The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-09-13

The writer thinks there was reason for
the course pursued by the unwise Con
gress, because 1.-The people of the North
were fearful of the renewal of The war
This was a needless. fear, most absurd and
groundless-an event under 40 circum-
stances to be anticipated. The South was
exhausted. It had neither arms, nor
munitions nor men, nor money, nor dis
position to renew the war. The measures
of the Northern Congress were harsh
vindictive, oppressive, unmerciful, I'm.
wise. unjust, iniquitous, aud showed it
was blind and infatuated and filled with
rancor and hatred of Southern leaders.
The article in THE Bookman' otherwise
is kind in tone, appreciatlve of the book
the fairest revpcw of it | saw IN any
Northern publication, the most of which
were antagonistic and bitter AID scornful.
But they did net kill the book and by a
great deal ''The Bookman' said the
novel was merrtorious and strong. 1t
gave the chief attention to the political
aspects that then agitated the country,
and the causes and incidents that prevail
ed in North Carolina. 1 make room for
one more extract from THE Bookman."
1t will interest my readers, doubt not.
1t says:
Under the tutelage of the carpet
Dagger from the North. the native seal
lawag and the negro demagogCe,' es-
tablished as joint administrators of the
Freedman's Bureau and of the new cleo
ton laws, began an orgy of political
crime. The financial loot obtained was
not. indeed, considerable, at least, as
money is figured in these days, or even as
it was figured in those days in the
Northern States. But it repres ented the
South's pitiful last, the pitiful little that
could be raised by mortgaging her re,
resources for years to come. Yet the
money was, after all, minor issue.
What counted was that the negro, de-
bauched by fiattery and uncompeled by
authority, refused longer to work, deserted
the plantations and became a novitiate in
| legislative halls or in theological or
classical colleges, and dreamed of political
notoriety and of possessing the daughters
of the South. 1t was then that the Ku-
Klux-Klan was organized, and that, in
| the growing horror of the supersedure of
a muatto reign, political lines were set
as in marble upon the single base of
| Anglo-Saxon domnancy."
| have seen it stated that Mr.. Dixon in
two or three of his chief characters, had
| taken certain North Carolinians as
models without specifying names.
wish to say that / see no resemblance to
any one in our State past or present. l
know personally well the gentlemen
named as originals of the portraits, but to
me they are simply not particularly hap
by successes. The heroine is a very love-
w woman indeed, and full of interest and
most engaging qualities. The hero,
Charles CASTOR, is a man of heroic mold,
but weak at a critical moment, full of
spirit, resource, ambition and eloquence.
He can make a very telling, impressive
speech, but | will not use the played
OUT phrase worn thread bare long ago, by
adding that his fine effort held his au-
dience "spell-bound." The old Confeder-
ate, one-legged, brave older Tom Camp,
genuine hero, is indeed tine-if very
Observation-Disclosures. The cruel death
of his dear little daughter at the hands