The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-09-21

/ soldier. he voted against penSlonlng the
/ Confederate soldiers and voted for the
| pension of the deserter. and this repre-
sents the attitude of the Republican par
! ty, for Senator Pritchard in his life
and career is an ideal Republican in the
South. He has the courage of his con-
victions, he believes in Republicanism
he loves the North better than the South
he thinks his own State has always been
wrong. The Democratic party on the con-
trary loves the State of North Carolina
and does honor to her glorious deeds.
The position of the two parties on the
question of pensioning the Con-
federate soldiers and the desert
er would Justify man in be-
ing a Democrat if there was no other
ground of division. But upon education
the Republicans are equally as bad as
upon the question of pension They de-
clared in their platform that they arc in
favor of a four months public school and
condemn the Democrats because they
failed in their long lease of power from
1870 to 1895 to provide adequately for
the education of the masses. This is
what they say now but what did they do
when they had power? From 1868 to 1870
they collected thousands of dollars out Of
a people oppressed and poor. they sold the
Wilmington and Weldon RAILROAD bonds
in which the sacred school fund had
been invested and out of all their in
come during these three years they spent
less than $4,000 for the public schools,
paving the balance to themselves in per
diem and mileage. When the Demo
Gratis took charge in 1870, they at once
began to provide a fund for the education
of the children and they have from year
to wear increased that fund until today
they spend over S1,100000 for the
education of the children. Republicans
declare themselves in favor of adequate
appropriations for the charitable institu-
tions, but they have left to the Democrats
the duty of making the appropriation
necessary for this end. The Democrats
have borrowed 5000, 000 to meet the ex-
penses of the State government, but
more than this sum has gone into the
payment of pensions, into the education
OF the children, and in the care of the
insane, II there be any man in this State
who opposes these expenditures l hope
that he will vote the Republican ticket"
THE HANCOCK SCANDAL.
(From Democratic Hand Book
ginning of the clean, able and ecoQom-
zeal administration, that the head of the
administration paid a political debt to
Robert Hancock by causing him to Sbe
elected president of the Atlantic and
North Carolina Railroad. Before a year
of his time had expired the newspapers
published that the mother Of hitherto
respectable young lady had sued Hancock
for $4,000 damages for the seduction of
her daughter, who was a niece Of the
defendant's wife
This suit was never tried, the young
woman in question having left tho State.
married, and failed to prosecute her ac-
tion. 1t was finally disposed eli By the
courts ordering it mol pressed. It is just
to Hancock to say that in his answer he
denied all the charges made against him
by the plaintiff in her complaint.
February II, 1898, Governor Russell,
the head of this 'clean, able and
economical administration, dismissed
Hancock from his position as director OF
the railroad and instructed the Board of
Directors to GUST him from the presidency
of the road by virtue of the powers grant
ed said Board of Directors under section
four of the second article of the bylaws
Of the company. Hancock was removed
as president
And now comes another scandal. Mr..
Jcsephus Daniels, editor of the News
and Observer by his fearless exposure
of Governor Russell and his administra-
ton, had incurred the displeasure OF
Governor Russell. Governor Russell was
very angry with him, and as Hancock
charged, wanted revenge. In on open
letter addressed by him to Governor
Russell on the day Of his removal Han
cock charged that on the 18th Of Januar +,
while the charges growing out of the suit
| against him for seduction were undergo
ing consideration, Governor Russell pro-
posed to him if he would make violent
assault and battery upon the person or
Josepbus Daniels, editor of the News and
Observer" he might retain his position,
otherwise he would lose it, Hancock says
he felt that the Governors proposition
was trespassing upon sacred grounds and
that he declined to continue in position
purchased at so great cost Continuing,
( Hancock said in the letter TO the Gov
ornor: 81 endeavored to move you to
sense Of Justice because | was fully cog
infant OF the effect my removal would
have upon the charges against me- but !
find that your selfishness has destroyed
your sense of justice and that gratitude
is sentiment unknown to you. SubSe-
quently. I have received several messages
from you indirectly urging this violation
of the law, in order, doubtless, that your
private thirst for revenge might be
gratified, and each message contained an
assurance that this act would be absolute
guarantee OF my retention in office but.
Your Excellency ! declined to he vonr
unscrurulous tool. and however great the
cost, l am thankful that my manhood
! repealed the temptation-eVen IN my
! present unfortunate position.
! Think Of the Governor Of a great state
offering to retain one of his partlsans in
4 a position from which he was threaten
! ing to eject him on charges, IF he Would
/ commit an assault to gratify his personal
/ malice upon one of his political enemies
! Hancock himself was a member OF the
j late Republican Convention at Green's
horo. and voted to adopt tho platform in
which that party refers with pride to its
clean, able and economic administra-
ton" under Russell. Doubtless Russell
also annroves Of this declaration Of the
platform.