The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-10-26
Mr.. F. H. Whitaker. Manager of tn


Anti-Clark Campaign:
Dear Sir: | received through the mail
recently a bundle of literature in the
interest of the defeat of Judge Clark for
Chief Justice and the election of one Mr..
Thomas N Hill, and in justification of
Independentsm in Politics. Not knowing
you, | am at loss to conjecture how you
happened to send me this literature, eX-
cept upon the superstition that i have
been a constant reader of certain indie
pendent newspaper for some years, to
whose subscription list you doubtless
have access.
While | am not a politician, yet l am a
citizen of this Commonwealth. and have
my views of public questions affecting the
interests of the State and country at
large, and claim the right to express
them whenever / deem it proper to do
so, and especially when it is sought in
this way to influence and corrupt these
views
| make no attempt at any defense OF
Judge Clark, for the reason that he needs
no defense. and that if he does, he is
abundantly able to defend himaelf.
Neither shall 1 attempt anI impeach-
ment of the character, ability, fine judi
cial temperament or bravery" of Mr.
Hill. OF these 1 have no personal knowl-
edge. Permit me, however, to say that
having been travelling up and down and
across North Carolina constantly for more
than forty years endeavoring to keep my
self informed as to men and measures of
public interest, that l had never heard of
Mr.. Hill until the recent announcement of
his candidacy in the papers of the State.
This you may not consider very COM
plimentary to myself. Be that as it may,
With all his fitness for this high office,
Mr. Hill will have never dreamed until
after the election in November, what a
dupe he has permitted himself to be made
by the Intelligence and integrity of the
State. He will have gained notoriety.
but not such, | imagine. as will be very
agreeable to man of such fine sensibili
ties as one might suppose him TO pos
sess.
1t will doubtless be a bitter humilia-
ton for him to learn how many men in
the State. who, like myself, never heard
of him before, and to open his eyes to
the fact that there is but a handful of
men of intelligence and integrity in the
State who confidently hoped for his cleo
ton
As to the question of Independence in
Politics" l have very pronounced views.
l very cheerfully accord to every man
the right TO think for himself. This
right is inalenable-it is Gods given.
Indeed, he cannot do otherwise. To say
that he can. is to say that he does not
think at all.
| also cheerfuly accord to every man
the right of free and full expression of
his sentiments. and the maintenance OF
these sentiments against all the world
if he can do it with the better reason.
also cheerfully accord to every man the
right to act independently, so long as he
is independent; but whenever that man
so far surrenders his individuality 'as tC
become member of any political or
ganization, henceforth he has no right to
independent action outside the authority
of that party to which he belongs.
If this be not so then all authority is
thrown to the winds-there is no authori-
ty; or, which is practically the same
thing, by such action, the individual
thereby takes himself out of said party
and can no longer claim protection under
its colors, or be entitled to pronounce
its Shiboleth.
The logical and necessary result of sucl
independence whenever it becomes suf-
ficiently formidable is disorganizatior
and disruption. There is no evading this
conclusion-it is as inevitable as the
fates.
The Charlotte Observer of recent date
editorially quotes Mr.. Pou. in speech re-
Gently delivered in Charlotte with evident
and very great comfort as saying that "a
man is not bound by any rule of party
fealty or good citizenship to vote for a
candidate whom he conscientiOusly be-
leves to be unfit or unqualified for the
office sought"
This is unquestionably true; but Mr.
Pou did not say that that man was justi-
fled in voting against such candidate as
party man; much less that he with a
few others (eleven | believe) had the
right to organize themselves into a con
vention, nominate or endorse, and by
every means al their command to elect
another man over the one nominated by
the convention of his own party. nor will
he say so.
Since l have been taking notice of the
politics of North Carolina l do not be-
licve that the precinct. township. county
and State conventions were ever held
with larger freedom than those which
eliminated in the nomination OF Walter
Clark for Chief Justice of the Supreme
Court OF North Carolina: or that any
man has ever been nominated in the
State who was more fully in accord
with the wishes of the people. And j
I,tdUa CIarI, l.. not triIlunnhaDtlv oloctod
and does not lead the ticket. then | vii
freely confess that I have mistaken tn,