Newspapers / The Greensboro Patriot (Greensboro, … / Nov. 15, 1899, edition 1 / Page 5
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LINNEY REPLIES TO SETTLE. The Eighth District Congressman Makes a Weak and .Evasive nepiy to Mr. Settle's Unanswerable Ar guments. " Tatlorsville, N. C, Nov. 8, 1899. lion. Thomas Settle, Greensboro, - J?. C: . Mr Dear Settle : I was glad to hear from you. I write, I hope, ' under an inspiration which the - lofty language of that great sage, Dw'arris, should awake in every bosom. If I can be of any aid To you, my dear friend, in directing " 3'ou back into the paths of politi cal righteousness," from which you have so recently wandered, I will gay "amen" to the slaying of the fatted calf and rejoice in the re- turn uriut) pruuigai eon io ms father's house. You have been correctly inform ed, about the purpose of the Re publican executive committee to test the constitutionality, of the new election -law. I do not know exactljr the legal procedure to-be adopted, and if I dld,I would be slow to inform the enemy thereof. - Not that I consider you a Democrat, . m .. 1 .1 : l Uiib . L l-l V UUIIIOUVU BUOTTVl ww V V4 1 VA araiL our adversaries. General Otis would be court-martialed and shot were he to acquaint Aguinal do with the plans of the American War department. Dreyfus served , a term on Devil's Island for a sim ilar oirence. v In this war of opin . ion U would be unprofessional for those who propose to fight the new election law in-the courts to pub lish every step in contemplation, i The text-books are full of remedies for all wrongs, and our own courts have in many cases passed upon the constitutionality of a statute. They have already adjudged that some of the acts of the present General Assembly are unconstitu tional and void. Is it not true that the statute book of the General Assembly of 1S09 contains more that is uncon stitutional and void than all the statutes for ten General Assemblies immediately proceeding? Such is the perfection of the law that there is no mischief without a remedy. You, my brother , Republican, do not pretend that the present elec tion statute is constitutional. Speaking of the. quo warranto ac tion which is the remedy to try the title to an oflice generally you say: Kven1f the courts should enter- - i- : 1j .1 : j . a. i ; lain suuu au auuun mm ueuiue mo election law unconstitutional, etc., what benefit will it be to the Re publican party? The Legislature is to meet in June next and would immediately pass an election law similar. to the one we now have, so lt would be labor lost." Dior my friend think before he said that? Not with his usual sagacity. An unconstitutional act is a great pub lic injury. My distinguished friend was once solicitor, and in my opinion one ol the very nest the state ever had. I once defend ed a poor reprobate whom he prosv ecuted for stealing a chicken, I think. Suppose I had then made the same argument in that case that my friend is making here, and had informed the court and iury that it would do nobody any good to convict this thief, because if he is convicted of stealing this blue hen, he will steal the red game rooster as soon as he gets out of the penitentiary next July? Will my friend be kind enough to tell me (in a private letter) exactly hat sortof a reply should be made to that eort of argument? I up not believe the present Demo catic Legislature, or any other body of men with intelligence jfnough to understand the lesral consequence of a false oath, would attempt to re-enact such a statute jwhich our Supreme court had ad judged unconstitutional and void. Vhot even Aguinaldo's legisla ture would be guilty of such im morality and etuDiditv. Your let- lgr lmnlips thof ruir rAnnrnl A a. fmbiy is totally oblivious to the j ea)f constitutional morality, i'-edate lamented Judge Jere Bl as dge Jere Black Peil it. Tf the new election law 1 -"v'uaillUUUUOl, tl t a . UlUi is that? Judge Cooley, in hie peatWa on rnnHtitntinnal limita which rest onthe legislatiye "wers of th Btfttfls. tifth edition. s?e ..-774 teaches "that one enti- t.Q.:to vote shall nnt ha dpnrived f 7 . ( the nrivilporflv Yxr th nrtinn nf ''authorities, is a fundamental tiiciple And at page 758, "all sfiitions of the elective fran- fMivfVfr must i rAnsnnAhlc foriu and impartial; they must hd"0 for their purpose, directly m 'prec'tly, to deny or abridge, ' e tfhtitutional right of citizens K! r unnecessarily to impede ' .rci&e ; if they do, they must declare.'