The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-06-12
A Federal Judge Invades
States Rights.
TO MUZZLE THE PRESS
Recent Incidents in This State Show
That Contradictions Widening
Circles Threaten to Swamp
Individual Liberty-.-Re-
medy in Peoples
Hands.
Especial to News and observer.)


Louisburg, n. c., June 11.-At the
recent county convention in this
place, Hon. Frank S. Spruill, who
was nominated for the House, made
an eloquent speech that delighted the
people. 1t is so good the whole
State ought to read it, In substance
Mr. Spruill said:
The overshadowing menace of the
times is the national spirit of Impe-
rialism and Capitalization. The gov
eminent at Washington is becoming
an autocracy of the most absolute
type. Mr.. Roosevelt in the White
House is an autocrat more unquestion-
ed than William of Germany, or Mich
olas of Russia. His flats have the au-
thority of law, and his behests the
force of statutory declaration. Start
ing at the White House, and running
down through all the Federal officials
that dominate the land, the ideal of
absolute power at Washington is be-
ing stuudiously instilled into the peo-
PIES minds.
One hundred years ago when the re-
public was yet young and the mon
archical spirit was naturally strong in
the pepole, before Mr.. jefferson dared
tC purchase the Louisiana domain,
he asked and obtained the consent of
Congress. Although the line that sep
arated us from them was purely i'm
aginary and it's people homogeneous
with ours, yet the theory that a re-
public cannot exist except with the
consent of the governed, caused the
Chief Magistrate of this republic 100
years ago to call Congress together
and obtain it's consent to do that which
its manifest destiny compelled to be
done.
One hundred years later, in the
rapid evolution of Federal power, the
President of the United States bought
the Philippine Islands, although 10000
miles of water divided them from us,
and their people were further still di-
vided from us by social and political
ideals, without the consent of Con-
greSs, and without even so much as
informing that department of our
government of his purpose and inten-
ton.
Today, in open contradiction of our
creed and profession, the Stars and
Stripes, emblem of liberty and free
citizenship, float over a colonial de-
tendency, and the slogan of mo tax
alton without representation" has be-
come one of the glorious memories of
the. past.
The Center of Supreme Power.
The center of supreme power re-
sides no longer in the people. We have
gotten far away from the government
and political standards and ideals that
formed the rules of civic life by which
the founders of the republic shaped
their conduct. The circle of Federal
power is widening until it embraces
within its periphery the individual lib
erty of the citizen One by one acts
Of Federal interference in derogation
of State sovereignty have been COM
mitted until there remains hardly a
vestige of power in the States. The
theory that whatever of power is not
expressly delegated to the Federal
government, is expressly reserved to
the people, is reversed; and now the
legend reads: What is not expressly
reserved by the states is delegated to
the Federal government"
Acts of sovereignty which a hun
dred years ago would have brought
about an impeachment, are now not
roted at all, or if noted, bring alarm
to only thoughtful few.
Mark with what fine disregard of
the public Mr.. Roosevelt a few weeks
ago informed the keepers of the pub
lie moneys that he desired 100000
with which to build himself a horse
stable! Imagine Mr.. Jefferson, in his
austere simplicity, asking the Con-
gross of the United States for $4,000
with which to build himself a horse
stable!
Every agency of the government is
imbued with this same idea, that the
seat of power is not in the people but
in the government in Washington. The
practice and application of this theory
has come to affect not only our rights
as citizens and sovereigns, but our
persons and our property! The most
insignificant title, fourth-rate post
master, is hedged about by. a divinity
that sanctifies his person. If he in
suit me and l slap him. I may be
hailed into the Federal courts to an
swer for disrespect to the body of the
government. 1t is lese majestic of
which l am guilty,
An Invasion of States Rights.
Mark an instance of recent occur
renee in this good Commonwealth of
ours. An instance that set the great
just heart of the people throbbing and
bounding, and made our pulses Jingle
and CULVER with indignation. A brave,
courageous newspaper editor, watch.
ing the current of daily events, saw
an organized and systematic attempt
being made to plumber the State of
S2,OOO,OOO of it's property in the At
lantic and North Carolina Railroad.
This watchful sentinel upon the tower
sounded the alarm, and the eyes of
the people have since been turned in
that direction. Upon the affidavit of
an irresponsible resident, who did
rot even own one dollar of stock in
the railroad, Federal Judge, with
cut notice and giving no opportunity
to traverse the false allegations of the
bill of complaint, appointed a receiver,
of the States property invaded the
States domain and, saying in effect
that the State is incompetent to man
age its own affairs, put it into the
hands of the officers and agents of the
Federal government to administer for
us. This order, signed beyond the
limits of the State and violative of
every right of property, was made
without even the poor chance given to
the State to answer. Upon the ex
parte application of a commercial ad-
venturer. two millions of dollars of
the States property was turned over
to be administered by the Federal gov