The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1890-11-27


cal people; and believe it is safest in
the hands of those who have been made
strong and self-reliant in their citizen
ship by self-denial and by the sur
roundings Of an enforced economy.
Thrift and careful watchfulness of ex-
penditure among the people tend to
secure thrifty Government; and cheap
and careful living on the part of indi-
viduals ought to enforce economy in
the public expenditures.
When therefore, men in high places
OF trust charged with the responsible
ity of making and executing our laws
not only do condemn but flippantly
deride cheapness and economy within
the homes of our people and when ex-
penditures OF the Government are reck-
less and wasteful, We may be sure that
something is wrong with us, and that
condition exists which calls for a
| vigorous and resentfuf defence of Amer
icanism by every man worthy to be
called an American citizen.
Upon the question of cheapness and
economy, whether it relates to individ-
uals or to the operations of the Govern
ment, the Democratic party, true to
its creed and its traditions, will unal-
terably remain attached to our plain,
frugal people. They are especially en-
titled to the watchful care and protec-
tion of their Government; and when
they are borne down with burdens
greater than they can bear, and are
made the object discern by hard task
makers, we will not leave their side.
AS the great German Reformer, in
sisting upon his religious convictions,
in the presence OF his accusers exclaim-
ed, 81 can do nought else. Here l
stand, God help me-" so, however
much others may mock and deride
cheaPness and the poor and frugal men
and women of our land, we will stand
forth in defence OF their simple Ameri-
canism dehantly proclaiming, awe
can do nought else. Here we stand"
Thus, when the question is raised
whether our people shall have the nee
essaries of life at a cheaper rate, we
are not ashamed to confess ourselves
Gin full symathy with the demand for
cheaper coats;" and we are not dis
turbed by the hint that this seems
unnecessarily to involve cheaper man
or woman under the coats.'
When the promoter of a party
measure which invades every home in
the land with higher prices, declares
that "cheap and nasty 60 together and
this whole system of cheap things is
badge of poverty for cheap merchan-
die means cheap men and cheap men
mean cheap country" we indignant
ly repudiate such an Interpretation of
American sentiment.
And when another one, high in
party councils, who has become notori-
Gus as the advocate of contrivance to
perpetuate partisan supremacy by out
rageous interference with the suffrage,
announces that "the cry for cheapness
is un-American;" we scornfully reply
that his speech does not indicate the
slightest conception of true American
ism.
will not refer to other utterances
of like import from similar sources.
content myself with recalling the most
prominent and significant. The won
der is that these things were addressed
by Americans to Americans.
What was the occasion of these con-
demnations of cheapness and what had
honest American men and women
done, or what we're they likely to do
that they should be threatened with
the epi,hets "cheap," "nasty" and cum
Americana
It is hard to speak patiently as we
answer these questions. Step by step
vast number of our people had been
led on, following blindly in the path
of party. They had been filled with
hate and sectional prejudice; they had
been cajoled with Misrepresentation
and false promise they had been cor
rupted with money and by appeals to
their selishness. All these things led
up to their final betrayal to satisfy the
demands OF those who had supplied the
fund for their corruption
This betrayal was palpable; and it
was impossible to deny or conceal the
fact that the pretended relief rendered
to the people in fulfillment of prom
ise to tighten the burdens Of their life,
made by the party entrusted with the
Government, was but a scheme to pay
the debts incurred by the purchase OF
party success, while it further increas-
ed the impoverishmen Of the masses.
The people were at last aroused and
demanded an explanation. They had
been taught for one hundred years that
in the distribution Of benefits their
Government should be administered
with equality and justice. They had
learned that wealth was not indispen-
sable to respectabllity and that it did
not entitle its possessors to especial
Government favors. Humble men
with scanty incomes had been encour-
age | by the influence and the spirit Of
our institutions, to practice enconmy
and frugality to the end that they
might enjoy to the utmost the rewards
Of their toll. The influence Of the
American home was still about them.
In their simplicity they knew nothing
of a new dispensation which made
cheapness disrepu,able, and they still
loved the cheap coats of Lincoln and
Garfield, and hundreds oftheir country
men whom they held in veneration.
And thus these unsophisticated Amer
leans, unconscious of their wrong do
ing, demanded the redemption of party
pledges and clamorcd for chcapness.