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

bankrupt, degraded and Inundated
she lay. Her credit was trailed in
the dust. while the ignorant negro
and the shameless interloperand alien
cooked their feet upon the desks
where statesmen had toiled aud filled
with loud, swelling words the halls
where once true eloquence was wont
TO ring. The children OF the State
were untaught, in order that scoun-
drels might hold high carnival upon
their ill-gotten wealth. BY herculean
effort and by the providence Of God,
who was unwilling that virtue, in
telligence and character should alto
gether perish. we conquered and
snatched from them the reins OF gov
ernment. We cleaned out the Augean
stables, purified the fountains Of JUS
tice, and substituted integrity for
thievery, honor for treachery. moral
ity for vice. intelligence instead OF
barbaric ignorance and statesmen in
the place Of cunning demagogues and
their empty-headed dupes. | pray
God that my heart may never become
so callous that should cease to honor
the men that wrought that victory.
From the humblest patriotic worker
to the magnificent leaders of the fight
let us engrave their memory upon
the enduring tablets OF our hearts.
They fought bloodless battle. amid
discouragements and criticisms pos
sibly from Democrats themselves;
the men who organized the forces for
the battle were doubtless called the
"machine;" but they served we'll their
beloved State and worked a miracle.
Under it's fostering care, the State
arose and girded herself. She repair
ed the waste places. replanted the
barren fields, rebuilt the burned
homes, and redeemed her lost credit.
In the midst of her dire poverty, she
established schools for both races,
and gave au exhibition of magma
namity unexampled in the history of
the world. She climbed slowly at
first but with increasing speed; she
toiled patiently and reaped the sure
reward. She fostered education, as
sisted the orphan, trained and sup
ported the deaf. dumb and blind and
Will VIC tCuoCl uCSc vi "otuCi
nursed and soothed those who dwelt
in mental darkness. No scandals
marred the administration of the
party during all those years, for men
of character and honor were at the
helm. Finally, however, there was
dissatisfaction in the ranks. Dema-
gogues stole away the affection OF
some of the sturdy yeomanay, and by
an unholy alliance swept from power
the party which had for so long pre-
served the State from disgracs. The
old leaders were set aside, and the
rest is familiar history. Only too
we'll do we remember when as little
band, saved to the party as brands
from the burning, we sat in the Legis-
lative halls and heard the chief bsne-
ticiary in his inaugural address gloat-
ing over what he in his shortsighted-
ness thought was the grave Of the
Democratic party.
Whom the gods woud destroy
they first make mad" Drunk
with excess of power, leaders and un-
derstrappers alike abandoned all re-
straint. Scandals became the order
of the day; extravagance and jobbery
were only too frequent, cities were
turned over to negroes and incompe-
tents, and again the State hung her
head in shame. Then it was the old
State looked around for a strong man
to lead her out Of her confusion and
troubles. All predicted defeat, and
success indeed did seem far away. 1t
required a genius for organization,
heart, an inflexible will, keen vision
and cool head to lead the defeated
but unterrifed Democracy to victory,
but such a man was found and the
fight was won. He was slandered
aud abused by the enemy, and he be-
came the best hated man in the
State. but with sledge-hammer blows
he drove them to the wall. l can
wish no higher honor for +. NJ. Sim
mons than the enmity and fear OF
those who would humiliato our State.
Again the seas are calm and the winds
are fair. Our progress along all lines
Of industry is wonderful. We rejoice
in our factories and mills, our farms
and mines. The Democratic party
|, believes in fostering ard encouraging
them all. A campaign OF education
is in progress. led by our eloquent
, Governor. How different his admin
: istration from that OF his immediate
/ predecessor. The latter marred b,
scandals and vacillations, and con
trolled by whims and caprices; th'
} former noted for its purity, abilit,
, and the steadiness of purpose 10 ad
| vance the States best interests.
i or such a party every Democra
, may well be proud. For such part,
we may well make concessions for tb
E sake OF harmony. Let us present il
: State and Nation a solid front TO tn
t enemy and fight for the endurin,
principles of the party. And al
0 though the thougbtless may impug
e your motives and the enemy carp an
e backbite with their tongues. the poo
e pie will rejoice and your children vii
e rise up and call you blessed.
e THIS WILL INTEREST MANY
q To quickly introduce Il. b. B. (Botani
s Blood Balm), the famous Southern bloc
l. cure, into new homes, we will send, abs
a lutely free, 10000 trial treatments. Botani
:. Blood Balm tB b. B. quickly cures oI
| ,,lna-o u.rrf,ta oczena itching skIn an