The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1892-11-03

Mr.. EDITOR AT the request OF
Mr.. S. Ohio Wilson, desire through
the medium of the press to lay before
the people of North Carolina the above
letter, which I think contains the
strongest possible proof of the charge
lie therein essays to answer. 1t will
lie observed he does not deny the state
ments made by Messrs. Reed and
Bell, and makes the single point that
the g Band is not political society.
In other words, summoned TO the bar
Of public opinion, his plea is what is
known among the lawyers as plea by
way O" confession and avoidance. He
admits by not denying (under c!rcum-
stances which imperatively call for
denial if one had been intended) the
existence in North Carolina of the
:. Gideon's Band.' He admits there
by that Messrs. Reed and Bell have
correctly described the machinery by
which it works, to-wit Chiefs, sub
chiefs, thirty select men in each county
md 800 in each Congressional dis
trict, " who can be relied On in all
meetings." He admits thereby that
these men are bound by oath, under
severe penalties, to execute call orders
emanating from their superiors he
admits that he initiated Reed and
made him sChief'' in the Ninth Con-
sressional district he admits that he
iade overtures to Bell to join and
.vealed to him the secrets of the
" Band )" he admits that he declared
le purposes OF the Band to be to pro-
,ote the " Reform movement. But
BE- says the g Band" is not political
society.
leave it to the intelligent people
OF the State if this is not fair inter-
ptetation, indeed the only admissible
Interpretation of his letter. These
facts being admitted or proven, the
people will not accept Mr.. Wilson's
conclusion as to whether they constl-
tnte a political society, especially when
it is we'll known that he and some of
his followers have very eccentric no
tons about what is political. They
VIII take the facts and decide
fer themselves, and these facts, ad-
n itted, as l have shown, by Mr.. Will
son, show a we'll defined political
organization. 0
What did Mr.. Wilson mean when
be told Mr. Bell the object of the band
was to promote the " reform move
ment ?" Did he refer to the platform
o. principles adopted at Cincinnati in
1891, which with slight amendment,
were afterwards incorporated in St.
Louis platform and then adopted at
Omaha ? What could he have meant
# not this? He SO understood him, tor
he replied the scheme was dangerous
ard would destroy the Alliance and
defeat the reforms proposed. Is there
ary doubt about what is known as the
:" ,etorm movement" being political
movement Does it not seek TO have
certain we'll defined policies enacted
with to have the fundamental law
changed?
There seems to be considerable OBJ
tuseness on the part of some people in
this State as to what constitutes pollt
ical action, but it is hard to be be-
iieved anv can be found SO dull as
not to see that what was popularity
known as the reform movement was
then political move, and has con-
tinued up to the present time to be
lore.
If Messrs. Reed and Bells letters
lett any doubt (and think they did
not in the minds Of our people about
the actual existence here of a political
& :iety, Mr.. Wilson's letter finally re-
moves that doubt.
The existence of q Gideon's Band
| in this State, and the statements Of
NJ .ssrs. Reed and Bell in reference
tt .reto not being denied, the people
" Il, of course, form their opinion of
its character and objects from the
st; tements of these gentlemen.
If the order is political ii is unlaw-
u if the order is not political, but
| m rely intended to control and direct
ihe deliberations of the Alliance. then
S an outrage upon the members of
Ii. Alliance who not been admitted to