The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1901-12-26
A REMARKABLE NEW ENGLAND OPINION
An Obseryant, Beneficient, Wise
Northern Ian Shows Proper Appre.
citation OF the Souti, aud its Past
Course and BenefdCtiOnS.
Wilmington Messenger.

Wilmington Messenger.
One who glances over even pOr-
ton Of the Northern newspapers will
be impressed with the constant dis
cussiOns OF the South, its interests,
it's shortcomings, its dense ignorance
and prejudice, its s.eadfastness Of
purpose and principles, and its COM
mercial aspects and openings. But
yesterday the Messenger referred to
the hostility and vitupertations
heaped upon this section. But now
and then you will meet with friendly
opinion, or positive commentator.
Not often will you be cheered by such
recognition Of facts and such cordial
approx al Of present intentions as we'll
as Of past duties faithfully performed
under great difficulties and vast sacrl-
fees made in behalf Of sympathy and
good will Tor the negro race. Even
such noble, generous benefactions arc
seen and written Of with admiration.
Lately we met with an extract from
an observant, beneficent, wise North
ern mans opinion Of the South. He
is a BOstOnian at that, strange to say,
and his views are not the views Of his
people, but nevertheless truthful and
Just. He shows a proper apprecia-
ton of the South in its past course
and benefactiOns. 1t reveals writer
not Twin. in little shell or peering
through little key-hole at the uni
verse. 1t is the opinion of an indie
| pendent, vigorous mind that appre-
| ha 4, IL fac and apI
| has holiness to proclaim them. This
writer is one in ten thousand. He is
generous and open and brave, and the
South will appreciate his words Of
admiration and defense. The opinion
of the Norfolk lirginian- Pilot is cor
rect, as we think, and in harmony
with what the III ssenger has said
again and again. The Norfolk paper
reflects the sentiments Of every gen
| une man of the South We cite
| passage from it:
| We have never seen the case
stated more forcibly or succinctly by
any man, North or South. 1t is pre-
cisely the view that intelligent South
erners generally have come to take of
the matter of recent years. They
have come to understand that there is
class of Northerners, noisy out Of
all proportion to its size, whose minds
may not be enlightened by reason
and whose malice neither time nor
generous Southern achievements can
soften. And, following upon this con-
clusiOn, the SOuth's temper toward
this class has changed from indigna
| to rn rtar Mt n ind
1t is literal fact that the South
has utterly ceased to care for the
chronicalIy hostile criticism of the
professional enemies at the North.'
The subjoined extract from the I'M
known Boston writer, is taken from a
pamphlet which he wrote on the
Roosevelt Booker Washington ''nci-
dent'-that marvellous dining and
| winning in the Presidents little family
| circle. Our Northern friend and de-
fcnder says:
1T is time that the people of the
South realized how hopeless it is to
win the sympathy of certain circles at
the North. The Republican fanatics
the rightful heirs to that band Of
charlatan5 who plundered the South
in her poverty, oppressed her in her
weakness, and Knocked at her in her
calamity-the contributions of the
Southern people to the prosperity of
the nation are without significance.
1t means nothing to them that for
thlrty-tive years the South has fought
the most heroic battle in human his
tory: it means nothing that the South
has supported itself, paid promptly
its share of the National debt incurred
by its coercion; contributed enor-
mously each year to the payment of
, Federal pensions; developed Il system
=, of education for both races, giving
. orethird of the educational fund to
the negro schools; opening up high
ways through the land; wisely dis.
charging the obligations of and dcvot-
ing itself with intelligent loyalty to
, the interests of the whole country.
To the fanatics at the North who
blinded by partisan rage, have never
kept pledge or obsycd law, the
South is but land to be despoied
and the Southern people but people
!, to be prosecuted"