The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1906-05-03

at the risk of losing his good name as
well as his political life and character
81 will do Mr.. Rollins the Justice to
concede, however, that he may really
believe that had reference to him and
the classes referred TO. He may think
he believes this, but doubt whether he
does. Mr.. Rollins cannot take refuge
behind members of the general assem-
bly, or In their company. In party eau
Gus they outlined and adopted a policy
as to the appointments to Office for third
terms, condemning such a course an1
advising and recommending against il.
This policy he, as chairman. has con-
sistently trampled under foot, the first
and most notable instance OF which be-
| ing the reappointment of his father for
a third term as postmaster at Asheville.
This, however, Is a family failing for
which Mr.. Rollins may be excused, ,
don't you understaudp
"The state chairman, so-called, runs
to the defense of what he calls the or
ganization and It's leaders prematurely.
he says they were not connected dlrect-
ly or indirectly with the prosecution of
Blackburn nor responsible for his in
dictnent- have not heretofore made
such charge. Gut will it be demand
ed that the prosecution of Blackburn
was more or less political contest be-
tween him and others whom Mr.. Rollins
| NAV call tho 0~rar;1oNior 1aa dar~S &c L -
wishes to? Did they not sympaChize
with and encourage the prosecution, not
openly and boldly of course, but in ev-
cry other way by which aid and comfort
could be given? What was thought of
it by Judge Lewis, the distinguished
lawyer who conducted the governments
case? In SATURDAY. evenings Record he
is quoted as saying, after the trial was
over, that he was never more mortified
in his life: that he came to prosecute q
| legal matter or controversy, as he sup
posed, but that instead he found that it
was mere political fight Whose po-
titical fight was it? Who was it that
conceived and reSorted TO such a nefa
rious scheme to destroy a political ene-
my? Who most desired Blackburn s
political destr acti..n- i'm Horth 4; areffnap
| To whom is his ruin amost important?
In the light OF the developments of the
trial, the public will not be deceived as
to who was really back of this unjust
and uncalled for prosecution. 1 cheer
fully acouit Mr.. Rollins of any connec-
tiOn with such scheme, for the reason
thai feel sure he has no time or incli-
nation for such large undertakings.
'Mr. Rollins thinks my remarks were
out Of place in court. He may be more
competent to pass upon This than the
eminent and just Judge who tried the
case or the distinguished counsel for the
government who were present and by
whom no objection was made. Il is to
be assumed that they were in better
position than Mr.. Rollins to Judge of
the relevancy or seemliness of the Ian
guage complained of.
Left s~ PubIfc.
"As to the alleged slanderous inter-
! view gwen by me at the state conyen-
tion of 1904, leave IL to the public to
say whether or not, in the light of what
has transpired since that time, the
statements then made by me were SLAM
derous. At any rate, they were made
openly and above board, on the spot and
while most of those referred to were
present, and apparently have ever since
been acquiesced in and undenied, and
| submit that it is rather late day now
to file exceptions to them or to attempt
to deny them.
"As to my ingratitude for the honors
conferred on me by the Republican
party, those honors were received at
the hands of the rank and file of the
party, those very Spartans to whom /
referred and still refer as heroes and
noble, patriotic men, and not from those
whom Mr.. Rollins is pleased to call the
organization and its leaders and to
whose defense he rushes with such un-
seemly haste. And it is In defense of
the rights and interests, of the rank and
file of the party as we'll as of my client
that protest against all misuse or abuse
of power and authority on the part of
'the organization and its leaders or on
the part of any ether leader or leaders
of the party.
If Mr.. Rollins will read again The
Man with the Muck Rake,' or have it
interpreted for him, he will find that
the chief executive of our country, In
the spirit and letter of every sentence of
that notable address, is pleading for
truth ms the foundation for all charges
or criticisms. It is admitted now by all
that the charges preferred against
Blackburn were false and it cannot be
denied that they originated with certain
men in the republican party who are