The semi-weekly messenger., 1907-09-13
WILMINGTON, N. c,
AN UNFORTUNATE SITUATION


holding oLt> has again become acute.
A state judge instruots his grand jury
to disregard the Injunction in the rall-
road cases by tn. federal court and
to return indictments in case of any
violations of the state late laws. Uni
ted States Judge Thomas >. Jones de-
c1ares himself sorry that the Morgan
county law and equity court has de-
clared war against the United Sates.'
Inasmuch as it has been publicly. ana
nounced, both by Judge Jones IN
charging a grand jury two weeks ago
and by United States District Attorney
Parsons in the form of a telegraphe
assurance from Attorney General Bon
aparte. that the whole power Of the
United States government could be re
lied 1pOn to enforce the federal court =
orders, there is prospect OF some
what strained relations among certain
gentlemen in Alabama
The above is from the editorial col
umns of the Charlotte Observer. The
Observer is one of the safest papers
lin the whole country to quote from. 1t
is a faithful follower OF Davie Crockett
BE sure you are right and then go
ahead" When that paper makes Il
statement, especially in it's editorial
columns we take that statement as be-
ing correct in fact and it is mighty
seldom that we do not agree with it in
ats deductions from the state OF facts
DIT publishes as existing. Therefore we
take it to be true that the grave con-
ditions exist in Alabama as is set
forth in the editorial above quoted.
That article is worthy of careful con-
sideration by all thoughtful, lawabid-
ing and patriotic men throughout this
whole land. The situation is serious.
A solemn note of warning comes to us
from the state of Alabama. 1t is not
%he cry of a sensationalist. 1t is as
solemn a note of warning which The
Observer sounds as ever came from
the press of a patriotic paper or from
the lips of a true son of the American
republic.
from its position there is danger of Sc
rious rupture between the federal gov
ernment and the state of Alabama.
What gives the people of this state
particular interest in this matter is
the fact that at one time in the recent
past there was danger of similar Sc
riOus conflict between state and fed
eral Jurisdiction arising in this
state.
While Il great many people who did
not realize the gravity o. the situation
considered it counter moves on the
political chess board between oppon-
ents who were playing for advantage
between representatives of the state
and of the federal government which
would be decided and won by the party
who could finally checkmata his op-
ponent, the contest really involved
much more important and far reach
ing questions.
The serious conflict which was at
one time threatened in this state and
which now faces the people of Alaba-
ma and in fact of the whole country
because of the action of the Alabama
state courts, at one time confronted
the people of North Carolina. The Sc
rious conflict between state and feder-
al courts in the North Carolina case,
was avoided by the two railroads, par
Ties to the suits, agreeing in confer
ence with the governor Of this state
and his hackers to yield up and aban-
don certain we'll defined and clearly
established rights, guaranteed to them
by the constitution of this state ano
the constitution of the United States.
Rather than force the issue between
state and federal governments, which
would have brought on, very serious
state of affairs and perhaps actual con-
f1ict of armed forces if the governor
had persisted in his unconstitutional
and revolutionary action, the railroads
gave UP their we'll recognized rights
rights fully recognized by all except
those blinded by fanaticism and desire
to gain temporary popularity by pan
dering to the Nso-called public