! Rut mv frinr1 ; ,oia election law was ae ;hy a separate repealing "teil more than a month be- the few law went into effect. "e ntw, iav7 has a sweeping re-- ' fo tnat inere was an attempt to repeal the old law and all other election laws bv two sep - .rt At -nmathiniy new under fco - thrfnrA th mn. ment is, we must, perforce, take the new law, or have none at all. i ininK, nowever, n is a principle of law that all '.statutes on the Game subject by the same General Assembly are considered as one. m ar It is also clear that if a statute re pealing another is repealed (or is invalid,) the old law is thereby re vived. I have a sort of lurking suspicion that this unusual pro ceeding of the General Assembly in pasain? a separate law to repeal the old law, and all other laws on the subiect. was born of a doubt in tha Tninrla rxt th Hrourrhtamon nt the act as to its constitutionality. What else could have prompted i t ,ui -r this course? Possibly our Demo- cratic managers dreaded the courts in prosecutions ior violations 01 the old law at the last general elec- tion, about which so much was then being said. The repeal of an act creating a crime, or imDOsincr oen- alties, prevents any prosecution for such crime.' One or both these ' . i motives must have moved the draughtsmen. But which would any reflecting mind prefer, an un constitutional statute or no law at all on any one subject? If a stat ute is unconstitutional, Its enforce ment breeds contempt for law and order and involvos tyrranny and perjury. Indeed, yellow fever and eprosy are tame agents of woe in comparison with the train of evils that spring from the arbitrary' ex- ercise of power under an unconsti- tutional statute. I cannot believe that anv rAtinnal minrl favnra anh. I mission to an linnnRtiintinnal ant. , . , . , xour suggestion, my aear inena, that if the "grandfather clause' of tne proposed constitutional amend- ment is held to be void by the courts, that the Republican nartv will be derelict in duty, is unworthy of an . k-.P noaaoa k. tjt - mad-dog and prevents the spread of hydrophobia is a public bene- iatui. i uoic, at luuai, oaiy ti iew are in danger. An unconstitution- al law is the tooth that may pierce and noison the vital snark in the bodv Dolitie. That man or orcran. ,-9o;nn i . J m1. ri?V ,f : . 7 : miBchief.are the republic's most loyal and, valued citizens. Are tney notr' men wny do you send out to our political adversary, to . be used by them, such faulty argu- ments and questionable ethics un- tne discreet at the end or the first cen der the mark and hranrl nt a R. tury, of the Christian Era? That is nnhlinan? T nnnfeaa T dread th ftflll uaiou0i uxi fpLAM PW?r..0f he la.bel. Hon" Thoma8 oeiue, aunougn ine argument is at nest an awawara makesnirt ror a powerful, young and ambitious man, who has sinned, grievously sinned, touching this great war of opinion, in which the honor and lifA of hia nnliti..! nnnnnantg man be involyed. Tested by the eia I mantar m Qi" ' , , so cieany Biaiea dj uuage ooiey,Tification Can be required, and that wno dares maintain tne constitu- tionality of this new statute? The mere recital ot some of its pro- visions Droves its DurDose. Sud- pose my brother Settle and myself Republicans had locked nnr- selves un in a case of wrought iron .u-in'M .. BU mo iKhouw UA bUO angeis couia not oreaa inrougn to disturb us in our mean designs to draught a statute that would enable us to cheat Democrats and others who did not acree with us noliti- cally; could we have better accom plished that end than by passing a law similar to this new law, and placing such a machine in the hands of our friends? In that dark hoi e of disloyality to truth J and patriotism I will imagine the following exchange of thought: "Wall. Tom. w want a utatnta that "will make certain our victorv at the polls in all future elections. How will it do to make a law that places the power to have all the registrars select ed by the Republican organization ?" "Well," says Tom, "that wiirdo pret ty well." "We may bo able to find blind parti sans enougn to use the registration bocks to our advantage, and if we will have a new registration of all the voters of the -State, and can give the people only twenty days in which to register; I think we can keep out at least one-tenth of our political adver saries." "But," says Tom, "how will it do to strike out of the old law all of the two righteous provisions which allows each part? the right to select its registrars and election judges,and which requires the election precincts to contain not more