The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1898-06-02
GATGHINGS VS.. HENRY. !.
Hon. A. g. Paxton, Strong and Consistent Free
Silver Man Gives His Views.
Thinks Catchings Good Silver Man HenryFavors the
Formers Re-eectiOn-A Strong Letter.

jag Free silver manu Oh, yesl But
l hardly think he is the man we want
to fight goldbugs with, and that is the
sole and only reason why want free
silver congressman, Mr. Henrys free
silyerism is, il we are to judge by his
conduct too much like Sunday suit
only needed on special occasions and
for special purpose. He reminds me Of
an Irishman who drew two pensions,
one from The Federal treasury, another
under the Mississippi Confederate pen
sion law Being detected he tried to
justify himself by showing that be was
wounded and captured while in the
Federal army at Manassas, and being
unable to get back to his command and
Just naturally loving a fight SO bad he
had to join the Confeda and was
wounded when with Longstreet at Get
tysburg, Therefore he having fought
bled and died for both sides he was en-
titled to two pensions His judges
thought he was entitled to neither and
such will be the Judgment, I'm afraid,
on mG friend Mr. Henry Give me
goldbug Tom, rather, with his promise
to do right and be good The people Of
this district, all goldbngs and free silver
men, are deeply in debt to Mr. Henry
but I am sorry to say it is not a debt of
gratitude.
Mr. Henry was suggested possibly he
came out for congress at the last elec.
ton Anyhow possibly he saw bis
shadow he retreated to cover with a
letter declining to run, or withdraw
ing in favor Of Mr.. Catchings, alleging
Mr. Catchings peculiar value in levee
legislation. And silver men, al take
notice q cannot be mistaken this was
done while, as far the world OF anyone
else knew, Tom Catchings was strict
ly professed goldbug candidate. Up to
that time Mr. Catchings had never sig
nifed that he would obey any instruc-
tions Of aEy convention, and be had
publicly denied and repudiated the
right orauthority Of the national conven-
tion to bind him. And it was then dis
cussed and intimated that be would not
regard the instructions Of q convention
Of his own people. Now I want to say,
that, if Mr. Catchings was then Of SO
much more value to the people Of this
district than Mr. Henry could possibly
be, that Mr. Henry himself saw and
admitted it, and in order
that the people might have the service
Of this giant levee builder be voluntar.
lily sacrificed bis own bright hopes Of
seat In congress and they were bright
them and moreover to get these gallant /
services for his people Mr. Henry, a sil !
yer man, deep dyed in the faith. was
willing additionally, to give up the h-
nancial question and pledge himself |
and urge his friends o vote for a gold |
bug, believing and knowing that the /
goIdbug intended to vote for q policy /
that all candid silver men believed and /
asserted meant ruin for the whole |
country, I want to ask, / say why in
the name Of reason, honesty and good
sense is not Mr. Catchings now. chat be
is pledged to our policy better man
for this people in congress than Mr.
Henry? Was Mr. Trenry right them If
he was he is wrong now especially /
since now be win not have TO sacrifice
the silver question If be still thinks
he was right then, Or even now says he
ignorantly did it / say he Is entirely TOO
slow in his deyelopmentand zeal as sil-
ver man tosuit me. Idontthink be win I
ever know enough about the question
to hurt hisconseience when voting for
goldbug on some other pre- ing occa
sion ike, say that of 1906 Do ! want
sIr Catcbings} answer no 4 want
who believes deeply md thor
oughly in tlle justice and need Of free