The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1888-10-04
A COMPARISON.
CLEVELAND AND HARRISON
The two Letters Considered and Dis
cussed.
[Puck.

the mind, and which shows the mush.
Who wrote Mr.. Cleveland letter ?
The same man who called the atten-
ton of Congress to need of the revis-
ion of the tariff, and who now reat-
Trims what he then affirmed, and in
clear and calm language brings argu-
ment and proof to his support. For
weeks his opponents have been proph-
esylng that he would "dodge'' or
"puzzle' Or evade the tariff issue, when
he came to address the public. But
when the paper which had oftencst
made this prophesy printed his letter,
1t was under the descriptive headline !:
'' THE TARIFF THREATENED TO THE EX-
CLUSIoN OF ALMOST EVERY OTHER Is
SUE" The tariff issue was neither
"dodged' nor "puzzled' nor evaded.
1t was met fairly and squarely, on ex-
actly the lines laid down in the Presi-
dents message to Congress. In fact,
Mr.. Cleveland wrote his own message.
Any man who can read can learn
from that straightforward document
just what Grover Cleveland believes to
be the best for the country, and what
reasons he has for the faith that is in
him. Can we say as much of Mr.
Harrison letter?
No, frankly, we cannot, nor can any
honest Republican. The letter, from
end to end-with one remarkable ex-
ceptlon-ls mere repetition or ampll-
fication of the platform laid down by
his party at Chicago. There is not
saving this one exceptional line of
Harrison in it. So far as any declara-
ton of opinion goes, it might have
been written by any Smith, Jones or
Brown who was willing to say "ditto"
to the Chicago platform. Is this the
work of a presidential candidate? Is
it possible that man who seeks the
highest office in the land can find moth
ing Of his own to say upon the vital
topics Of the day? Are his opinions,
his aims. his hopes, his ideas OF policy
and principle, only those which the
managers of his party have selected as
fit and proper? If SO, why is he
leader? In what does his leadership
consist? This is the attitude of a fol-
lower, not leader.
But if we grant this strange political
product-this ready-made leader who
follows SO well-at least we may ex-
pect that he should be ready to ex-
plain and sustain he doctrines he has
50 thoroughly digested. We may look
to him to make clear what the utter
ances of the party lev doubtful and
questionable. And how does MFR.
Harrison meet our expectations! He
makes his statement of his opponents 5
position, and then says: 81 do not
stop to refute this theory as to the et-
feet of our tariff duties But why
does he not stop? Who is urging him
to 90 on? If ne can refute the obnox-
ious theory, why does he not refute it ?
He has all the pens and ink and paper
that he wants. He has had plenty of
time, and he might have taken more.
Here was his chance to make his repu-
tation and convince the country. That
piece of work is all that is necessary to
insure the triumph of his party. If his
opponents are wrong, let their error be
exposed, and they must be driven from
tine field. But Mr.. Harrison does not
stop, and he must not blame his fel-
low -citizens if they assume that he has
said all that he had to say, and that
what he leaves unsaid is left unsaiG
owing to circumstances over which he
! has no control.
We have called attention to the fac
| that once IN the course of his lette'
Mr.. Harrison leaves the safe guidance
/ of the platforms lines, and takes lit
tie flight into political economy all BY
himself. We say all by himself, fo
we cannot believe that any of his part,
managers were around when he tool
it. If they had suspected his inten
ton, they would probably have teth
cred him TO the ground with chair
cable. This is the fight:
"The surplus now In the treasur,
should be used in the purchase Q
bonds"
Here is a doctrine 70 preach to tn
sixty-odd millions Of people IN thi
country who are not bond holders
Buy United States bonds, says Nh
Harrison, and stop the interest on tn
public debt. But what bond -holde
outside of lunatic asylum IS going {
sell his bonds if he does not get the in
terest or an equivalent for it2 If tn
government wants to buy up its ow
promissory notes, it must pay a pre-
MUM on them that Will satisfy tn
holders. Who would give up a remr
nerative investment, the safest in tn
world, unless he were fully recon-
pensed? The government muEt the
set a premium on the bonds, suftcier
10 tempt the holders-in fact, mu
pay back the money It originally bo