The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1898-09-29
NJ KLVLEY
CORT0 ON
The LOWeSt Prices
on Record.
But Dopulists Make No Out
cry as in i694-Why
They Are Silent.

Consistency is said to be jewel-and
inconsistency, in the teachings of pub
lie men, is always matter of fair
comment. In 1894 it was a great msfOr-
tune TO the people of the South that
cotton fell in price and went to a very
the Republican speakers at that time
filed the air with their denunciatiOn
of the Democrats. and claimed that 5
cent cotton was Democratic cotton, as
Cleveland was then President. 1t was
indeed true that Cleveland was Presi-
dent and that cotton was very low;
and advantage was taken of those facts
to stir up TIE people against the Dem
ocratic party by charging that the low
price of cotton was Democratic prices,
and that idea was held up before the
people 50 Zealouslv and persistently
that many good people were led to re-
gard the Democratic party with great
bitterness because they were told and
LED by these agitators to believe it had
brought these evils on the land.
But now how is it? We no longer have
a Democratic President, while cotton is
still lower than it was in 1894. Do we
hear the PopuliSt leaders say anything
in their speeches about Mckinley
prices? No; not at ALL When McKin-
ley was inaugurated, on March 4. 1897,
cotton was bringing a good price. Good
mdding sold FOR 6B 30 cents a pound,
ard ordinary sold for as cents, and the
intermediate grades in proportion. Now,
good middling sells for 5 cents a pound
n I'd do.
cline on the best grade of about cents,
Ind consistency would require the Pop
Ulist speakers to berate McKinley's ad-
nllnlstraton ON that subject. But
they do not say a word to the people
about Mckinley cotton! Cotton has
reached the lowest point ever known in
its history, but 70 one rises to de-
nounce Mckinley prices Of cotton. They
were powerful in their efforts to make
The people lay the low price of cotton
in 1894 at CYeVeland's door. but appar-
entity are f0rgetful of the fact that I'M
der the Mckinley administration cot
ton has gone down 2 cents and is
lower than ever.
Why are the POpulist speakers and
newspapers 50 silent on this point
Why did they call low cotton in 1894
Cleveland cotton, and vet. in 1898 alb
stain from calling low cotton Mckinley
cotton? Why are they guilty of this IN
y
that time the POpulist speakers had the
purpose of making the Democratic
party OdlOuS to the people, while now
they propose to boost up and sustain
the Republican administration, because
fusion linked their fortunes with that
party.
They do not act on the principle that
sauce for the goose is sauce for the
gander. They sought every occasion
to tear down the Democratic party, be-
cause cotton then was low. They now
are allied with the Republican leaders,
and their partisan success requires
them to strengthen the Re
publican party; therefore they carefully
keep their mouths shut on the subject
of low cotton When they could pic
ture the distress in our homes because
of the low price of cotton in Cleveland's
administration they did SO, in order
to injure the Democratic party. Now
they are Indifferent to the existing low
price of cotton, and thew never once
urge the people to hold the Republican
party responsible for Mckinley cotton
Such glazing inconsistency Is open to
criticism. But the reason is plain. The
POpuliSt leaders We're in 1894 making
war on the Democrats; in 1898 they are
covering up Republican shortcomings
sustaining Republican methods, boost
ing Up the Republican party. and some
Of them are putting on Republican uni
forms, While others of them are receiv-
ing Republican salaries and are get
ting relief from the Republican ad-
ministratiOn. And so the people are
not told anything by them of the low
price of cotton under Mckinley as
President. But the people will remem-
Der the fact and will see the baseness
and treachery to principle of these false
leaders.