The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1902-07-24

Fidelity of the Citizen?-A Stirring
Appeal to the Pride of Democracy.
Following is the full text of the ad-
mirable address of Hon. A. NJ. Scales.
of Guilford, temporary chairman of
| the Democratic State Convention
which met in Greensboro last week:
Mr.. Chairman and Gentlemen of the
Conventions:
l esteem it no small honor to pre-
side over such gathering. You have
come together from all parts of our
State as her chosan representatives
to promote her welfare and to achieve
her highest good. You do not repre-
sent all the people of North Carolina,
and yet all, Democrats and Republi-
cans alike, are vitality interested in
the results of your deliberations. You
hold in your hands her destinies.
Twelve hundred men are acting for
two million citizens of a sovereign
State. Who are you and by what
authority are you clothed with such
power? The answer to this question
shows how near is the Democratic
party to the people. If it were pos
sible the Democratic plan Of organ
ization would provide vast amphi-
theatre where all qualified citizens
could assemble and act for themselves
on all questions oi government. As
this is not possible, the next plan is
adopted and in countless precinct
primaries, the Democratic hosts have
met and every fifty men have selected
a man to act for them in the county
convention, and at 81 county conven-
tions every $50 men have selected a
delegate to represent them in this,
the General Assembly of the unterri-
fed. The plan is as nearly perfect
as man can devise, and if this con-
vention should not fully represent
the ideals and aspirations of major
ity of the people of North Carolina,
it would be the fault of the people
themselves. There is no place in
such plan for ring rnle and boss
ism, of which we sometimes hear,
and in nine cases out of ten the ring
exists only in the imagination ofsome
disgruntled candidate, or some citi-
zen who never attends primary. TO
take an active interest in politics is
not only citizens privilege, but it is
his sacred duty. What right have
to shirk the primary and convention
and leave to my neighbors the duty
Of maintaining for me and my chill
dren the blessings Of liberty and
good government? In time of war
we look with contempt and abhor-
renee upon the man who skulks and
refuses to fight in the hour of his
country's peril. Shall we forget that
'eternal vigilance is the price OF
liberty and that peace has her war
fares, which tax the courage and
fidelity of the citizen? The excuses
which men make for their failure in
this great and important duty are
numerous, but we will have time to
consider only few. Some men say
that politics is dirty business and
that they will not have anything tc
do with it. This sentiment we heal
only too often, and that too among
good men. God save the State and
nation where such sentiment be
comes dominant. Then indeed wonlt
> politics become business and doubt
less a very dirty one; with the men o
character standing apart, wrapped il
their robes of righteousness, and care
lessly watching the spoilation of theil
country If it is a dirty business. i
| is the fault of these very men, who
instead of going about and speaking
of the evils and corruption OF th
> politicians, should do a mans par
:. in correcting the evils and stampin,
: out the corruption. But, say some
i we would be in the minority, AM
would be outvoted by those who ar
in it only for what they can get ou
of it. This is not true, certainly no
o in North Carolina. ! am one of thos
; that believe in the saving moralit
and common sense of the people an
!. am certain that as long as the peopl
:. of North Carolina take an active in
d terest in their politics. corrnptio
e cannot permanently exist.
l. As another excuse for failure {
e duty, we hear men say that they d
r , not 90 to the primary and convcntio
l. because some man may be nominate
or some measure approved whic
they cannot vote for. These me
leave out of consideration the fat
that Republic must necessarily /
i. governed by parties. II man b'
longs to neither party he is forced {
h election day to throw away his vote
or to the narrow choice OF one OF tw
candidates in whose nomination !
would seem 10 be that Of going to tf
primary where his vote and influenc
a will have some weight. If his choit
wins. he has helped to make possib
the election of the candidate, who
\ his opinion. is the best man. II b
~ candidate is defeated for the nomin
ton and he is forced to vote for
7, man who is not so we'll qualified, {
n who is NOS even good man, he h'
- the satisfaction of knowing that
a. fought him where fighting is neede
- and where there is some chance
success.
~ The true position is to always be
to the majority of your party. but 8
to it. if possible, that the majority
on your side. A generous fight I
principle. however vigorous. il ma
NJ inside the party, will never perm
ii nently injure it, and every Dem
IN crat has the right to fight for pri
Il ciple-
lid 1t may not be necessary to ur
led upon North Carolina Democrats t
for duty OF being loyal to their party
l.. would seem not. When we study
n 40 history since the Civil war, we We
~, der that a true SON of Carolina cot
nd be anything else. A plundered ST.
nrostrate in misery. What was