The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-09-21
ANTI-CLARK ADDRESS
The Hill Committee Present
the Claims of Their Can
didate for Chief Justice

The following address has been issued:
To the Voters of North Carolina:
At a meeting of Independent Demo-
Gratis, held in Greensboro N. c., Septem-
Der 18th, the undersigned were appoint
ed a committee to issue an address to the
voters of the State in advocacy of the
election of Hon. Thomas N Hill, of Hal
flax county, as Chief Justice of the SUI
preme Court of North Carolina, ami in
opposition to the election of Justice Wal
ctr Clark to that position.
We believe we effect the sentiment of
the virtue and intelligence of the State
in maintaining the proposition that the
men who fills the Chief Judicial office in
this State should possess the highest or
der of intellect, a personal character
above suspicion, and such a high sense
fthe duties and requirements of this
exalted office as will induce him in the
discharge thereof to hold his personal
ambition in obeyance, and to refrain from
the use of the ats and wiles of the dem
agogue and politician. Like Caesars
wife, the personal and official character
of the Chief Justice of a great State
should be above suspicion, and his con-
duct such as to invite investigation I'M
der the searching rays of midday sun.
He should not SO deport himself that his
desire for security from possible cen
sure should prompt requests that the
evidence of his action should be destroy
ed or withheld from public scrutiny.
While it is his right as a citizen to have
opinions upon all political questions
which agitate the public, yet these
opinions should be the result of careful
investigation, honestly formed without
thought of promoting personal ambition.
and not subject to change with every
change of party in power The Chief
Justice of the Supreme Court of this
State should not permit his judicial ac-
tion to be influenced against any man,
or set of men, or any property interest
by public clamOr, or popular prejudice,
which has been reused and melted by
the appeals of the demagogue. He
should be free from all influences ex-
cept an honorable desire to administer
justice alike to those in exalted station,
and those in the humber walks of life,
to those whom fortune has favored, and
to those who fight the battle of life amid
poverty and want 1t is his province to
administer equal and exact justice and
thus promote among the whole people a
respect and reverence for the law and
those who eXpound and administer it,
thereby restraining and preventing
those personal animosities and hostilities
which arise from arraying one class
against another, and which are so de-
structive of the public interests and the
conservative principles upon which our
government rests
JO hpIioua Ind Clark
measures up to these requirements. 1t
is not the purpose of this address to
weigh the evidence upon which the pub
lie charges against Judge Clark's po-
litical and judicial character rest, nor to
analse the defense which he has made.
1t is, in our opinion, sufficient that his
conduct has been such that it necessi- |
tated a PLEA IN CONFESSION AND
EVIDENCE, and that this plea COM
manded attention chiefly upon the