The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1908-07-16

NlHS SoH dO hO AAoAA IA ,
Spirit of the Dark Ages, Now
the People are the Sovereigns
Who Have Right to Express
Opinions Concerning the Con-
duct of Officers-Answer to
Mr.. Warwick and Some CUES
tons for Him.
To the Editor of The Robesonian.
Some one from Barker's asks
who is the Mr.. McEachern that
in speaking against our county |
commissioners and Mr.. Mcleod, |
and then after administering a re-
buke bids him be ashamed for
presuming to call an officer to ac-
count for misconduct.
The King can do no harm"
is the spirit of the Dark Ages,
but with us the people are sup
posed to be the sovereigrS who
should have an unquestiOned
right to give public expression
to opinions formed concerning
the conduct of their servants.
Because of Mr.. McEachern's
bold stand for what he conceives
to be the county's good, Mr..
Warwick joins Barker's CORES
pondent and with puritanical
hypocrisy pleads for the practice
of the golden rule, while he de-
nounces in the most bitter terms
a gray-haired citizen whose pub
lie and private life are above re-
proach. Hear Mr.. Warwick,
when in his righteous indigna-
ton he exclaims, Il am horrifiedW
He is not the first henchman
who has thrown up his hands in
holy horror when his chief was
in danger. Hear this champion
of the golden rule as he charges
Mr.. McEachern with thinly veil
ed libel; listen to the new Scion
in the field of political economy
giving this service-worn veteran
a new and false maxim-'The
place to thrash out straw is in the
convention" Pubic office is a
public trust" is an acceptedtruth
antedating Mr.. Warwick's new
theory of government. With all
due respect for the erudite Mr.,
Warwick, we decline to give up
the old method of thrashing
straw before the people so that
they may separate the wheat
and chaff. Why does he wish tC
suppress a public discussion
Why does he accuse Mr.. Nc.
Eachern of libel for asking the
people to take the sworn state
ments of the officers themselves
as evidence? Why is he Mortified
at so fair a proposition? Why
does he wish to smother this ev
idence till delegates reach Lum
berton's convention hall? Why
Oh Mr.. Warwick, if instead of tn,
expression, "thinly-veiled libel,
you had given US the phrase
''thinly-veiled conspiracy" yo1
would have given US a descrip
tive term applicable to the me-
who are browbeating the publ
for the purpose of cOncealmen
and self advancement.
Mr.. Warwick, you say, Il ar
incredulous and demand bette
evidence than his word t
satisfy me-" Do you refuse tn
sworn testimony of Mr.. Mcleod
who refused to answer certai
questions by saying they migf
tend to incriminate myself" Ca
an innocent man ''incriminat
himself" by answering a que
ton truthfully? Have the Peep
any right to know, Mr.. Warwicl
the reason, or is it only a matte
for the convention, why tt
same lawyers were employe
both by ex-Sheriff Mcleod ar
the county commissioners, Their
by placing the lawyers in tt
ridiculous light before the pu'
lie of prosecuting their client
Il put on my thinking cap and tt
to conclude what may be the m
tive. These politicians are iii
experienced hunters, who pr
pare every detail for a week
sport and their concert of actio
as indicated by The Robesonia
shows thorough organizatio
These huntsmen (politicaD a
well satisfied, because the
sport is in the Kings wood
Mr.. Warwick intimates tn
the convention hall is his M
jesty's place of ambush; he d
ponds upon his loyal subjects
still the voices of the peol
while the game is driven to
doors. Mr.. Warwick anticipat
the closing scene and in t
ecstasy of his soul cries OF
"All honor to you, Brother N
Leod"! No wonder Mr.. Warwi
shouts aloud, Il am Mortified
when he hears the bo1
earnest voice of D. P. McEaC
ern pleading with the people
BE not like dumb driven cattle
but to be careful of our count!
honor and welfare. If t
people should be aroused
King might lose his game.
Who is Mr.. Warwick, of {
rum? Is his common nal
Proxy? The policies which
advocates and the gratuitc