than 350 voters, so that all the good and lawful men would have an opportunity to vote, and let us Repub licans have the right to select all the registrars and judges and alter the vot- ! leg precinct, so that d,UUO, in our dis- cretion, may be iorcea to vote at one koting precinct?" " ell may we not safely say this will put it into our power to exclude 20 per cent, more ot our adversaries?" "But," says Tom, "that may not be enough ; how will it do to require the applicant for registration to answer ten questions, and then require him, at the discretion of . our loyal registrar, to prove his age by two men who can vote?" "This would be a little wicked, 1 would It not? 4,Yoa see, my friend, the mother is naturally the beit witness. Whoknows as much of the day of the birth of her son as a gooa mother 7 xoa know. Tom, that King Solomon gave the most righteous judgment ever recorded in human affairs in the contest between the two harlots about 'whose was the dead baby.' This ancient judge ana lyzed a tear on the cheek of the true mother and founded his judgment on a principle of natural law maternal af fection. But we will render all moth ers incompetent to testify. How many Democrats could we ezclnde by this means? Well, I should say this now completes our work. it ' No," says Tom, "it: will be a great ihlngto give to oar loyal registrars judicial DOWerS. I knOW that a dls- cleto bu.S crit!citd some of w w. . crooked and roguish thing, so let us Iod vith nifp lnvftl A...,. th4 adjudge at his discretion that the trembling applicant, who has just passed through a fiery ordeal, has the right to vote. And here the farce of draughting a Iair eecon iaw eoas. iow aoes nut j rt j T i i' 1 1 i my uear irieua, a hbk ia an cauuur, know that all this is made possible by section II of the new election law? Gird up now thy loins like a man and answer your former political associates before you slaughter them. There are more necessary averments to be made in an application for registration under the new law than are found in an ordi nary complaint for divorce: or slander. And never before since the morning stars sang together did it enter the mind of man, a citizen of a republic, that after all the facts are in, to use, the exact language of an eminent Democratic lawyer who wrote me on the subject yesterday : "That an ass of a registrar, who is himself not sworn, COUld Stand mute and refuse tO ad jadge, as the new law requires, and thereby rob an American freeman of his high prerogative-the election franchise. The only protection we have in this new election law is that the seven men who compose the State board of elections and the! three who compose the county board of elections, are to be discreet men. Thus this whole scheme of fraud and shame is to Have you not noticed that whem men contemolate aa act of villiany,they get awial O10U8 in spots? 1 can una no definition of the word "discreet" in the law books. " In St. Mark,) 12th and 13th, a discreet man" is defined to be "one that is not far from the king Idom." But how lone will these dia- creet.men- remain: near the kingdom under tbis new statute, which presses day and night with temptation to do wr0Dg? Suppose the English Com- mandment should read. "Thou mayest steal," what would this world have been if managed by 3St what this Statute does touching the subject of elections. It strikes out the word "not" in the Eighth Com- mandment and inserts the word "may est." And tbis is the new election law under which the free American citizen lis expected to vote for that which is still more objectionable, thp proposed constitutional amendment. If this Statute is Valid without the COnStitU- tional amendment, what sort of law can be made with it 7 under tne pro- j posed amendmentn educational qua! brings about the necessity ot J having a board of election officers to be selected by the discreet (i suppose) to pass up- on the educational qualification of the icitizenuy a sort or civu service exam- uauon. oir. you anow tne xwepuDii Py wya ui uiu against all iorms of wrong ana oppres- sion. and they will struggle a3 with beflk and claw aeainst the attemnted enforcement of this invalid 11 statute. Your letter clearly shows a disposition of submission on your part. You seem to think that we are bound band and foot and are without remedy. The spirit of patriotism and martyrdom, which alone gave men liberty, and which is all that can perpetuate that liberty, condemns, with burning indig- naton. thia disnnsitinn to submit to thn dictates of