The Independent

COL. MEEKINS WINS
PRAISE IN RALEIGH

(Raleigh Times.)

Isaac M. Meekins, Republican
candidate for Governor, at the City
Auditorium last night voiced the
quadrennial protest of his party
against the established order in
North Carolina. Mr. Meekins'
speech, while it contained some few
extravagances, was in the main a
helpful, constructive criticism of
the conduct of public affairs in this
State: he arraigned the Democratic
management at divers points, but he
did not return a blanket indictment
against all those who have
been voting and will continue to
vote against him.

Some of his charges were palpably
hits. The election law of this
State, which was certainly made
by and for Democrats, deserves
everything Mr. Meekins said about
it. There were other charges to
which every intelligent Democrat
would enter a plea of nolo contendere.

But the part of Mr. Meekins'
speech which had more interest for
those who more nearly approach disinterestedness
was affirmative. He said no word against the administration
of the affairs which most
vitally concern the citizenship. He
was warm in his praise of what has
been done for schools and roads.
Of course, he claimed some part of
the credit for roads and schools for
his party. His party is entitled to
it.

Somewhat in spite, and why
would one deny a North Carolina Republican
the solace of sarcasm?—
Mr. Meekins was cheerfully optimistic
about the State and, indulging in a few jokes,
hoping that the commonwealth would go to hell if he
were not elected. Not
that Mr. Meekins is what might be
called radical: it was evident that he was under no illusions as to his chances.
He purposes to
go on telling the Democracy of its
sins and calling it to repentance,
whether that has any hope of success
in a public confession from the
majority or not.

The bulk of the complaint, after
all, the Republican champion was
directed at the ignorance of Democrats.
He said nothing harsher
about Southern Democrats,
the neighbors, or the Democratic National
committee than their own
brethren in arms said. "Go of their own moths tall
male front one of the scriptural"