securing a majority of the court; in short
this is their characteristic method OF
packing" the court"
The Times Mercury. another Fusion or
gan, says:
This Legislature is determined that
no SuDreme court shall be behind what it
does. Then perhaps there are two law
yers not yet provided with jobs, and
they must have them"
And the last so far heard from of the
Radical or Mugwump press is the Win
ston Republican, which says:
There is also coupled with this scheme
a rlan, not only to control the opinions
of the court, but to reorganize the court
and put in men who will think and act
in conformity with the Democratic party.
Age. thou art shamed Shall our highest
tribunal be robbed of its power and
functions?"
In marked contrast with these utter
ances, we note that the Democratic press,
almost without exception save in the
home counties of Justices Furches and
Douglas, declared that it was so serious
a matter that they would express no
opinion while it was the subject of in
vestigation by a committee of able and
honest lawyers, whose devotion to their
profession makes them jealous of the
coed name of the bench. The attitude
of the Democratic press disproves the
false charges of the Radicals that the
Impeachment proceedings were introduced
to pack the bench, and the high char
acter of the men who compose the Ju-
dietary Committee will disproye the
scandaious charges made by the Radical
papers and their allies.
10 SHOW the SpllIt VI lliC
press we make this extract from the
Charlotte News;
1.-THE important question of impeacn-
ment is being weighed by body OF
men, whom we believe, are above be-
ing influenced by partisan feelings in
so serious a matter, and when the evil
dence is all in, we believe they will
sax of
To the same effect writes the Wades-
boro Messenger and Intelligencer:
1.-The impeachment of a Supreme court
Judge is very serious matter, but we
take il that the members of the Legis-
lature who are proceeding against Chief
Justice Furches and Associate Justice
Douglas sufficiently realize the gravity or
the measure they propose. The NJ. and l..
is not in a position to express an opinion
as TO whether these gentlemen have COM
mitted offences justifying impeachment or
not. but it believes that the Legislature
is composed, in the main, of fair minded
men and that they will not do anything
wrong in the matter.
The Sanford Express gives its opinion
thus:
ITO impeach men who hold high office
is very serious business and the mat
ter should be thoroughly investigated be-
eora Anal action ie taken If these Judges