The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1908-10-29
Judge Taft and the Solid South.
Atlanta constitution.

Atlanta Constitution.
Inthe first place, Judge Taft should
correct the impression to which he
has given circulation, unwittingly no
doubt, that the South is capable OF
being delivered" to any political
party or cause.
I'nthoughtcdly, perhaps, Judge
Taft, in speaking to some Kentucky
supporters who called to see him III
Cincinnati the other day, used the
passive voice when he should have
made it exceedingly active.
The South is not delivered to the
Democratic party, but delivers itself
by overwhelming vote of its people,
voluntarily, willingly, hopefully, be
cause therein are bound up its pOlit-
ical and its economic possibilities.
The South delivers itself vOluntari-
" to The Democratic party because
It's thirty millions OF consumers are
mulctcd by the iniquitous system OF
Republican protection to further fat
ten the purse of overgrown mOnOp-
oily.
The SOuth delivers itself voluntarily
to the Democratic party because 1t
knows it will be the du Y and pleas
IRE OF that party to rid the country
of a misunderstanding law that taxes
each individual consumer upon the
neccssarics of life, and i'll many i'll
stances permits them to be sold
abroad cheaper than they can be
bought at home.
II is Il condition and not u theory
that makes and will keep the South
Democratic.
The South has grown and prosper
ed, not through the false Republican
policy of trust protection, but III
spite of it. How much greater would
have been its prosperity under active
Democratic policies and principles we
can only surmise, and regret that the
opportunity has been so long de-
layed.
What Judge Taft said of the solid
South, ne might with equal prOprie-
ty have said of solid Republican New
England, as is suggested in II letter
from Il correspondent published to-
day
1t might be suggested to the good
people of New England-'there are
good people in New England''-that
they, too, are IA part of the uniOn;'
and, To paraphrase Judge Taft, that
they ought to vote for the party
which will give them that honest and
impartiaIly administered govern.
ment to which they, in common with
all the people of the country, are sc
iustly entitled.
There was time, perhaps, whel
the SOuth's Democracy could he
charged to sectiOnaliSm, but, happily
it is about passed. The South of to-
day, the live, active, pushing, bust
Hess South. Is Democratic from prin
ciple, and upon the merits OF what
the two great parties have to offer.
New England, the home of many o
the great trusts which have waXeC
fat upon Republican protection. fol
lows its natural inclination. but re
Gently has given signs of aniawaken
ing OF the people which will, it may
be predicted, eliminate ultimately il
Il determination to throw Off the Re
publican yoke.
The South does not propose to have
its Democratic motives questioned
they are maintained in determined
sincerity which every added evidenc,
OF Republican misrule can bu
strengthen.
While the Democracy remains tru,
TO the cause OF the people as opposed
to the Republican leaning to that O
the special interests, there is no fore
that can pry the South away from
its allegiance.
1t has been and will remain stead
fast.