The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1892-10-27

recently addressed to me by Mr.. Reed
a member of the present House o
Representatives and a prominent mem
be of the Alliance, and Mr.. ]. S. Bell
a member of the present State Senate
and recently State Alliance Lecturer
disclosing the existence in this State
of an unlawful and dangerous political
society, whose chief is S. Otho Wilson.
the official head of the Peoples party
in North Carolina.
The letters show conclusively that
this society did exist in this State bur
recently, and if it has ceased to exist
the duty of showing this fact rests upon
the men who it is shown introduced
it.
In exposing this dangerous scheme
to the liberties OF the people and the
peace and good will of society, these
gentlemen but discharge the plain
duty of good citizenship. The facts
which they disclosed clear the mists
from the present anomalous political
situation in North Carolina, and ex-
plain many things connected there
with, otherwise unaccountable because
SO radically at variance with all the
known characteristics of our people.
1t accounts for the refusal on the part
of many of those supposed to be under
the influence of this society to hear
discussions upon important questions
affecting vitality their highest interest !;
it accounts for their refusal to read
literature not having the stamp and
sanction of the leaders in this move
ment; it accounts for their bad temper
and the absence in their political con-
duct of that independence and conser-
vatism which has ever been a distin-
guish characteristic of the North Caro-
lima g breed" wherever found it ac-
counts for the automatic and subser-
Went manner in which in their politi-
cal evolutions they move and act; it
accounts for the remark we frequently
hear coming from the simpler but
more honest of these people to the
effect that they cannot do what they
know and admit to be their political
duty because they are sworn to do
otherwise; and it accounts for the
humiliating fact that people hitherto
brave and free have apparently sur
their independence, fettered
their consciences and ceased to act as
free men.
l need not 60 into an explanation
Of how these results might logically
flow from the means employed, for
every intelligent man will readily un-
derstand how easily few men acting
together in secret under common or
ders and to common end may shape
and direct the action OF a multitude,
each individual acting for himself.
As the existence ofthis secret society,
acting upon and directing the political
convictions of these people accounts
Tor the eccentricities which have marked
their recent conduct, So that conduct
corroborates and supports tine evidence
now lay before the people of its
active existence in our midst.
The presence here of the Band of
Gideon recalls all too vividly the
6 Union Leage, or Heroes of America"
hat nightmare of 1868, which in the
name of charity and in the form of
became the secret auxl-
airy of corrupt, political party, and
brought every home and freside in
he land under the shadow of a hand |
which neither the laws OF God or man
;an stay against the inexorable com
nand OF its invisible chief. 1t will |
De recalled how under the fostering
are of that party this terrible organi-
;ation gained such ascendency here
hat it required a counter secret So
:iety and all but revolution to break |
is hold upon the liberties of our
,eople.
1t was thought both of these socie-
les and all similar organizations ad-
dangerous in free country
ike ours, had been crushed in North
Carolina never to return again. The
igorous law against secret political
now upon our statute
'ooks were placed there with the ex-
,erlence Of those days fresh in the
minds Of our people, and express their
never again to tolerate
n our midst such a menace to liberty.
Both of these societies, the one
gainst which this legislation was
lined, and the one which now dehes
are of foreign inception, and were
,orn of disorders and agitations from
which we are happily exempt.
The " Union League" was of North
m birth, begotten ofthe troublous times
which Immediately preceded its intro
'uct!on here, and the " Gideon's
Sand" is the offspring of tina, wild
which characteiizcs the
nationalities which con-
ttute the lower strata of western
metropolitan life, and which now and
hen breaks forth in Hay Market riots
nd Maha butcheries.
A man better acquainted than Mr..
wilson with the sentiments Of our
'eople would not have attempted to
and introduce here an in
titution so obnoxious TO our most
herished conceptions and ideas Of free,
pen and honorable political action.
f he was himself imbued with the
Wild vagaries and methods of the
8 Orders" and unions" with which
Ie was thrown in contact on his visit