The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-10-26
How SWash -BuckIerGrant
Would Rule the Roost
When Reporter, Told There Was
Nothing Asked for Specific Paper
He Was Told He Could Only See
the Title of the Case and
Dared to Read Paper
Filed in Court.


mans paper, which seeks to provide
its readers both with the news of the
world as it comes in over the wires
of the Associated Press and with the
matter of legitimate public interest,
which occur from time to time in the
citv of Raleigh and in the matters of
business and routine of the various
public offices and courts which are
located at the capital of the State.
Generally speaking, the efforts of
the news gathering staff of the paper
have met with the success that fol-
lows on a persistent daily endeavor
to 'teover the ground. The people
who have news are for the most part
obliging and the clerks and officials
of the departments are usually ready
to aid in every way in their power
the efforts of the local staff to make
a paper that will give to the people
of the State q faithful record of the
events of the day at Raleigh.
There is, however, as far as this
paper is concerned, an exception to
this rule, and one which is based on
the prejudice that follows every pgo-
lie or private effort TO attack wrong
and to expose the smallness and mo-
tives of the creatures who, flung by
mischance into official place, lose in
their pride of party position the true
sense of their standing in the COM
munitv.
The exception noted has been and
is the office of the Clerk of the Federal
Court at Raleigh. This paper has in
times past had occasion to attack the
record of the incumbent of that office,
the Yankee Major Hiram l.. Grant.
vultures that followed in the path of
Sherman through the South, Major
Grant set his talons in the body OF a
country wounded and sickened by
war and found in it fattening for his
craven stomach Wisely in the days
of reconstruction, he recognized his
limitations and thought to cast his
lot not among his fellows at the
North. but with the weakened section
bleeding from the overpowering blows
of numbers. Here he has since lived
and fattened upon the days when
negroes ruled the State. thrived on
the succeeding madness of the Com
monwealth and finally, fallen heir to
an office whose incumbent should
maintain and display cour-
tesy in keeping with its dignity, It's
emoluments and important functions
During his career in North Carolina
-
that tended to debauch and tear down
the liberties, the virtue and the hopes
of his adopted people, He has mis-
represented the State in its Leglsla-
tive Halls he has cOnsorted with the
baser elements of negroes and carpet
baggers-himself of the latter a Shin
ing light-he has lived for years I'M
pertinent among a people who nave
disposed him for his deeds and for
himself Lately, since his elevation
to an office of responsibility, of honor
and of trust, Major Grant has made
an effort at securing the society and
the countenance of gentlemen and
always on account of his position
with some Indifferent measure OF sue
cess.
But the vessel has too long left the
Dctter's hand to take its finish. Inc
veneer strips from the clay at the
touch. Scratch Major Grant and you
find a swash buckler. Years of service
in the giant army that wrought with
time a priceless victory have given
him the over-weening egotism-and
also the trucking spirit OF one accus-
toned to fight only with "odds on. :
He is one of those men who IS nerce
only when ne has numbers or power
on his side Behind the cloak of his
Federal office, he smiles fawningly
until he thinks the time is ripe for
safe bra ggadocio. Then Major Grant
glares; he bristles with martial ardor,
he growls like a beast aroused from
sleep.
So much for Major Grant. Now for
his Office The representatives of this
paper climb daily the three flights of
steps to reach it and ask for news.
1t is merely a form. The answer is
invaria bic, to one effect: Nothing
says the clerk; nothing says his
deputy. They say the word as though
it were dreary habit, growing from
q fixed determination. Every bit OF
Federal Court news that is published
i'm this paper is first picked up on the
street and then asked for specifically
in the office of the Federal Clerk.
Everything else passes as nothing
from the mouths of Major Grant and
the WORTHLESS in his employ.
yesterday I heard that John I.
Jacobs of New York, had fled a bill
of equity in the Federal Court, asking
for a receiver for the Fayetteville
and Wilmington Steamboat Company.
That is matter of no vital interest,"
to the world at large, but II was news
which would interest the people OF a
large section. So / climber the steps
and entered the office where sat Clerk
Grant and Deputy Tomnaffski.
ANY news? Anything done to-
da.?'
Nothing" quoth Tomnofiski from
his desk.
MAY / see the bill against the
Fayetteville Steamboat Company
Mr.. Tomnoffiski looked surprised
but rose and got the papers from
their box.
AS / turned them over, there came
q deep glove from the corner where
sat Major Grant:
"You can print the title of the bill,
but not the contents" it said.
AS the papers were public proper
~ I took tf4e-growl to be a suggestion
rather than a command-and as q
Southern man does not easily take
suggestions from the leavings OF
Shermans officers of negro troops,
paid no heed.
Suddenly, however, the grow
sounded closer and looked up to see