The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1891-02-26
About THE LEGISLATURE.
Private Opinions Publicly Stated
The Alliance and Politics.
Landlords and Tenants.

The Alliance and Politics.
Landlords and Tenants.
Mr.. EDITOR:-Suppose you wanted
to 90 to Europe, were to go to Will
mington, buy ticket, put your trunks,
&C.. on board and get on yourself, but
Just before the ship had let loose from
her moorings, some one should come to
you and say, 'Why, you are not going
to sea on that ship? The captain,
mate, and in fact the whole crew are
field hands, Off comes your baggage
and yourself and your ticket is thrown
away. You are not willing to risk
your life on a ship manned by farmers
who have never seen the ocean. Sen
sible and correct.
Last November, with tickets in
hand, we, the people of North Caro-
lima, got on board the Alliance Ship OF
State, with Alliancemen as crew from
captain to galley cook. Brand new
ship and brand new crew. The sea is
getting rough, the wind rising and the
ship not obeying rudder, sometimes
heading for the Maelstrom of Norway,
then for the monsoons of the tropics.
In the distance the pillows are larger,
the sky indicates more storm, and | tell
you, Mr.. Editor, | am getting scared.
Now | do not wish to say one word
against the intelligence Of this Legisla-
ture, for | believe it the equal OF any
have ever seen in the Safe, and GER
| tainly it is body of fine looking men.
| There are but few if any demagogues
among them (you know the little boy
said demagogue was a vessel which
held whiskey, brandy and other liquids)
| and there likewise seems to be but few
statesmen among them.
| Mr. Editor, this Legislature reminds
me of an old woman in my native
county (HertforD who imagined herself
goose and sat on. a plate of biscuits
three months trying to hatch them.
They are simply mistaken, that's all.
1t seems to me the dark days of '65
did not exceed the dark days Of '91.
The Railroad Commission bill alone
will do North Carolina more harm than
all the laws passed in the State in 1868.
A. has a thousand dollars, and puts
it in store; B. has a thousand dollars
and puts it in a farm c., D, and
others have a thousand dollars each and
they put it in railroad. Ought not
North Carolina protect all alike? Why
rob the railroad men and rob the State
of railroads which might have been
built? Why rob the country editor of
his pass-the main half of the means
| by which he gains a living? This bill
forces half the State officers to resign
and half the newspapers out of business
or out of the State.
Look at the action Of this Legislature
about the public printing-whew, Sal,
get away, don't bother me.
Mr.. Editor, had it ever occurred to
you that this Legislature had but few
farmers in it? l was there on Monday
the 23rd, ond l looked closely in both
halls and 1 did not see half dozen
| farmers in all, and what few | did see
| were sitting away off in one corner
among the publicans and sinners. I
saw large number Of landlords. Now,
! Webster says landlord is the owner
of land or houses which he leases to a
tenant or tenants. Yes, yes, that's
what | saw. l am sure / am not mis-
taken. Webster gives as one of the
primary meanings of a farmer, 'sa ten
anti Don't you see the farmers are
nut in the Legislature, that they never
were there, that they never will be
there? Ask the landlord legislators
now in Raleigh assembled where the
poor farmer is and they will tell you
they left him on the back part of their
broad acres, in little one room house,
14xl4, with one fireplace and one fry
ing pan. They have never tried to
borrow money at or even per cent.
No, no. The landlord don't loan them
money at any per cent. at all. All he
loans them, under mortgage, is little
corn meal and western pork at the
Dutchman's per cent-two for one.
Landlords landlords! The smartest
people in this country. used to trade
with them, but don't now. They are
too sharp for me and l never intenC
hereafter to trade much with a class OF
people who buy everything on credit
and sell strictly for cash. How in the
name Of mercy can you keep up with
such folks?
Look at the good legislation for the
poor farmer. The poor farmer is
promised from five to eight dollars pei
month taking out rainy days. and then
paid in meal, pork, &C., at one hundred
pur cent. profit. Listen, We little
fishes Should any person advise the
poor farmer to leave this State, where
he is getting small wages, and go to a
State where he will get more, the per-
son so offending shall pay the sum OF
one thousand dollars. Was ever such
legislation heard of? Was ever such
injustice done a freeman?
| There are, according to my best fig
ures, fifteen thousand landlords in
North Carolina, and now serve notice
upon them that the Democratic party
will follow them no longer, that the
railroads, business men, professional
men and farmers will assert their rights.
| | compliment the conservative ele-
ment in the Legislature and the people
will say to them, well done thou good
I and faithful Servants
. Respectfully, &C.,