The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1895-12-19
CARD FROM Mr.. HENRY.
he Thinks He has Been Aggrieved by
Some Criticisms Contained In this
Paper Last Week.

, EopCI LAST W cen.
HENDERSON, y. { Dec 10Th, 1895.
EDITOR GOLD LEAF.-A gentleman q
, your noble and generous disposition
who has thus far acted toward me tn
part OF a brave political opponent. vii
no doubt gladly accord me space in YOU
columns for reply to the criticisms con
tanned in your last issue touching nv r.
cent speech in this town. Besides. havin!
given place to structure. not only upon
my address but by insinuation upon
myself as well, you will recognize that b,
the ethics of journalism and the dictate
OF fair play | have right to claim
such space. You say Mr.. Henry de-
claredit wasnot his purpose to use abu
sive language towards individuals. hu
soon warmed up to the point of using
such choice epithets as liars and COW
ards pretty freely when he came tC
speak of certain portion of the Dem
ocratic press, and those who have i'm
pugned his motives in allying himsel
with the Populists
When | said would not use abusiv,
language towards individuals it was
clear, or intended to make it so, that
meant. and only meant that | would
not abuse those in my audience or else
where. who entertained different opinions
from myself, simply because ofdose opinions.
did not for an instant mean to say
that would not denounce those who
nave attacked me, or the corrupt public
servants who have betrayed the people.
Were you surprised that | spoke thus
| OF those who assailed me- What els,,
could be expected when it is remembered
that, like pack of hounds, one hundred
| and ninety seven of the two hundred and
thirteen so-calcd Democratic editors IL
beled and denounced me when exercised
the right of an American citizen 10
change my party atfilation?
did in my speech brand and shnll con
tlnue to brand every man in North Caro-
lima who impugns my motives in leav-
ing the sO-called Democratic party as nm
infamous coward and n liar. no other
language will meet the occasion.
"lou say, "Mr. Henry justly charged
the Democratic party with many short
comings but as unjustly credited it with
many things for which it is not respon-
sible.' If I"justly charged it with many
shortcomings" since it had full power
to prevent any shortcomings, many is
quite enough to condemn it, but aside
from that ask that you will please
name the ching or things that |
charged against the party for which it
IS not responsible"
You say that my Condemnation of
Cleveland and Ransom was well nigh sub
lime in its awfulness. Let me ask if |
said anything against these two politi
cal cancers that they don't deserve? And
1t SO, what? You are mistaken in saving
that every promise was rubbed off the
blackboard. One of the thirteen re-
manned. The sO-called Democratic party
promised to remove Federal supervisors
from the ballot boxes, and they did re-
peal the Federal Election Law. But
this act, in any view, sinks into utter
lnslgnificance compared with the violated
promises OF the platform. The people
were promised dread and they were
given a stone" and they knom it.
The attempt OF some of your writer's to
make the people believe that the force
and effect OF my argument depends to
any degree upon my personality or pur-
poses, Is so patiently illogical that the
most ignorant can see it. The man who
says he will allow another's vieus or
status or purposes to control his political
course and opinions, is fit subject
apologist and defender of the so-caIled
Democratic party. You have not sub
scrlbed to any such sentiment-such DO
litical puerility-but some of your writer's
have. The men who are thinking for
themselves, sho are marching in the
cause OF political and industrial free
dom, who have ceased to boot the boot
OF mere party, but whose battle cry il
Equal laws and Jeffersonian principles"
such men care not for my personal
grievances or political purposes, but
they do care to know if what | say and
To h.
true or not.
stump Or in the press that dares to an
swer me. Though there are many
men still clinging to the so-called
Democratic party for whom | have
the highest personal regard, there
Is nothing honorable that | will not
do to destroy the political Organiza-
ton to which they belong. Its promises
we're as fur as the chalk with which [
wrote the other day and it's treachery as
black as the board | wrote upon.
Since some OF your readers seem In an
agony OF apprehension lest at some time
in the future THE Peoples Party NAV |
honor me with official position, said |
being so great that they are |
guilty OF the absurdity, the partizan in |
sanity OF asking me to dissranchse nv
self by declaring that will never under |
any circumstances accept public office |
though it be rendered: will say even the
so-called Democrats who are still sticking
to the Old hulk of "Democracy'' have
brains enough to laugh at such foolish
as that. | will say further.
my purpose is never to ask for office but
will do anything that is honorable (even
accept an Office) that will tend to the
OF the people against the pluto
Gratis or strengthen my arm to more ef-
Fectually drive my dagger into the heart
Of the organization that poses as the
Democratic party. will say still further,
that office or no office, | will be found fight
ing in the front ranks of the Peoples
party against corrupt and incompetent
'o-caIled Democracy and the Infamous
methods of Grover Cleveland and Matt.
W. Ransom.
notwithstanding the attempt of large
part OF the Democratic press of North
larolina, and the Infamous lies and COW
lrdly insinuatiOns of II Yankee Cleveland
yoldbug to divert the minds of the peo-
pie from my arguments by charging me
With selfish motives in leaving the party
hat has disgraced, as far as possible the
memory OF Thomas Jefferson the people
that | left that party be
'ause regarded it as the most corrupt
political organization in America: be-
;anse though through period OF nearly
thirty years the Republican party heaped
/ mountain upon the people the Demo
ratio party, having full power, not only
'efused to remove that mountain of op-
preston, but deliberately madeit harder.
Respectfully,
WALTER X. HENRY.