The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1896-08-27
Old Time RadicaIism and Latter Day
Republican-Populist Fusion Con-
trasted.
{ CORRESPONDENCE oxford Public Ledger

Correspondence oxford Public Ledger. }
KITrRELL, \. C., Aug. I, 1896.
Mr.. EDIToR:-PeopIe have asked and
asked over again Tom Watson's ques-
ton: Where are we att" | do not
know where We are going, but locally
speaking, / think | can tell where we are
now. Old time '6S Radicalism gave US
John Ragland, Cuffy Mayo and one
armed Jim Crawford to vote for, as that
was the best it could do. was Repub-
lican then and one yet-what you call a
moss back.
We radicals then would have had bet
ter men for leaders and office holders if
better men had not been ashamed to go
with us on account OF race prejudice, the
cry of niger, scallawag, and associate
of carpet-bagger. But we stood to our
party and intend still to do so, if we can
stand it, though the pill is bitter. 1868
Radicalism gave us now and then a mig
ger to vote for because better men in the
party among the whites could not be
found, but thanks to the late lamented
Douglass legislature wherever there is
fusion, as there is in Vance Rep-ROp
fusion this year, the honest race respect
ing white men must not only vote for
one but for or 6 cOlOred men.
| will try my best to keep up with the
procession and preserve my party integ-
rity, but | must say when rejecting on
the pressure | stood up under in the old
days to vote for one cOlOred man and
stand for equal rights for him before the
law, that never expected to see those
of my enemies who denounced me SO bit
terly now actually going me not only
one better but five better. Oh. what
change has come over the spirit OF their
dark dream. But a death bed repent
ance is better than no repentance at all.
Our old friend Nick Harris used to preach
that not many such were genuine. And
he also preached that a genuine repent
ance demanded that we make amends
for the wrong
The grass grows high and green over
honest John highlands grave. Cuffy
Mayo has mingled with the dust and the
pistol so long associated with his name
has crumbled into rust, and niger jim
Crawfords other arm has joined the one
he lost in defense of his country, but it
remains for the Populists OF 1896 to
right the wrongs OF 1868 and publish to
the world Eve were wrong and they were
right.
Honest John was denounced for his
principles; ne was actually beaten with
many stripes. l saw the man, who held
the coat of his assailant Travelled stained,
on his return from the late Republican
convention, not as Rep. but as Pop.
locker on in favor OF fusion, and Messiah
Zachuel walked by his side. bethought
me how he had held the garment OF him
who stoned Honest John, and it occurred
to me that other fruits worthy OF repent
ance should be shown; that the remains
of poor old Cuffy and Jim Crawford
ought to be removed to the last resting
place of Honest John and that every
white man who now proposes for the
first time to vote for niger ought to
give dollar for monument as q kind
of Peters-pence or penance for their sins
OF the past, and that the central figure
to the memory of Honest John Ragland
| should contain as expressive of not only
his but the sentiments of the donors the
old inscription:
Remember friends as you pass by,
AS you are now so once was |,
AS am now, you soon shall be,
Prepare for death and follow me-
Only those who contribute to such O
monument are worthy of support by
old time Republicans.
Old FASHION SCALAwAG.