The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-08-17
Public Sentiment and Political Meth.

Public Sentiment and Political Meth
DDS.
That many things are said and done
in politics that would not be tolerated
IN the ordinary affairs of private life
is generally known, but at times his
difference comes SO great as 10 make
the Intelligent, fair-minded man pause
and wonder why such things should
be.
Let US take a. case in point. Mr.. Will
lis q. Briggs, city editor of the Raleigh
Evening Times, and q gentleman of I'M
questioned character and standing was
an applicant for the position Of post
master at Raleigh.
He was Endorsed by Judge Spencer
+. Adams, republican state chairman,
and a leading member of the Green's
boro bar. Mr.. Briggs then went to
Washington to file his application.
While there, he was interviewed by a
reporter and predicted, as nearly every
one is predicting, that the republican
party will make gains in North Car
Dina.
If there was any unseemly act done
throughout the course of these events,
VIC l. iiSfS cal VI IL
And yet the News n Observer,
which claims to have the largest circu-
lation of any newspaper in North Car
DINA. and passes as the official organ
Of the democratic party, thus ador1rs
its editorial columns:
NO sooner had spence Adams
endorsed Willis Briggs for stamp lick
er at Raleigh than Willis fastened to
Washington to take the forty-seventh
degree in North Carolina radicalism.
It is never administered except in
Washington city, and only to pie-eat-
ers Of the best paying grade No soon
ed a he gotten the pass word than
Willis fastened to nun up a newxipa-
per reporter, predict big gains for the
radical party in North Carolina this
year. and give Roosevelt the mighty
puff. That is the first requirement
of the initiated. Thus elevated to the
seats of the mighty Willis returned
to North Carolina to prove his fitness
to be a high Muck-a-Muck in the rad
ical camp
We are not defending either Judge
Adams or Mr.. Biggs. They need no
defense. In fact, no BARN has been
done either Of them by the editorial
We have quoted.
We are simply using it as an exam
p4S ~ = ana We @N- Ill A~S~AN
to the tone and methods that some
times obtains in politics. just what
is to be gained we are at a loss to gee.
1t carried conviction to no one. 1t
makes no appeal to reason. 1t pre-
sents no argument. Sifted to the bot
tom it resembles more than anything
else the talking back of a crowd of
school boys. who cannot argue and
will not fight, but simply say things.
In a past generation when
statesmen were known throughout the
land as a model of knightly courtesy,
when the great underlying principles
of government divided North Carolina
into two politically hostile but person.
ally generous and friendly parties, pet
ty chickering's and meaningless vituper-
alton were cOnspicuOusly absent from
the realm of politics.
Our fathers did not think that
strength implied brutality or that sim
cerity was impossible without intoler-
ance
Do We of a later generation belive
as they believed in this regard? we
would unhestitatingly say that we do,
but if we do our practice oftentimes
sadly fails to square with our belief.
If we do not ourselves indulge in the
practice of leading out political bill
ans 5NNNs wv NNN N~1y
tenance to those who do.
The consequence is a lowering OF
the political tone and a muddying Of
the waters that makes it impossible 10
clearly see and properly appreciate the
great questions Of government that are
the true subjects Of political discus
sion.
Will such a state OF affairs be al
lowed TO continue?
It all depends upon public senti-
ment. So long as the public or even
a considerable portion OF the public
delights in mud-slinsing contests, mud
singers VIII not be founnd wanting
1t is equally however, that just
SO soon as It is generally understood
that the public will have none Of It.
mud singing will cease and become
but a memory.
The matter IS entirely and solely In
the hands OF the public What will
the public do ?-Industrial News