The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1894-03-22
TILE DEMOCRATIC PARTY

Col. ]. Hampton Hoge, of Virginia,
renounces the Democratic party and
joins the Republicans. In his TRADE
against the Democracy he says:
There is but one party and a half in
existence in the United States-the Re
publican party and the ragged edge of
mugwumpery, composed OF Mr. Cleveland
in front, Walter q. Gresham in the
middle and Wayne McNeigh holding the
tail. The man that can swallow that
kind OF political conglOmeration, that
is without principle, without policy,
they pulling in one direction, the so
called Democratic Congress pulling in the
opposite direction, while every financial,
pecuriary and industrial interest of the
country is being pulling to pieces, the
country upon the verge of bankruptcy
and the people destitute and on the
point OF starvation, can remain in the
Democratic party.
Col. ]. Hampton Hoge may be an
honest man, but it will be very difficult
fpr him to make the country believe
that he has given the true reasons that
induced him to leave the Democratic
party and become a Republican.
A few months ago he was Endorsed
by Nirginians as true blue Demo
craft" and at their solicitation he was
appointed consul to Annoy, China. He
received his appointment from the
same apostles OF mugwumpoIy, Glove
land and Gresham, whom he now
denounces; but before getting off from
this land of the free and home of the
brave for the Celestial Empire, certain
irregularities of lite and blemshes of
character became known to the Presi-
dent and the appointment was with
drawn. Every man who has seen his
bud of promise suddenly wither, as if
smitten by an untimely frost, will
sympathize with Col. Hoge, while at
the same time the country will sustain
the President and his Secretary in re-
calling the appointment Of the high
melted Nirginlan. 1t is fortunate that
the Democratic party can survive the
withdrawal from its ranks of men who
prefer the loaves of office to sound
political principles.
The assertion that the Democratic
party is the ragged edge of mug
wnmpery composed of Mr.. Cleveland
in front, Walter Q. Gresham in the
middle and Wayne McVeigh holding
the tall is not true.
Without admitting the charge Of
20 mugwumpery,'' we take occasion to
observe that however great these dis
tlnguished men may be, or however
honorable the positions they hold, they
are no more the Democratic party than
drop of water is the ocean. The
Democratic party is the People who
regard the Constitution as the corner
stone of their political edifice, and
the Chicago platform as their party
| creed.
The Democratic party of to-day is
not recreant to its sacred trusts.
The evils that aftlict the country are
not of Democratic origin. They are
the direct result of Republican rule
| and whatever hindrance there is tc
their removal comes from the Repub
lican party.
Without stopping to consider how
far present officials have wandered
from Democratic standards, we content
ourselves with the broad declaration
that the Democratic party does no,
owe allegiance to leaders, but, on the
contrary, leaders owe allegiance to
the party. Leaders may be changed
but principles are enternal.-New
Berne Journal.