The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-07-03
Spirit of the Press.
IT IS TOMMY ROT"
Wilmington Messenger.


If we did not remember that in 1896,
good many North Carolina newspa-
pers. not suspected of Republicanism,
"blindly follOwed"-tlat is the phrase
used now-Grover Cleveland when he
let his party and took to CClC and
bond issuing, we would SUPP ose that
ire DemGc' attic party is about It. go to
pieces now in North Carolina and per-
haps in other States. There are several
classified Democratic papers that are
talking of Independent thinking, and in
dependent action, and independent talk
ing, and doing as you please in politics.
We doubt not all that is very interest
ing reading to Marion Butler and COM
pany and some Others We have had
something to do with newspaper discus
sions in political matters since 1854 We
never saw the time when the white
men of North Carolina We're afraid to
speak out, to do their own thinking,
and determined to be no mans slave.
We would enlarge here if it We're ne
cessary and show how white men have
always been Independent. brave in
opinion and fearless in action They are
so still. But they know wise, able,
honest and honorable leader like Will
liam A. Graham, George e. Badger,
Thomas Bragg, Zebulon b. Vance, AL
fred M. Scales and others of the true
and faithful and they know and under
stand quite another class who are
neither wise nor consistent, nor steady
in conviction, nor bold in advocacy Of
the right. The thing to be is-to be
something. If .you are a Republican
take that medicine then without wry
face. Ard when you take it, then emu
late all examples, from the first Demo-
cratic deserter after the war, and go
in for office, root hog or die. We have
never yet heard of but one man who
joined the Republicans, if either Wing
or Democrat, who bOlted who did not
declare for office at the earliest hour,
and never stop until the governmental
"swag" was gripped.
There is no more freedom Of opinion
in North Carolina now than in 1860 or
1870, or 1880, or 1890, or later. Support
ing Republican bad principles after pos
turing and hurrahing to hOarseness for
Democratic principles is no evidence
whatever Of Independent thought or
personal conviction or political honesty.
1t is Tommy rot now you hear. The
men in North Carolina that you can
trust are those who since 1865, have
stood firm and united for the welfare
and honor of North Carolina, who have
not been specially clamOrous for office,
have never dickered with the enemy for
a minute, have never bartered birthright
and conscience, and have never bent
the pregnant hinges of the knee that
thrift might follow faWning." You can
put your confidence in them in 1901, and
their true followers and successors, as
you could at any time for thirty-five or
fifty yearS-brave men,, honest men,
true men, unfaltering men, perpendicu-
lar men. They would no more betray
their North Carolina to the Money
Power in 1901 than they would have
betrayed it amid 1.-The fiery pangs OF
war In 1902, you will find them reso-
lutte sincere, heartily united for the
principles Of the grand old party that
has been the bulwark and savior OF
freedom, and the conservator of honor
and principle. They may be over
whelmed again as has been the cast
before, but they will stand fast by the
old flag of liberty and battle again for
the constitution, for the declaration Oh
independence, for the rights and priv
ileges and muniments of freemen. They
followed Vance to victory and he never
deceived them, or betrayed them, or
deserted them in the hour Of disap-
pointment and distress. They will
choose their own men to present them,
and they will be careful to take only
men who have the stamp Of fidelity
and honesty Of principles upon their life
and character. and would rather "die
the death" than to be recreant or false
or play foul.
We have often quoted Tennyson's ex-
preSsive and elevated words in his no.
BILE ode on the Duke of Wellington. We
copy here but a part, but they fit these
days, and apply to all lands in which
liberty is not dead:
Tall men, crowned, who live above
the fog
In public duty and in private think
ing
GOD give us men! A time like this
demands
Strong minds. great hearts, true faith
and ready hands
Men whom the lust of office does not
kill,
Men whom the spoils of office cannot
buy,