The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1892-11-17
A Gard From MI. Hicks.

HENDERSON, \. e., Nov. II, 1872.
EDITOR GOLD LEAF Il wish in this
most public manner to express my thanks
and high appreciation of the efforts made
by my friends in my behalf in the late
election. The returns show that [ re-
ceived more than the party vote. state
this because it was reported that | was
not in good favor with my party and
was nominated only to be defeated. l
have no cause to complain OF a want OF
support of any man in my party.
Believing in the principles ofthe Delnoc-
racy with faith as strong and a devO-
ton as true and pure as any man ever
felt for his party, and possessed Of the
right to advocate those views, l was as
much bound as if by an oath to do what
l could for the success of my party
whether had been its candidate or not.
| blame no man for the same loyalty to
his party if actuated by the same mo-
tives. Neither have / any cause to ques-
ton the sincerity of the motives Of any
man in Vance county.
For me to be a candidate and for a
position did not desire, involved a great
sacrifice of time and labor.
The prospect OF being elected was not
bright till Oct. 10th. was then mis-
led by supposing the Peoples party had
cOlOred following somewhat equal to
the number who took part in their pa
rade on that day. l then entered the
canvass with will expecting to be
elected.
l estimated that in Henderson, Middle
burg, Nutbush and Townsville Garrett
would get 200 votes. The court gives
him 224.
He also got 48 votes that | expected
in Sandy Creek and Watson got IS
colored votes in Middleburg and Nut
bush that [ expected. The error in these
calculations was all that defeated me.
70 votes from Watson and ~ from Gar
rett or lit from Watson would have
elected me.
The result OF the canvass, 1 ,191 for the
| colored Republican candidate, $50 for
Democrats and $50 for the Peoples
party man makes a very good showing
| for the Democratic party when it is con-
sldered that there is a colOred majority
OF over 400 in Vance and that the county
was the first to organize the Peoples
party boomlet and nursed it SO assidu-
, ously all the year and even down to the
day before election seriously claimed not
800 plurality but 500 majority in the
county.
The feature Of the county canvass that
| is to be regretted is that the Peoples
party candidates sought to get votes
| by causing farmers and farm labOrers to
believe every body else and particularly
those who live in towns, their enemies
and are trying to cheat and defraud
| them. This is not true as every one
knows. | believe too the colored people
would have voted the Democratic ticket
much more freely and numerously but
| for sermon that was preached to them
here on the Sunday before election. This
was as much and potent a feature of the
local campaign as Republican Doodle up
North and Peoples party claims before
the Georgia election.
In my opinion President Cleveland will
| call an extra session of Congress at once
| after his inauguration, and the Tariff
now in force will be greatly reduced. This
| will in my opinion, fill the national
treasury with money, lessen by nearly
half the price of everything the Southern
people have to buy and increase from
One-third to one half the price of all we
make to sell. This will bring about
such good times in the South and West
and all other agricultural sections of this
country that there will be practically no
opposition to the Democratic party till
in the course OF revolving years it shall
become SO large that it will fall to prices
of its own weight. But sufficient unto
that day is the evil thereof. Let us all
| forget the past, thank God and take
| ready for the good times coming in
(1S93) the year of Jubilee. The ques-
| ton of the control Of the United States
| Senate is still in some doubt, but l am
free to say that if it is in the power OF
the Democrats to repeal the tariff and il
they do not do so before the next cleo.
ton, l have voted the Democratic ticket
! for the last time. But | have all con,
fidence that the party will satisfy al
reasonable expectations.
T. T, HICKS,