The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1902-08-21
TIMELY WARNING.
Pertinent Talk Aaent Politics in
Vance County.

Vance County.
1t is deemed expsdient to offer a
few suggestions to the Democrats Of
this county at this time.
| am sure that party friction,
which is always as unnecessary as it
is unfortunate, would be positively
inexcusable with the Democracy Of
Vance county. Let's not forget that
party harmony is essential to party
sions beget defeat and invite disas-
ter.
From the information at hand there
seems to be some misunderstanding
about the causes and wherefores
which have ;ictuated some Of our
friends in showing their wilingne SIS
to serve the dear people by offering
/ them selves as candidates for the
Democratic nomination for the Leg
islature.
Misunderstanding are dangerous
things, in fact Misunderstanding has
scattered an! destroyed those who
have been in possession of victory,
SO take warning.
There are some three or four an
nounced candidates for the Legisla-
ture, with probably as many more
aspirants hid in the bushes with their
lightning rods up. In some respects
these conditions are unfortunate but
under certain circumstances it is de-
sirable to make selection from sew
eral candidates for a position where
the fitness of the man for the place
is the most important consideration.
l take it that in selecting their
representatives the people perform
the most exacting duties of citizen
ship. 1t is every mans duty to him
self and to his State, to support only
the most available and most efficient
candidate for Office, and when one
would have his party nominate can
didate whom he believes to be less
fitted OF qualified to fill the position
sought than another, in my opinion,
he does not only an injustice to his
party but violence to his rights of cit
izenship. All things being equal
the responsibilities are materially
modified but no man has a right to
foster upon his State and party in
competent officers because of person
al popularity. A candidate for the
Legislature should be representa-
tive man of both his party and his
people and while it is desirab BILE that
he should not be unpopular it is i'm
perative that he should be fair, ener-
getic and able. He should be so
thoroughly imbued with the principle
of justice that fair dealing with all
the people is guaranteed in any law
or measure that he does not oppose;
he should be energetic in his efforts
| to promote legislation for the benefit
OF the people, as we'll as to expose
and defeat such Legislation as would
abridge the rights of the people
which has been guaranteed to them
by the Constitutions; he should be
able to discern between good and bad
legislation, promoting the former
and condcmning the latter and,
thereby demonstrate his fitness for
the place by the extent of his service
to his constituents. If he is not able
he cannot distinguish the fair from
the unfair and therefore his energies
might be misapplied.
Nominate a good man and then,
unless they want to be represented in
the next Legislature by a Republican
or man of Republican principles,
both every Democrat in the county
will support the nominee Of his party
whether he be lawyer, doctor, me-
chanic or what not.
1t would be a reflection upon the
intelligence of the Democratic party
Of this county TO assume that we are
incapable OF sending man to the
Legislature who is not thoroughly
qualified, therefore, it would be as
in-xcusable rot to send such an one
as it would be presumption in one
who is not qualified to expect or seek
the Democratic nomination. So at
the convention consider no candidate
who is not fully possessed OF the four
cardinal virtues i. e.-Honestv, Abil-
ity, Energy and Democracy.
1t is said that under certain contin-
gencies We will bring religion into
our politics. So mote it be. | would
not object to the injection of little
more reilSlOR INTO cur political al
fairs; indeed, if our religion had
more to do with our politics-if in the
pride of our citizenship we do not
forget our Christianity-if we pray
more and wrangle less the affairs of
our country will be infinitely better
off.
Don't grunt and growl but whoop
and boiler Smother now fhase ON.
bers of discord and dissension and
transform them into Democratic en-
thusiasm and then, when the storm
breaks let it be a Democratic cy-
clone that will sweep our opponents
off the face Of the earth.
DEMOCRAT.