The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1901-10-03
WAS IT THE REAL THING?
A Statement Recalled Which Is Close
Kin to Anarchy.
Correspondence Raleigh Post.

Correspondence Raleigh Post.
Apropos of the shooting of Presi-
dent Mckinley by = rsd-handed.
venom-hearted anarchist, men OF
prominence in this State have felici-
lated themselves and the Common
wealth that there are no anarchists
within our borders.
But il this literally true?
That in North Carolina we have IS
true and virtuous and loyal citizen
ship as can be found in any State or
any country under the blue dome OF
the ethereal regions cannot be denied.
But was there not . time when oil
was not pure in Heaven itself? Was
not an angel once expelled from the
shining courts for rebellione
And lest we forget ! want to call
attention here to two statements.
The arst is copied from the Standard
Dictionary and is as follows:
"Anarchist: A malcontent rsspsct-
ing all existing institutions-regard-
ing them as essentially tyrannical.
either as aristocratic or plutocratic;
especially one who would use violence
to destroy the existing social and
civil order OF things"
The second statement Is from q
speech made by leading Populist Of
| this State before one Of the national
conventions Of that party, and is ~
follows:
III We cannot secure our demands
by ballots We will do SO by bullets. "
Monstrous declarations! In sub
stance, if not in exact words, the
above statement was charged to .
man who is prominent in his party,
| who was . member of the State execu-
| tive committee and who is q standing
candidate in his county for Office. who
contested the seat OF his Democratic
opponent in the last General Assem-
bly,. If his declaration was not en-
dorssd it was literally condoned - is
shown by the fact that large numbers
OF people continue to vote for him.
Now I do not pretend to charge
that the man who made that speech,
or the men who, although knowing it,
continue to support him for Office,
we're actuated by the fiendish. insane
motive which prompted Czolgosz to
shoot-not the man Mckinley, but
the President OF tho United States
yet the most optimistic will not con-
tend that the leanings were not very
strong in that direction. -.-
Aud the words "plutocratic" and
.aristocratic!" How often have you
heard them in flaming sentences Of
polished rhetoric and striking elo'
quence used in public speeches in al
most the same sense ~ the dictionary
uses them in defining the hated anc
despised word "Anarchist?"
| Don't YOU think we have been tread
ling most dangerous ground, and dc
we not see occasional bits of evidence
floating about which suggest to III
that we are not entirely out OF thu
woods yet? Are there not some
among us who have not yet repentee
of the folly Of trying to fuse with ,
party which harbors and recognize!
as leader a man who wanted to ane
who said he would-use bullets?
| What was the implied meaning o.
the use of bullets? Was it no
strongly in the direction Of the very
thing that happened to the Chic
Magistrate OF the nation at Buffalo
the other day? Did it not imply ever
more, and extend to tho men Wit
vote, under and by virtue Of the Con
stitution, to place a citizen in th'
high office of President? Does it no
smack loudly OF anarchy? And is i
not a menace to peace and law ant
order? Is it not . sentiment tina
should be choked to death. even ~ vi
would destroy the deadly bomb
thrower or dastardly. treachsrou
fiend who with weapon concealed pre-
tends to greet chief official ant
shoots his life out? ----
Men and brethren, let US think OF
these things and the dangerous ten
deney in our own State in the last few
years
LEST We forgst!' r. N. P.