The leader., 1895-09-10
MIsrNrrnpRErrp CoMpLrMENr

Agr1ppa, "SpeakS 1Ortn Tue WORDS OF
truth and soberness" in today's LEAD
Err. Mr.. Summers is the youngest one
of large family of brothers in Lin.
coin county. Like Joseph of old, who
was the youngest, save one, Of twelve
brethren, may the stand he has cour-
ageously taken for God and the right
be signally honored and his wise lead
ership in the way of truth and patriot
ism be likewise acknowledged and fol.
lowed by all his brethren.
The above innocent, and we had al
most said prayerful paragraph which
appeared in THE LEADER of Aug. 9th
was taken as the text for rather &C
rimonious communication in the last
issue of the Lincoln County Times
captioned, "Stay Your Insinuations'
and signed Summers Bros"
THE LEADER and its editor are not
given to INDUCING in "insinuations;'
that is not their style, as is abundant
ly well-known, and we deny that
such was designed or even thought OF
by us in the above paragraph. Neither
will any unprejudiced, dispassionate
critic be able to discover in it any
thing which savors of "unkind epithets
and misleading criticism"
The obvious and real intention was
to compliment and encourage our
young correspondent for rising superb
or to old political associations, preju-
dices and environment, and with some
thing of the moral heroism displayed
by Paul in chains before Festus and
Agrippa, like Paul, "Speak forth the
words of truth and soberness" on the
subject he had voluntarily chosen to
discuss. Unfortunately, there are thou
sands upon thousands of men all over
our country today, who are bound in
chains of political partisanship and
prejudice, who not only haven't the
moral and political courage to speak
their real convictions, but are actually
too blinded by their partisan preju-
dices to realize that they are in chains
at all.
The second thought was suggested
by our correspondents large fraternal
connection, and uttered with no
thought of disrespect or casting of
fensive insinuations. We have read
and re-read his article since the publ
cation of Summers Bros" reply, and
we confess we do not see how we could
we'll wish for them or ourself any bet
ter moral and political code. Joseph's
elder brethren were not set at naught
and belittled by recognizing his wis
dom and leadership. Levi became the
ancestor of Moses, the great leader
and law -giver of Israel, and Judah the
ancestor of David, Solomon and "the
Lion of the Tribe of Judah" "the
Prince of Peace"
In view of all this, it was with no
little surprise that we read the i'll
tempered communication referred to
in the Times. We can only account
for it on the hypothesis that one of
the Summers Bros" was recent can
didate for Sheriff, and being defeated,
is probably still chatting under that
defeat and in 'striking" frame of
mind. In any view of the case, it is
lamentable to see men who profess to
be still loyal to Prohibition, borrow
ing the vocabulary of the saloons and
h,1rIfnn cy1nh 81, al 81
those who have consistently and per-
sistently battled for the success of
this great reform.
That Party Prohibitionists, includ-
ing the one at whom that shaft was
specially aimed, are not blindly parti-
san or "fanatical," is abundantly evil
denced by the fact that in nominating
a county ticket in this county, they
did not confine their selections to their
own party, which they might easily
have done, but centered on good men
who had already been nominated by
other political parties.
A few closing words in reference to
the aspersions the Summers Bros"
seek to cast upon the Prohibition par
ty, and the prejudice sought to be
aroused by linking it with female suf-
frage, and we will dismiss the subject.
The statement of few facts will eff
fectually spike that gun and convict
them of glaring inconsistency.
~ The Democratic Gamaliel at
whose feet they now sit, voted for fe-
male suffrage in the Constitutional
Convention of this State in 1890; and
it is further fact that the Democrat
ic party to which Summers Bros" now
claim allegiance, has actually giUen
the ballot to tcOn.en IN certain elections
in this State.
~ The Summers Brother who lately
ran for Sheriff in this county, Subject
to the action of the Democratic party"
voted the National Prohibition ticket
at the last Presidential election, with
the same suffrage plank in the plat
form it has now,
If all this isn't swallowing" "politi-
cal prohibition" woman suffrage .
ETC., what is it?
Verify, people who domicil in glass
houses should not be guilty of the fol-
ly of shying stones at their neighbors