The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1892-10-06
A GREAT SPEECH.
Hon. Walter r. Henry in Scot
land Neck.

From the Scotland Neck Democrat oi
last week, we take the following com.
ments on speech delivered in that place
by W. K. Henry, Esq, OF Henderson. 1t
Is gratifying alike to Mr.. Henry friends
at home and elsewhere throughout the
State to know that he is doing such effec-
tive work in behalf of the Democracy.
We know him TO be strong speaker on
whatever subject he undertakes, and
that he is an able campainger is likewise
conceded, but he appears to be surpass-
ing himself in the present contest The
| Democrat says:
Last Tuesday was bright day for the
| Democracy of Scotland Neck and the
surrounding community. 1t had been
announced that Hon. ". r. Henry. OF
Henderson, would speak and n large
crowd gathered at II O'Clock to hear
this talented orator and distinguished
| canpal9ner, whose reputation had pre-
coded him.
| Seldom does one in Il political canvass
speak under more favorable circum-
| stances, barring the strong breeze, than
| did MIR. Henry on this occasion. His
| audience was composed of the business
men OF the town and the farmers of the
community together with quite num-
Der OF ladies. The audience was inteli-
gent and heartily responsive from the
first and the speaker was in his happiest
strain.
1t would be futile to attempt report
OF the speech; for a faithful report of it
would fill three such sheets as this paper.
10 ID,,
five minutes without moments inter-
ruption or a word of hesitation from the
| first to the last.
The speech was pronounced by all who
heard it, without single exception, the
greatest speech to which they had ever
listened
The speakers commanding physique
and handsome appearance claimed
| attention from the first, and the entire
audience hung upon his words with
GREATNESS silence save the frequent and
hearty applause, to the close of his
speech.
The corruption and NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
OF the Republican party since the war
were pictured in their true cOlors; and
the heavy burdens which that part, has
heaped upon the people, and the grind
ing oppression which has been rivited
upon them We're so graphically de
scribed and so faithfully and accurately
enumerated that the audience almost
felt the weight of these burdens from the
effects of the speakers burning clO-
quence.
''wIiAT Ais THE soUTH?''
At the proper time Mr.. Henry an
nOunced this as the theme for his ad-
dress. He proceeded to discuss the
causes OF depression in the South; and
the first he mentioned was false system
of agriculture. He then showed that, by
reason OF the iniquitous legislation of
the Republican party, the money of the
country has all gone North into the
pockets of the capitalists and the manu-
facturers and has left the South in
poverty.
The tariff was discussed with peculiar
clearness and great power, and an object
lesson was given by means of a drawing
which showed the enormous tax that the
people have to pay on all heir neccs-
saries from the cradle to the grave. He
charged the Republican party with it all
and snbstantated his charge by proofs
from the record OF that party.
The speaker then showed the iniquity
OF the pension frauds by which millions
OF the peoples money are annually
taken from the public treasury to pay
the demands OF the system.
The force bill was ably and eloquent!y
discussed and the logic which the
speaker employed in proving that this
infamous legislation will be the pet
scheme of the Republican party at their
first opportunity, was so strong and
convincing that no one dare dispute his
conclusions.
The speaker reviewed the platform of
the Democratic and Republican parties
and proved beyond the possibility of
doubt or contradiction that the Repub
lican party is responsible for the ills and
evils that Cypress the people, Mr.
Henry then reviewed the platform of the
Third party and showed that there is
absolutely nothing in it commendable
except those parts that are in accord
with the platform of the Democratic
party. He showed how utterly impossi- !
bic it is for the Third party to elect their
national ticket, even If every one of
their electors should be elected. He
dwelt at length upon Weayer's record, |
and showed up his atrocities and vii |
lainies practiced upon the people of
Tennessee and his denunciatiOns against |
thepeOplc Of the South. At every point |
he drew the record and challenged any |
one to deny his charges. He proved by |
the record that Weaver is a base SLAM
derer OF the Southern people and vile
Halter of the South, and asked how can a |
Southern man vote for him.
In conclusion Mr.. Henry paid a high !
and glowing tribute to Mr.. Cleveland !
and called upon the men of the South to |
stand to his support for he honored the |
South by his Cabinent appointments |
and by his bold administration which |
showed as much favor to the South as to |
any other section OF the country.
The speaker paid Il merited compli- |
ment to the ladies for the interest they |
in the good and wholesome |
and honest government of the country |
and assured them that but for their
presence he could not have spoken so |
long. lie thanked the audience for their
patient and respectful attention and sat
down amid wild and prolonged ap- |
plause. He had spoken three hours and |
thirty minutes and his last sentence
seemed as clearly enunciated as his !
first.
1t was by all odds the greatest speech |
the writer has ever heard and this state
ment is made without diSpdragcment TO |
the speeches v" have heard by some OF |
the ablest and most eloquent orators of |
the country.
A. Mr.. Henry sat down Il stream of |
people poured into theporch, from which |
he spoke, to shake his hand and thank |
him for his speech. The ladies came to |
meet and shake hands with the gallant |
and chivalrous North CaroIinian who is |
doing such Herculean work for their
protection and defense. After an hours |
rest and dinner large number Of the
Democratic Club, whose guest he was |
while here, escorted him to the depot.
and as the train moved away the crowd |