The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1892-09-29


pie of North Carolina in their anxiety
! about your health, and in the earnes,
hope that you may be speedily re-
stored, | am, yours truly,
+. M. SIMMONS, Chairman.
My FELLOW CITIZENS:
For many years past | have been in
the habit of visiting you in person
during important campaigns and
addressing you upon the political
issues of the time. Being on this
occasion prevented this privilege by
the condition of my health, and
earnestly believing that the questions
to be decided by our November
elections are OF vital Importance to the
public welfare, l am induced to con-
tribute in this way my share in the
discussion of them.
| regard the situation as most
critical.
Since 1860 the legislation of our
country has been almost exclusively
within the power OF one political party.
Naturally 1t has ceased to be general
IN its benehcence and has become
local and partial in the extreme. The
making power has become the
tearfully efficient implement of such
classes, corporations, cliques and COM
bnatlons as could by fair means or
foul obtain control of it. 1t has been
made to subserve purely personal
ends. In divers ways the taxing
power of the government has been
perverted from public to private pur-
poses; money is levied thereby to
enrich manufacturers, to suppress
rivalry in business, and in every con-
celvable way to help the favored few
at the expense of the many. The va
rled corrupting influences upon the
business world arising from this
egslatlon produce their natural ef-
sect. The classes whose business was
thus favored flourish apace, whilst the
lnfavored have experienced in the
midst of peace and plenty all the
osses and hardships which are COM
monty felt only in times of public
calamity; and the extraordinary
spectacle is presented of nation
whose aggregate wealth is rapidly and
vastly increasing, whilst the individual
wealth of its chief toilers and wealth.
producers is diminishing in proportion
hereto.
From the Republican party, with
is disregard OF the limitations of the
constitution and its natural depend
ence for support upon the money OF
he people whom it had enriched, all
of this corrupt legislation has pro
'eeded. Without it there was moth
ng evil done that was done.
1t follows as an undeniable truth,
hat whoever directly or indirectly
rpholds, helps or supports that party
S friend to the corruptlons which it
has produced, and is an enemy to
those who would repeal that legisla-
lion and reform the abuses found upon
1t. There is no escape from this
The Democratic party, on the con-
trary, believes in the strict limita-
lions OF the Constitution, and has, as
q party, steadily opposed all abuse of
the taxing power or any other power
CT the general government for private
purposes, and has increasingly advo-
Gated the most absolute and perfect
equality of all citizens in the legisla
ton OF our country.
There is not a single wrong or in
Justice of which complaint is made in
our laws for thirty years past which
can justly be charged to the Demo-
cratic party. Not one. 1t has been
| break-water against the tyrannical
endencies of the Republicans; and
hough in majority has been able to
prevent some of the worst legislation