The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1908-10-29
HENDERSON. n. c., THURSDAY OCTOBER 20, 1908.

eight years during which Grover
Cleveland was President, the South
has known no other than the step
DANES kisses since the Republican
party first came into power" >" 1t
gathered the wolves in compact array
to feed upon the vitals of the pros
trate South; and now a Republican
missionary comes to our midst with
a sneer at prejudice and blind habit"
which keep the sheep huddled in the
only fold OF refuge they have ever
known; and even while the words of
Establishment and promise are sound
ing on the air, the old familiar fangs
of the animal protrude and a snar-
ling threat follows close upon the
seductive promise.
''The South is acting as a tail to
the Northern Democracy" All, real
ly? Are the dwellers in this benighted
region SO blind then that they must
&C to their constant and consistent
enemy to discover who their friends
are? We mind us we'll of dark days
at Washington when the South was
PROSTATE and impotent before an
angry and remOrseless faction, one
half inspired by sheer fanatic fury,
the other half by vulgar greed OF
power and plunder Who egged on
the war of prescription and OF polit-
ical subjugation? The Blaines. the
Mortons, the Colifaxes, the keifers,
the whole pack ofRepublican leaders.
Is it forgotten who stood in the
breech, or how in the very worst
crisis of Southern peril, a small but
resolute band of these 1espised
Northern Democrats, fought to ex-
haustion to save the South some
fragment of the rights OF freemen
and emerged at last victorious from
the unequal struggle? Oh no, Judge
Taft, we are not as easy to pervert
as you have been led to believe. You
will win a recruit here and there.
Some through the dazzlement OF the
bribes you offer Some because their
treasures are invested with the in
terests with which your party is
allied. Some from mere WEAKNESS OF
fighting without success against the
forces of darkness. A few will be
captured byyour shallow sophistries.
But you will call to the great body
of the Southern people in vain. Their
political alignment has deeper and
broader foundations than you sup
pose Their faith in Democracy is
bedrocked on principle. Their aver
sion to Republicanism is founded on a
full experience that it's practices are
as wrongful as it's theories are her
etical. They see you not as you see
yourself, but as the fgurehead put
forward by Others to cover the design
of forces which you could not control
if you would. They deem you per-
haps no better, certainly not stronger
than the malign and corrupt organi-
zation which gave you leadership
under protest and has already ar
ranged the plans for subduing you to
its policies. Already you are sur
rounded by those who would be the
first to cry Traitor did you really
pursue with single mind the course
to which you are ostensibly bound.
Already you are in leading strings
to the Republican politicians whose
Vaccinations have brought about
the evils which cry out for reform.
Already you have stopped from the
altitude of mental and moral in
| dependence and are cOnsOrting with
that element of Republicanism which
| has been foremost in mischief here
tofore and is working now for oppor-
tunity to accomplish more. You DO
not understand the Southern people;
perhaps you never will; but you will
know them somewhat better after
November next Their creed of poll
tics is not to be bartered either for
the smile of patronage or the frown
of offended power. They are rather
offended than placated by the man
ner of your appeal to them, for they
do not think you would approach
the Democrats of Ohio or Connecticut
with the intimatiOn that their con-
version to Republicanism would in
crease their chances for political re-
wards for Legislative favors. They
will vote as their reason and con
sciences dictate. They are Democrats
living under institutions which
guarantee equality Oh rights W di
the sections and all the States. They
are asking no favors. They know
what is their due and will demand II
no matter who shall be President MOI
what party shall dominate the Con
gress. The pie-counter is attractive
of course, but there is a limit to th'
price which should be paid for ad
mission; and as for the yelled threa
of political ostracism, the South ha
been used to that so long that it cal
stand punishment awhile longer
Perhaps, indeed, the dawn OF a dill
ferent day is nearer than the he
4 publican nominee suspects. Bu
whether so or no, Virginia is onl.
waiting for election day to roll u
for Bryan a greater majority thai
she ever gave him.