The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1895-04-09

I was not asking for q Consulate for
glory. Nothing could have induced
me to take my wife and children
to that equatorial, fever stricken eli
mate. The compensation was not su6-
Gent to induce me to go alone. After
I had declined this appointment you
declared it would have been madness"
in me to take it. The State press ridi-
culed it as unworthy my acceptance.
The Newbern journal said:
''The place is not of the rank to
which the gentleman was entitled by
splendid services in the last campaign,
but it is q recognition OF his claims
and may lead to something better"
It UCas a distinct recognition of my
claims. My declination was endorsed
and commended by the party and its
leaders. 1 was promised something
better. How could it be honestly
withheld7 To deny or preUent my ap-
pointment to another place, instead of
the one it was conceded I could not
accept, is properly denominated politi-
cal robbery.
You have spoken in my behalf, and
apparently most earnestly and power
fully. You have spoken ~eloquently
for others. You have so directed mat
ters that they have been appointed
while I have been ignored. Results
speak founder than words.
The New York Times says:
'The scourge is lifted; nothing is
left of the Fifty, third Congress but a
bad name. 1t is dead and the country
is glad"
You have been as false to me as the
late Democratic Congress, barring a
few good men, has been false to the
people.
Yon must be blinded by you vanity,
or you would see that when you took
a great Mission, to my exclusion, as
sorting that you had done the best you
could for me, you committed an act
that bears such semblance of bad faith
that even your friends cannot de-
fend it.
Having assumed charge of my
papers and become my representative to
secure Office, in the State Department
if possible, you could not, Witb honor,
take a place for yourself, especially
in the State Department, knowing
such action would swell North Caro-
lina's quota beyond the the banks.
and prevent my official recognition.
To say that you have influence suh-
Gent to have conferred upon you a
great mission, with or without the
asking, and not enought to obtain for
me a Consular or other appointment
during the past two years, is so illogi
cal that it appears false or its face,
and at all events puts an end to the
absurd statement of your friends that
''you have done your best for me-"
Says the New York World of Feb.
22nd:
'"The haste with which Democratic
politicians of high and low degree have
been falling over each other in a scram-
BILE for the Mexican mission is eXacting
unfavorable criticism in every direc-
ton. The body of the late Minister
Gray was hardly enroutefrOm the City
of Mexico before a petition was being
circulated in the Senate chamber In
behalf of Senator Ransom. The salary
il sly 500. which amounts to more than
$35, 900 in silver in the City of Mexico.
The petition was extensively signed on
both sides of the chamber by Senators
who at the same time remarked on the
bad taste of the movement. Senator
Hill: of New York, is said to have
c~ourteously declined to put his name
to it for this reason"
If this be true, you ought to have
had more consideration for me than to
play upon my nerves and credultiy for
two years and coolly announce, at this
late dete, that "you see no chance for
my appointment"
1t is no consequence to me whether
what I say in this paper meets the ap-
prevail of the State or not. 1t has the
approval of my conscience and is o
essary to my ~self-respect and to save
me from the contempt of those who
would despise me, if I bore this wrong
in silence.
You stand on the mountain top, but
your position and the frowns of your
friends cannot deter me from speak
ing. You are great, but in this matter
I am the stronger. I have truth, and
right, and justice on my side.
Thrice is he armed that hath his quarrel just,
And he but naked, though locked up in steel.
Whose conscience with Injustice is corrupted"
do not ask for, and would not value,
the friendship of any man who endorses