The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1876-11-02
LETTER FROM REV. w. W..
HARPER

every man 5 lie tnaI ~ liihSs. seem
difficult of solution, as that so far as
our limited knowledge goes, can be
explained only upon the hypothesis
that Divinity has more to do in
shaping and controlling the destinies
of the world, than we are at times
willing to admit.
Inmy own case, the events of the
last year seem to fully and clearly
corroborate the foregoing. Some ten
months ago was q local Elder in tie
NJ. L. Church in goodstanding, work
ing earnestly and honestly for the
interests of the church; and might
remark had been a member of the
same church for thirty-fve years, stf-
fering cheerfully all the obloquy and
scorn heaped upon it in the country
] came from, and also in this, by its
enemies. SBut now, forsQoth, because
my mind has changed in relation to
certain dogmas of the church which
! cannot accept and teach, and which
was in part at least, the cause of-my
withdrawal, every church door in the
country perhaps would be barred
against me, and also suspected by
every church member of being gull
ty of an objectionable hcresy, But
let that go for the present.
Six months ago | was working
earnestly and zcalously with the Re-
publican party without the slight
est thought but that everything
would move on tremendously until
the close of the campaign. But UNI
fortunately, or fortunately, as the
case may be, on the 26th of June in
answer to a repeated request of the
Register and without the most distant
idea of injuring the Republican par
ty or any one connected with it, |
wrote Il short letter giving a simple
statement of an event that occurred
during the war, in which the present
Republican candidate for the Presi-
dcncy of the United States and my
self were intimately related. As to
the tmthfulncss of the statements
therein made, l here reailirm them
fully conscious of the terrible penal
ties that justly await the pervcrsion
of truth and will gladly submit the
whole matter into the hands of Gen.
Hayes to be disposed of in the light
of the presence and at the bar of that
God from whom nothing can be con
cealcd, and have no fears whatever as
to the result. But Immediately
upon the publication of this letter
the Republican party, withits organs
great and small without ever stop.
ping to investigate as to the truth
fulncss of my statements, or the mo.
tiyes that prompted them, poured
out from their filthy sanctums editor
ial and otherwise, Il storm of filth,
Islander and falschood, such perhaps
as was never the fate of any other
man, for so unreasonable a pretgXt,
to suffer- was a thief, | was a liar,
Il libcrtinc, 4 drunkard, a dcbauchec,
| kept the money myself and never
gave it to Hayes, That was said by
those who knew they lied when they
said it, some of those persons live in
my own town and what | have to
say to such is you have done me Il
great injustice and guilt and crime,
yes, black, dammablo crime, will
hang to your garments and burn and
crackle aroundyourguilty conscience
until you make fright.
But what next? Why l had gone
over to the Democracy and that was
enough to dam me world without
end. And why? Because embra-
ccd several opportunities to explain
my position and defend myself from
the false imputations heapcd upon
me, which was denied me by my
own party. The idea was that |
should keep quiet and let these pa,
pcrs and slandcrers go on with all
their TRADE of abuse, virtually &c.
knowledging that l had fabricated a
falsehood, This l could not, nor
would not do, and thus the contro-
ycrsy has been going on down to the
prc5ent time. And | want to say
right here, and no honorable man
will expect me to, that | cannot aud
| will not rccant let the consequent
cos be what they may, Hayes got