The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1896-01-30
PREJUDICE, NOT REASON.

IOunOS OF tne DemOCTatiC newspapers
ofthe State, an article credited to the
Memphis CommeyealAbpeal which
smacks strongly of journalism of a
decade or SO ago, a species which is
happily out of date with the new jour.
nalism of to-day.
The article in question is an often,
sive and unjust personal criticism upon
Senator Marion Butler, of North Caro-
lima.
Tne Lea0er asks pardon for even
copying any part of the article in
question, but the following extracts
will give those who have not read the
article some idea of the whole:
We seriously doubt whether there is
a living thing, from man to bacillus,
that has as little sense as Marion But
Ter, of North Carolina. This is why
he is SO famous.
The way North Carolina happened
to send this freak ofnature to the Sen
ate is this: \ motion was pending to
send him to dime museum; some
body in spirit of fun moved to strike
out ''dime museum" and insert
''United States Senate" and the Leg
islature being drunk, and Populite to
boot, adopted the amendment, tabled
a motion to reconsider, and let it 90 al
that.
North Carolina has been noted for
its humOr, but the broadest joke it ever
sprung on the cOnvulsed and hilarious
earth is its freak Senator, the thing
with the form of man, the voice Ol
an ass and the brain of a bird.
Now these personalities might do in
a political campaign in Tennessee, bu,
what sense, for they are without rea
son, or purpose could inspire such gross
Misrepresentation of man, whose
most bitter enemies in his own Stale
know full we'll lacks a great deal Of
being without wit or intelligence.
The C0mmernakAbpeaFs article is
not merely a personal distortion OF
Senator Butler, but is a sneering re-
flection upon the people of North Car
ollna, who elected this "fountain of
folIy' TO his high political position, fol
Marion Butler became member of the
United States Senate through the votes
of the people of this State n North
Carollnians have elected only "talk
ing machine, it speaks little for their
intelligence that they have done SO.
Marion Buffers rapid advance from
obsCurlty to prominence can. OF be
credited To mere chance, tor whatever
the means employed, Mr.. Buffers figh,
has always been open to the world.
The Lea1sr has no political afflliation
with Senator Butler now, nor has ii
ever had, in fact the organ in this State
representing the Senator has been kind
enough to place the Leader on the
"black list and charged it with being
the tool of Wall street.
But aside from this the Lea0er is no,
blind to the fact that Senator Butler
has been fairly elected to the United
States Senate for term of SIX years
North CaroIiua may have ii ade mis-
take in sending him to this honorable
and responsible position. Time will
prove it, but for the newspapers to pub
llsh and the people to read such often.
slve and impertlnent personal renec
tons as promulgated by the Commer.
nakAbpeaI, is both unjust and unwse
1t savors Of unreasoning prejudice and
malice, and is unworthy of any news
paper, even the most bitter partisan.
Senator Butler will be subject t
criticism, and justly SO, but let such be
honest, based upon actions, not influ
enced by any political bias, and let i
be free from all offensive or unjust per
sonalltles. which are more to the dis
credit of the authors of them than to
the person towards whom they ma,
be directed.