The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-10-30

Papers-Belief Expressed That Sem
ator lance Forgave Mr.. Simmons
Before He Died
Charlotte Observer, October 25th.)
Replying Ito the composite letter Of
Charles n. Vance and DR.. 1. w.
Faison, bearing upon h charges filed
before the United States senate by
enator Vance, against F.. NJ. Simmons.
for the purpose Of preventing his con-
firmation as collector for the eastern
district of North Carolina, We, the un-
dersigned democratic citizens and tax
payeTs Of h city OF Charlotte, beg to
submit the following:
1. This composite letter is unkind,
unjust and misleading. Mr.. Vance
seems ito nave a very vivid recollection
as to everything which ~transpired in
connection with the charges filed
against Mr.. Simmons, except the
charges themselves.
Unfortunately, Mr. .Vance's memory
as to the specific charges is hazy and
indistinct. This letter, therefore, is but
a repetition of the old adage about ex-
hibiting the old play OF Hamlet with
eAHi 0NNNAANi II Dd4IC ACL MI. dICG
does say, however, that he does remem-
Der that there We're some charges OF a
persona character, and some serious
objections to Mr.. Simmons, which were
filed at the time with the finance COM
mittee of the senate; but that he has
made diligent search for these papers,
but failed to find them in the records,
and that they had been "abstracted" by
some one. ne does not know who. This,
in rQniv ~ Mr. SipnnnnnS' accarfinn thos
the deceased senator did lot oppose his
confirmation "on account of any
charges against his personal charac-
ter clearly shows Mr.. Vance's inten-
ton to assert that charges were fled
before the senate finance committee re-
f1ecting on Mr.. Simmons private char
acter. But, unfortunately for Mr..
Vance, in dealing with SO delicate a
matter as a mans private character,
he is unable to specify the nature OF
those particular charges, because the
papers in the case were "~abstracted'
from h records, implying thereby, no
doubt Internationally. by some friend
of Mr.. Simmons, in order that these
serious charges might be put to Sleep"
Mr.. Vance is again unfortunate in not
understanding his moral duty in deal
ig with so delicate a matter as a mans
private character; to wit, that, in such
a case, he ought not deal in half truths;
that the thing homes men want under
circumstances rs the whole truth.
If he had understood this to be his
duty, if his memory did o again trick
him, he would have added hat every
single charge against Mr.. m was
made by either a republican or a popu-
list, with the solitary exception OF
Major z. j. Hale, who, by the way, IS
now supporting Mr.. Simmons, because,
as he says, "he more nearly represents
Senator Vances's political views than
any other candidate" For the purpose
of further refreshing Mr.. Vance's men,
DRY, and enlightening the public, we beg
to say that Mr.. A. J. Field, of Raleigh,
is in possession of the entire file Of pa
pers in the case. including all the origi-
nal charges, every of which refer
to Mr.. Simmons political methods.
They were prepared by the following
g~entlement: Chas. A. Cook, (Rep.). S.
Ohio. Wilson (Pop.), las. F. Ray,
(Rep.), Thos. S. Malloy, (Rep.), Jno. 3.
Hussey, (Rep.> and Major E. J.. Haze.
(Dem.), who is now, as above stated, an
ardent supporter of Mr.. Simmons. No
doubt MI. Field will inform Mr.. Vance
by what methods he "~abStracted" those
papers from the records, and also that
along with the aforesaid Charges"
were filed numerous endorsements
from the best, purest and ablest demo-
CIdtS III liz SIdlS, CSIlIl lHS W MI
Simmons sterling worth, integrity and
ability, not only as a democrat, but as
a private citizen; the fact being that
he was endorsed by the then governor
and all other state officers, including
every member of the state supreme
court, the states entire delegation in
congress, and no less a man and pa
triot than Matt. ". Ransom.
Who will dare assert that these lead
ing citizens of North Carolina would
have gone UP against Senator Vance
n his wishes in Support of such a
man as Mr.. Vance'S letter would imply
Mr.. Simmons to be-? Who will at this
late day, have the effrontery to hurl in
the face of all these sterling citizens
and democrats the charge that they
endorsed a man for office who was
nothing more than a political trickster,
and a citizen of otherwise shady" rep
utation?
AS much as We revere the name Of the
dead senator, in the light of the testi-
mony of uch men, We cannot help but
conclude that his opposition to MI.
friendliness for Senator ransom and
the Cleveland administration, n was
altogether a personal matter.
2. DR.. FaiSon, when he caused Mr..
Vance's letter to be published must
have known, If he was at all familiar
with the political history or the laS-
decade in this state, that it was not a
full. fair and frank statement Of all
the facts connected with the subject
under discussion, and, besides, Mr..
Fields letter giving all the facts
in the case was published in The
Raleigh Morning Post OF the 18th inst.
to which he might have referred il he
so desired
Under these circumstances, II Is
greatly to be lamented that he should
have seen the necessity Of calling up
the ghost of Senator Vance. with which
to emphasize his and Mr.. Vance's at
tempt to blacken the reputation OF The
chairman Of the democratic state ex-
ecutive committee. We yield to no man
except to DR.. Faison. who Is recognized
to be the greatest lover OF Vance in the
state), in our love and veneration for
the name Of North Carolina's greatest
commoner; and 1t Is for this easSon that
we had hoped, that al last, his almost
sacred ashes might be permitted to rest
in peace. But not after the dead sena-
tors lips have been sealed by the icy
49,
ALWAYS KEER an HAND