The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1899-01-05

/
best gift within the Presidents power
ought of curse to 90 to the candi-
date who withdraws i'll his favor.
Under the spell of a vision, it is
difficult to conceive how this progra m
could fail. 1t would be humiliating
to admit that the party spirit is so
deeply ingrained in our people as to
make them reject a measure which
will bring JOY to every Southern home,
immense credit to the nation, and
harm to none. The Civil Service
movement, the Good Government
clubs, the attempt at non-partisan
government in New York, are proofs
that public spirit is rising above par
tisanship, and, incredible as it may
seem, is even able to break through
habits. The vote of the South, includ
ing the border States, is assured with
unprecedented solidity.. The North
ern Democrats, always friendly to the
South, will respond with almost equal
unanimity when no weighty issues
| impel them to the contrary. Thous
ands of Union veterans, having long
fraternizcd with those whom they
| learned to esteem as worthy foes, will
obey the soldiers instinct of chivalry.
The Populists, in their ardent desire to
increase the happiness of 1.-The people,"
| will not neglect so rare an opportun-
ity. The Prohibitionists might per-
| haps feel alarmed lest the universal
Joy should lead to an increased de-
mand for the usual aids to hilarity;
but they will find comfort in the
thought that, when the voting is
unanimous, it will be useful for the
| thoughtful candidate to try to carry
| conviction and zeal to wavering minds
| by liberal and judicious treatment"
The only ones disguised will be those
who believe that patriotism consists
mainly in hating others.
That persons of narrow minds and
narrower hearts, accustomed to the
cant phrases of politics, will try to
,, prolong the unhealthy state of the
body polite, is to be expected. They
will tell us that those who tried to
destroy the Union do not deserve such
| consideration. If there were danger
that the attempt might be repeated,
the refusal might be justified; but no
intelligent person dreams of that.
What motive, then, remains but re-
! venge? Rather than aid the nation
| in accomplishing the immortal deed
| which will secure it forever, by the
strong bonds of love, against disrup-
| ton, rather than grant the South this
great JOY after long grief. these pecu-
liar patriots will insist on residual
punishment Ga trifle compared to that
| inflicted by fate), like the threepencc
on pound of tea which an equally
narrow-minded policy tried to fasten
on our forefathers simply ''to main
tain the principle" The question is
not: What do the eX-Confederates de-
serve? The real question is, first:
Will the proposed measure make the
country more united, more contented.
especially one section of it? And the
answer is emphatically, Yes. Second:
Will it harm or endanger any one?
And the answer is as emphatically,
No. Then who but traitor could re-
fuse his country such boon? Is it
not treason to keep ones nation at dis
cord?
All previous concessions which
wiped out the disabilities created by
the war were opposed by the same
argument of being announcements to
rebellion; yet no one will now pretend
that these disabilities should have
been maintained. Is it not high time
to remove the last9 A day will soon
come when it must be removed. 1t is
inconceivable how the Presidency
could be kept out of reach of Southern
men fifty years longer without shock
to justice and to Republican spirit.
Soon the Southern delegates will insist
| that the Democratic nominee be chosen,
at least once. from their section, and
no Democratic victory will be possible
until that demand is satisfied. Thus.
|! if delayed much longer, the conces-
sion will lose the element of generos.
ity; neither party will receive the
credit for it which might have been q
precious legacy to the future; to speak