The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-03-03

tuTDtu tue NToDS NtF, WHICH - "S"'Ai'7N
oneself or ones friends.
So the Democratic party first ignored
Mr.. Turner and finally disgraced him 10
The utmost OF it's power. II expelled nm
from the Legislature wtthourfgiving MIN
hearing, ] believe Since then he has
dropped deeper and deeper into obseurl-
~. | never see that once potent name
in print now except At long intervals
line or two in the newspapers tell that
man named Josiah Turner is seeking pay
ment from the Legislature Of some ola
claim | am told that the claim rs an
honest bill for printing done for the State.
1t was finally, though grudeingy paid.
The interest on this long deferred bill is
what he now seeks to recover. 1t should
il Que be paid to him.
Nor is that all. The Democrats Of North
Carolina would not only approve OF. but
rejoice to see, expunged from the journal
the proceedings which expelled him from
the House of Representatives; or TO see
i'll some way a removal OF the stigma then
fastened upon him.
Nothing could be more oppOrtune moth
ing more in harmony with the spirit OF
the times. We are all eager to honor the
Confederate veteran before il is too late.
Josiah Turner is a Confederate veteran.
He bears on his person the marks Of hon.
orable wounds received in defence of
North Carolina and on her very soil.
We plume ourselves on having redeem
ed North Carolina from negro thraldom.
The real deliverance of North Carolina
from negro thraldom was effected early
in the seventies, and this forgotten and
dishonored man was the soul of the move
ment in its earlier and most perilous
stages. Our work was mere childS play
to his. No editor held as it were the
pen in one hand and the sword in the
other. or had his office dynamited, No
Democratic leader went in hourly peril
of his life. Mongrel mobs, negroes arous
ed by incendiary leaders, Federal bayo-
nets, drum head court martial and halt
ers we were spared this time But theD
they were things to be reckoned with.
Eternal honor TO the men who dared them
all and more. and triumphed.
TO do it required courage even high
er than that The soldier is ever called
upon to eYince. a man who makes q
charge or beats back charging line
steels himself for the moment he is
surrounded 10y comrades. he feels the
great uplft of battle the rapture Of the
fight He knows that If he falls honor
if not fame awaits him. The patriot
leader 0f reconstruction days had no such
exhilaration. Owing to timidity or be-
wilderment he support given him was un-
certain. Assassination or Il more igno-
minious death might BE his Al any turn.
With only his stout heart and high pur-
pose to restrain him. with iron nerxe
he went grmIy forward
At least the man to whom ] allpde did.
The effect for good OF the example he Sci
was Immense ana far reaching No one
who passed through both eras could fail
TO see the eject of the first great deliy-
eranee u9on the later and more peaceful
one. The inspiration that the latter drew
from the older and grander one was al
ways in evidence The spirit, tile meth
DDS almost the words OF Joe Turner.
modified to the occasion, counted heavily
in 1900
BY the way in more respects than one
history seemed TO repeat itself. The con-
itions under which the News and Obser-
yer, with foes on flank and rear rs weu
as in front waged battle in 1900, were not
unlike those under which the old Sentine
strove thirty years earlier
What world OF difference in the treat
mont accorded the two great protagonisrs |
Upon the one OF 1900 North Carolina has
bestowed the highest honor and office |
within her gift. Upon the other she has |
heaped neglect, iSncniny as far as lay in !
her rover.
| mDlore the Legislature in this year
Of grace, this era Of good feeling TO honor
themselves and the State by resembling |
every word of censlIre ever imposed upon
this old hero lie seems to linger for |
for his life must far exceed |
the scriptural span, But the sunset |
6res in the eyes Of the old lion are burn
ing low Let one more beam Of joy ir-
radiate them before they so out forever. /
O. ". BI.ACKNALL