The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1908-06-25
ITO A FRIEND In PASSING y

In the Lexington DLSpdtcH OF wee
before last there was an editorial de-
nouncing W. W. kitchin which was
the rankest and rashest article we
have seen in any North Carolina
newspaper about either one OF the
candidates for the high office OF
governor. 1t breathes the spirit OF
bitter vindictiveness, clothed in the
language of mud-slinging billings
gate and was unworthy OF the paper
in which it was printed-a reflection
upon the writer rather than the sub
iect at which it was aimed.
The Concord Tribune, not a sup
porter Of Mr. Kitchin, by the way,
noted the article and had something
to say in condemnation Of it. The
Dispatch had its 'dander up still
and came back at the Concord paper
giving it as good as it sent. This
provoked a reply from>the Tribune,
which says this among other things
under the heading above quoted:
Mr.. Kitchin may have made a rank
speech at Raleigh, but to follow it
with similar spasm proves nothing,
unless that the Dispatch can be as
rank, and if one is a demagogue,
necessarily both. The Tribune has
supported Mr.. Horne in this contest
but has more than once taken occa-
sion to say that the fight made on
Mr.. Kitchin has been uncalled for,
unfair and without justification,
and no one in the State has SO per
sistently bounded that gentleman as
the Lexington Dispatch. Mr. Kitchin
is not the one to run from such. At
bay he has fought like tiger and he
wouldn't be the man he is were he ito
quietly submit to the abuse heaped
on him through this particular sec
tion of North Carolina. He was
right to hit back. He has gained
friends by his fight against those
who attacked him from all sides
We have never believed him q dema-
gogue and editorials as demagogical
az any ever published in the State
will not prove him such-never. An
editorial may breathe demagoguery
as well as a speech, and the Dispatch
editorial has more ear-marks of the
demagOgue than Mr.. Kitchin's Raj
eigh speech. The warfare on Mr.
kitchin has been unbecoming and
has served to strengthen the support
of his friends and assure him of new
friends. We are not defending his
every action, nor posing as his
spokesman, but we are protesting
against many things used against
him, particularly against such rank
bitter, spleenful demagoguery as the
Dispatch inflicted upon its readers
last week. We say again that We
hope there is not a man in the State
who will allow such to influence him
The Tribune is right. Abuse O
Democrats by Democrats-newspa
pers and individuals-oughtt to cease
In fact, it should never have
begun. Difference of opinion anC
legitimate criticism is one thing
intolerance and abuse is quite anoth
er. We agree with the Concord
Tribune iii protesting against such 6
philippe of defamation and de
nunciation of loyal Democrat anG
honorable gentleman-one in whose
hands the standard of the party may
be placed for aught the Lexington
Dispatch knows, in which case il
would either have to support him
or repudiate the party nominee and
bolt the ticket. And finding Itself
confronted with this condition which
horn of the dilemma would the es
teemed Dispatch choose? Perhaps
it did not think of this when it was
giving such loose reins to its
thoughts in getting even with Mr.
kitchin for some foolish and uncalleC
for remarks made in his speech al
Raleigh.
The Dispatch had been barking al
Kitchin's heels until it got a kicl
and then it howied.