tyranny. But, sir we are not remedy less, even if the courts shall not declare it void ; we may still defeat 1 have hope In the common hon esty of the people. Look at Kentucky ; many nooie men use tne ion- ex-rep resentative Owens, declared from the stump, we are told, "I am a Democrat, but I am not a thief." Allow me to make simple illustration : In the late war between the States William Mill- stead, James Miller and I obtained per mission to go out of camp to hunt some refreshments. We 'came to a house where we saw two ladies and some small children. They gave us a morsel to eat which only sharpened the appetite for something good. We observed two gray caps hanging on the wall. When we left we drove away three large, fat turkeys; when we reached the top of a mountain these turkeys flapped their wings from heat. We caught the turkeys and sent Com rade Miller to the camp to bribe a ?en- tinel to let us in at night. Millstead said to me: "What do you think of the moral quality of the act? Did you see the Confederate caps hanging on tne wan i xnese are tne caps oi our brethren in arms?" "Yes," said I, "and these sweet little children are theirs. Is it right to rob them in tbis way?" Here our moral manhood as sertedfits dominion, even against the demands of hunger. We turned the turkeys loose. ! My brethren, of the Democratic or ganization, these ballots you see in the hands of Republicans and Populists, which you have placed it in your pow er to keep out of the ballot box, repre sent the manhood of your brethren. You cannot afford to attempt any lon ger to rob us of this high prerogative. In doing so, you degrade yourselves. There are thousands of honest men in all parties, like the great Democrotio lawyer who wrote me yesterday, who will help us "break; the jaws of the wicked." .It is no excuse for you, Brother Set tie, that I and others of the Republi can party favored the limited coinage of silver in opposition to the national Republican platform, if such be the cause. Oar offence it but a simple as sault compared to murder in the first degree. To give aid to those who stand armed with a dagger to inflict the mor tal wound with malice aforethought upon that organization, to which your politician comrades beloog, ii the greatest political crime. Our Demo cratic friends want to disfranchise the Republicans and Populists, because, they say, we are unworthy. Ignorance and poverty must not govern. They then unjustly attempt to assail the men who have honored you and me. The largest percentage of white voters are In Mitchell and Wilkes counties. where the largest Republican majori ties are given, while in counties like Halifax, where the largest negro ma jority exists, the returns show great Democratic strength. In a letter written recently by the chief of the clansmen, Chairman Sim mons, and which appeared in The Ob server, he complains of the wealth of the Hon. Richmond Pearson, the Re publican candidate for Congress In the ninth cooeressional district, and be wails the poverty of the Democratic candidate. It is comforting to a Re publican to record the fact that the Democracy has at last squealed on the score of poverty. Add to this the fact that one Republican, Mi. Duke, has probably given more to the education al inserest of the State than any other man in the State, and we make a fair showing towards sustaining the alle gation that we have, in our party or ganization quite as much intelligence and wealth as our haughty and intol erant political adversaries. ,My dear Tom, you cannot afford to join the Democrats in this unholy war against right at the ballot box. I know that you have the courage to do what you think is right, and that if you believe that any good can spring out of tbis new election law and the proposed amendment,you will advocate them. Many strange things, however, happen in this world of strife. In 1888 I believe it was. that Hercules in the Republican camp, the late Judge Thos. Settle, whose labors for the Republican cause in North Carolina constitutes no small part of the social and intellect ual wealth of the State, pointed out to me in the presence of his talented son, that part of the Settle mansion in the city of Greensboro which an intoller ant foe, the night of his defeat for Governor, begirdled with black crepe. It may be your duty now, in your opinion, to join the caluminators and detractors of the Republican party for a season, but you will kindly permit one who loves you to turn sorrowingly from the contemplation of such a per