The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-09-16
DIR. MILLER INDIGNANT.


A few months ago DR.. S. Wilmington
Miller printed an article in Golfers
Weekly containing a picture of what
purported to be a copy of The Cape
Fear Mercury of June 3rd, 1875, con-
tanning a fac smile of the Mecklen-
burg Declaration of Independence.
The detailed account by him, account
ing for its disappearance from the
files ives so reasonable that his ar
ticle convinced many that he had
found the only remaining proof
necessary to convince the most skep-
teal of the genuineness of the Neck
lenburg Declaration But, no sooner
had the article appeared than several
students of history in North Carolina
pronounced Dr. Millr's fac-simile a
fake and declared that he had previ-
ously manufactured historical docu-
ments to suit his purpose. This
criticism has evidently made DR.. Mil
Ter wrathy, for he has written a letter
to a citizen of Charlotte that shows
sions of doubt as to the genuineness of
the June 3rd issue of the Cape Fear
Mercury Here is his letter:
Mr. &. O. Alexander.
Charlotte, y. G.
Dear Sir-Your favor of August
81, finds me here after following me
around the country for the past ten
oavs.
Il am fully aware by this time that
have something all North Carolinians
would like to see and own; that some
North Carolinia'/ will continue to
call forgery and a fake after the SUI
preme court of public opinion has ac-
copied it as genuine; and that L can
sell at any time for a kings ransom.
II asked you to reply tersely to GER
tain questions and you have evaded
them. In fact, l have been treated to
nothing but bluff and buncombe' by
all that class of North Carolinians
who march under the Cheshire Odds
Johnstdn-Dowd banner, and for all l
know you may be one of their dis
tinguished emissaries, for they rarely
fight in the open.
mo committee which contains any
of these or their stalking horses can
see The Cape Fear Mercury.
"As ! have told everybody, when /
those who have attacked the genuine
ness of The Cape Fear Mercury have
committed ali their views to print, /
intend to make such q publication of
the final and unquestonable docu-
ments in my possession as will keep
the Church of England party quiet
for a century or so, hope.
This is no common discussion, for
falsehood. subordination, grand lar
ceny. and all the criminal sins have
been perpetrated to rack, ruin and
destroy all traces of the truth of May
20, 1875. People have been sent to
the great libraries to cut out contem-
porary reprints on file of the Wor-
cester Spy, Essex Register, etc.
mo, l hold the whip hand and l
know how to use the implement. So
pray do not feel that you are under
any obligations to worry about me. q
Respectfully,
(Signed)
IS. WELLINGTON MILLER"
1t did not need the production of
the Cape Fear Mercury to convince
us of the genuineness of the Mecklen-
burk Declaration, but if it is genuine.
it is so strong a proof that nobody
i'm the world can doubt, and we North
Carolinians must admit that the
world is skeptical about the Twentieth
of May Declarations. The gentle
men who have expressed doubts as to
the genuineness of DR.. Millers dis
covery are real students of history and
would be glad to be convinced that
they are wrong. Those who have ac-
cepted without question DIR. Miller's
fac-simile cut and statement would
be glad for him not to delay 1.-The
publication OF the final and unques-
tionable documents" in his possession,
which will silence all doubters. This
paper will be glad to print DIR. Miller's
article and will rejoice that the long
missing paper has been discovered.
and the gentlemen who expressed
doubts will be the first to give credit
to DR.. Miller and to regret skepticism
when confronted with "the finsl and
unquestionable documents"