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


Legislature supported bill to ap-
propriate $4,000 to give a small
pension to Confederate soldiers.
1t was a pitiful sum in compare
vice they had rendered their State.
It ought to have passed at once by
reclamation. Instead of that, the
Republican minority tried to de-
feat TIE bill and then tried to get
out of the House to avoid voting.
The doors were closed and they
had to vote either for the small
pension or to vote against it. Sem
ator Pritchard, with twelve other
Republicans, voted mo" when his
name was called on February 3rd,
1885.
That record will put the nails in
the coffin of Mr.. Pritchard's poll
teal career in North Carolina. The
people will forgive almost any
thing except opposition to help the
brave ex-Ccnfederate soldiers
whose valor gave lasting glory to
North Carolina.
II he had no other record, that
one vote would be sufficient to
deny him the support of the white
voters in North Carolina. 1t is the
one vote that will be universally
condemned. No apology, no ex-
PLANTATION, will excuse that vote
against small help to the Confed-
crate soldiers. It is THE unpar-
donable sin.
As IL Go add insult to injury,
Pritcha ard, Moody and Blackburn,
at the close of the last session of
Congress, secured the passage of a
bill TO pension ex-Confederate SOL
d;ers who deserted the Lost Cause
and joined the Federal army. Not
enc cent for brave Confederates
but thousands for deserters! Who
were these deserters, the special
objects of Pritchard's solicitude!
They were men who marched out
with their neighbors and were en-
thusiastic Confederates as long as
the clothes were good and the "a
tions plentiful. When hunger
pinched and rags took the place
cf comfortable clothes, these men
deserted their comrades and
lined" the Yanks, drawing plenty
of rations, fine clothes and good
pay. And now Pritchard & Co.
propose to pension them for their
descrtion! What do the ex-Con-
federate soldiers think of this bill
transforming deserters? AT the Con-
federate Reunion, in Greensboro,
the biggest gathering ever held,
tbis resolution was unanimously
odopted:
Resolved, That we condemn and
Genounce the act of Congress
81. He oh nd
fdy by giving pensions to COnfed-
crate deserters for fighting against
their former flag and comrades"
Never, as long as all the negroes
could vote, did Pritchard g. Co.,
advocate any pension for Confed-
crate soldiers. Now they denounce
the Democrats for their extrava-
CANT appropriations of $142,-
2T9.14 more for Confederate PEN
sions than the Fusionists had APP
propriated. And yet, with that
record, the Radical Convention in
1902 had the cheek to declare for
"a more generous and equitable
distribution of pensions for Con-
fede-ate soldiers!
Voting against any pension for
Confederates and insulting them
by voting for pensions for desert
ers, Pritchard & Co. will feel the
resentment Of the good people of
North Carolina when they read the
election returns in November.
In this connection we may recall
two incidents showing the senti-
ynent cf the Radicals when in
power in North Carolina in 1895.
The House refused to adjourn An
honor of Robert E. Lee ON his
birthday, and did adjourn in honor
of Frederick Douglas, the Apostle
of 1niscegenation! Is it any won
der that n party with that record
would put a premium upon deser-
ton by pensioning deserters?
The people of North Carolina and
of the whole country Will never
endorse a measure that puts
premium upon desertion. The ex-
a1upIe of Benedict Arnold ought
to have taught Pritchard, Moody
and Blackburn that those who de-
SORT from the array to which they
belong will ever be held in con-
ten,pt nv brave men ami women.
SENATOR SIMMONS ON PRITCH-
ARDS PENSION RECORD.
Senator simmons snoke last Saturday
at Hartford 20 a packed court house. Tho
,eoplc applauded enthusiastically and en-
dcrscd his criticism of Pritchard's rec
ord. Senator Simmons said in part:
In correction with the question Of
whether the people want TO be repre-
scented in tho Senate bv Senator Priteh-
ard, the old Confederate soldiers mag
want to hare something to say. Senator
Iritchard has been d great advocate OF
romsIons 70 Lnlon. snldiors since he has