The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1896-07-02

standard of the Fourth district in the
hands of Democrat. In the name of
the great Democratic party I receive
it, and by the help ofGod and the DEM
ocratic hosts I will bear it to victory
in November. say victory because
as stand here to-day I represent a
vital, eternal, principle of truth and
truth knows no defeat. The flower Of
justice is perennial-Democracy is JUS
tice and justice lives forever.
1t is true that dark clouds have gath
cred around US, but thank God, we see
silver lining to those clouds, which
are soon to melt away before the rising
sun of the Democratic party.
My friends, beg your indulgence a
few moments. For twenty years we
had lived under Democratic rule. The
administration of affairs. in our State
was about as nearly perfect as could be
found among mankind.
Taxes were as low as in any civilized
community on earth.
The sound of the school bell linked
in one unbroken chain the music of our
mountain cataract and the sighing of
the sea.
Magnificent charitable institutions
for white and black alike have been
erected.
Churches sprung up as if by magic in
every hamlet.
Noun tain and sea were connected by
rail.
The debt of the State had been hon
estly adjusted.
The cotton crop Of the State and
more besides was manufactured within
our borders.
Great places were filled by great
men.
Away from home we named our State
with pride and satisfaction.
All this and much more was con-
structed out of the ruin and debauchery
of former Republican rule.
Loyal North Carolinians, what have
you witnessed within the last eigh-
teen months?
You have seen Legislature assem-
BILE which was a disgrace to civiliza-
ton.
You have seen every pledge made to
the people broken. You have seen
taxes raised, when they promised to
| reduce taxes. You have seen expendi-
lures increased, when they promise!
greater economy. You have seen use
| less offices created and filled by incom-
| petent men when they promised to re-
duce the fees and salaries of the offices
| which already existed.
You haze seen the very halls Of leg.
islation invaded by criminals, and
frauds perpetrated unknown in the
| annals of crime. You find yourselves
| to-day living powerless under the oper.
| alton of a law concocted, introduced
| and enacted into law by some criminal
You find yourselves Inundated al
home and ashamed ofyour State abroad
What shall you do? Submit to this
longer?
The Democratic party redeemed the
State in the face of greater odds.
1t will redeem the State again in this
year Of 1896.
We will fight for the honor of our
homes. We will appeal to the man
hood of the people. We will appeal tc
that higher patriotism which puts State
above party and the God of justice will
| give us the victory. The Democratic
| party has sometimes been defeated; il
has never yet surrendered.
Shade of imm Ortal Vancet look down
from thy mountain resting place ant
bless this struggle for the honor of thy
! native State!
But my friends, there is a still
greater fight to be made in the nation
Where shall we stand, on the side o
| him who tells us shat a contraction o
the currency brings prosperity, tha
nothing but gold is money, that the
farmer doesn't need any money If hi
| has plenty to eat, that if he is not pros
| porous. it is because he is lazy. ant
that the gold bond g the panacea fol
every i'll:
l know not what the views Of Others
! may be; I will not impugn the motives
of any fellow Democrat, but so hell
me God, l will never subscribe to such
sentiments.
! Some measure should be devised
| whereby the government should moi
| be forced to issue bonds in time o
| peace.
Some measure should be formulated
whereby the government will not, il
the future, be at the mercy Of less thar
| half dozen financiers.
| believe as stand here to-day tina
| all this can be accomplished by the
| simple repeal of the act of 1873 which
destroyed silver as a primary money.
All! But we are told the United
States cannot do this alone. They tel
| US we must wait, wait for the cooper
| alton of England. Eighty years We
have waited for this. eighty years
| longer we will wait in vain. The only
concessions we have ever wrung from
England have been by the cannon bal
and canister.
If the Mecklenburg patriots hat
waited, North Carolina would not have
| been the first to throw Off the yoke o
British rule.
If the colonies had waited for an in
| ter-colonial agreement there woul'
have been no war of the Revolution o.
Declaration of Independence.
If Grouchy and Ney had not waite'
eight hours to execute Napoleon's Or
| ders the battle of Waterloo might no
have been lost.
Mortal man should never wait to d,
right. l know of but one thing tina
comes by waiting, death, eternal night
1t is dangerous word. Let US beware
of it when confronted with ster
duty.