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VOLUME 11
NEW BERN, N. C., FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1968
NUMBER 33
Despite the heavy balloting
In Tuesday's election, far too
many of the nation's eligible
voters didn't Journey to the
pools. A high percentage of
those who couldn't be bother
ed, here In Craven and from
coast to coast, will be among
the loudest complalners for the
nei^four yegrs.
The way a man votes, like
his religion, is a matter of
personal conscience. Instinc
tively, every citizen feels that
way. There's no quicker route
to riling a fellow human than
challenging his approach toGod
or his choice of candidates.
If you prefer to keep your
political leanings private, even
your closest friend has no right
to invade this privacy. Certain
ly an eager politician doesn't.
That's why our forefathers, to
guard against Intimidation or
fear of reprisal, provided for
protective secrecy when you
go to the polls.
By the same token, any citi
zen who wants to proclaim his
political Inclinations Is, and
should be, at liberty to do so.
Where those of us who are
willing, or even anxious, to pa
rade our views step out of line
Is when we try to back others
Into a corner for an admission
of their intentions.
To express one’s opinions, as
this editor in the nature of his
occupation feels it not only
proper but obligatory to do, is
the privilege of every citizen.
However, individuals as well
as the press ought to keep In
mind that the right to dissent
is as precious as the right to
speak out for a cause dear to
our heart. Peaceful dissent, that
is.
Four our part we have no re
spect for hecklers who take ad
vantage of this right to dissent
to interrupt and attempt to down
out speakers at public gather
ings. It matters not whether
he Is a Democrat, Republi
can, American Independent, or
a solitary figure on a soap
box, if there are those who
want to hear him, he ought to
be heard.
And With no desire for
further violence in an Ameri
ca already plagued by sen
seless violence, we still would
be less than frank if we failed
to admit that those who deliber
ately disrupt meetings get no
sympathy from us when they are
subjected to rough physical
treatment.
Law and order is a term every
Presidential aspirant harped on
to make the most of the public's
present mood; and denounce him
though someof usmight,George
Wallace blazed the trail that
others followed in their cam
paigns.
Whether you admire the man
or not, he was on solid ground
when he insisted that this nation
of ours must become a place
where the great majority of
Anierlcans aren't fearful of
venturing out on the street after
nightfall, or in some locationsin
broad open daylight.
To the surprise of so many,
Wallace ceased to be a candi
date whose following was re
stricted to the South. He ceased
o be lust a sectional contender,
because his doctrine of law and
order stirred people In parts of
the country removed from the
South who have been subjected to
even more violence than those of
(Continued on Page 8)
SEEING AIN’T BELIEVING — Don’t
conclus-
Queen. Joy Williams, performing the final act of her
own reign, places the tiny crown on Bethany’s blonde
tresses. Shakespeare once said, "Laugh and the world
grief for the popular New Bern
High school senior. To the contrary, she couldn't be
happier, and why not? Less than a minute earlier
she had learned that fellow students at NBHS had
chosen her above all others as their Homecoming
laughs with you, weep
Bethany wept at NBHi
she was anything but alone, and many in the Home
and you weep alone." When
[S Stadium last Friday night.
coming crowd, gathered for the New^Bern^lizabeth
Citv game, shed a few tears too.—Photo by Chick
Natella.