formance. "; Sincerely yours, R. Z. Linney. A Hundred Thousand Dollar Gift. New York, Nov. 11 It Is reported that Col. John Jacob Astor has given $100,000 for the Dewey arch. This makes a half million dollars subscrib ed, about a third of the sum necessary. Scrap Iron Wanted. We will buy all your old castings. wrought iron, plow steel, braaa and copper, win pay nignest prices. G. T. Glascock & Son, tf. Greensboro, N. 0. Many women lose their girlish forms after they become mothers. This is due to neg lect. The figure can be preserved beyond question ii tne ex pectant mother will constantly use other's friend during the whole period of pregnancy. The earlier its use is begun, the more per fectly will the shape be preserved mother's Triend not only softens and relaxes the muscles during the great strain before birth, but helps the skin to contract naturally afterward. It keeps unsightly wrinkles away, and the muscles underneath retain their pliability. mother's Til end is that famous external liniment which banishes morning stctmrsi and nervousness during pregnancy; shortens labor and makes it nearly painless ; builds up the patient's constitutional strength, so that she emerges from the ordeal without danger. The little one, too, shows the effects of mother's Tliend by its robustness and vigor, Sold at drug stores for 1 a bottJe. Send for our finely illustrated book for x pectant mothers. THE BRADFIELD REGULATOR CO. ATLANTA. GA. WEALTH .... IN W4 )b. Ii xmov tataUitlFrctoct Bsfcra SFJfc :1 P.t, St r literU cn. liTctcr'i Assists nl bulisi Tien a pfcia tiillisgs, tuttei e. la wiiMtgta Ctj testfrei a rnwrt. rnriaeii: tfcrr eat trirar m eilta. COPP & CO.. riitrt Attcrieji, wicar-x. Jim J i m lA.lili P LIE PIMA' TS : 1 - : ' One Hundred Odd Coats and . - Seventy-five Odd Vests, BOUGHT AT 50c. ON THE $1.00 If you want some good goods at Half Price come and see them and judge for yourself. They are bound to sell with a rush. Wholesale and Retail Clothiers. J w: FRY President. J. S. COX, Vice - GREENSBORO LOAN Does or General Tinnl-nm Tiu j " - " v. . . uiio vii iiniiica Jl(t X.AUC. f yO tiates Mortgages on Heal Estate. Acts as Trustee. Xegotiates the Vale of Bonds on Manufacturing Plants. Acts as Guardian, j Executor and Administrator of Estates. A LEGAL DEPOSITORY OP x)iHEcrroRs : John Gill, Baltimore, Md.' W. II. Watkins. Rameur, V. C. O. R. Cox. Cedar Falls, N. C. -W. F. Williams. Red Kpiings, X. C. J. A. Iladlej, Mt. Airy, N. C. S Bryant, Uacdleman, N. C. J. El weed Cox. High Point, .V. C J. A. Odell, R. M. Bees, Geo. S. Sergeant, K. H. King, J. S. Cox, Our Fall IS HOW IW. is the largest and most com plete line of IN THE Prices asjow with good quality. Call and see our 312 South Elm ARE DOLLARS WORTH 100 CENTS . TO YOU? i ' 1 -We Handle Auction Goods of All Grade?, and Make a Specialty of FURNITURE and HOUSE FURNISHING B. We can sell you these articles good goods in fl rat-class condition at from M to off dealers' prices, and some times at less price. I We buy all kinds ofj above goods when in good shape and will be glad to see anyone having same to fell. See us when you have anything to sell of value. E. D. GOLDEN & BR0., 103 . Market St Greensboro. C"Next door to Pickard's. " i . IF YOUR to i Teeth or Eyes to to to TROUBLE YOU GO TO 1 DR. GRIFFITH, to to to IDEITTIST ACT OPTHALillST. 0 to H TToora oTnpripnre with the & 3- Teeth and 8 years wun me JJ Eyes. Glasses furnished. Con- g to sultation FREE. Satisfaction jjj JJ guaranteed. Office in K. of P. JJJ S Building, South Elm Street. 0 .wJk. v., . - iU NEURALGIA .cured by Dr. Miles' Paw XiLLD -WW VVH 9m w-rw w w mi u Mil LENOX v Copyright iwt President. W. E. ALLEN, Sec and Trca. AND TRUST COMPANY. stock:; $ico,cco.co. COURT AND TRUST FUNDS. R. F. Mebane, W. I. GriMKMii, W. I). McAdoo, K. I'. Gray, J. W. Fry. 4 SOUTH. as are consistent stock. Stock! 8 u hoe Company St., Greensboro. Styles and Seasons Change But my method of doing business never change- I buy the best goods at the lowest price and tell to my customers the same way. I do nor claim to carrv Uhe biggest stock of Furniture, but I have durable goods that will be sold as low as the same goods can be bought anywhere. Dort forget to Call on me when you get ready to do your fail trading. W. J. RIDGE, 330 South Elm Street. BOYCOTT'S WHEAT. - OATS Awn RVP 11C West Market Street. Seed Stores m
The Greensboro Patriot (Greensboro, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Nov. 15, 1899, edition 1
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