The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1909-03-25

ship. Col. Cooper was chatting under,
the comment, and becoming more in
censed every day. On Sunday, Nov.
8, the day before the killing, the fol-
lowing editorial appeared in the Ten
neSSeean:
"ACROSS THE MUDDY CHASM"
eve trust there will be no unseemly
ribaldry on the part of the base vul-
gar concerning the happy reunion OF
long sundered hearts which was ac
complished in the Joyous reconcilia-
ton of His Excellency. Hon. M. R.
Patterson and His Ex-Excellency,
Hon. John Isaac Cox All honor to
that noble spirit, Maj Duncan Brown
Cooper, who wrought this happy re-
union of congenial and cOnfuxible
spirits separated by evil fates, al
though both for each other. All
blessing of the peacemaker be upon
him. May he be heir to all the beati-
tudes, and especially to the blessing
of those who hunger and thirst after
righteousness. And there goes also
a blessing to His Excellency-for as
he has been merciful to Cox, so shall
he obtain mercy.
"But the choicest blessings, as is
right and proper, are for Governor
Cox himself For if there be any re-
| ward for meekness. and any for en-
during persecution for righteousness
sake, he shall inherit the earth and
his is the kingdom Of heaven. Yet
such is the meekness of his spirit that
| We doubt not that Governor Cox
| would be entirely comforted with the
meek mans reward.
eff we pause here briefly to review
the unhappy differences that have
| armed these valiant souls against
each other, it is for no purpose Of
renewing the strife, but rather of en-
| phasizing by contrast the felicity OF
the present situation. 1t will serve
also to bring out in bold relief the
| gracious spirit which enables Cover
nor Patterson to 'condescend to men
of low estate lift up where he has
trampled down and lay poultice of
warm words upon the reputation he
has so fearfully bruised. 1t will
teach also those who most uniustly
have regarded Governor Cox as a
man of proud and naughty spirit,
that he is in fact a man OF modest
stiffness and humility one who can
forget injuries the most grievious,
forgive insults the most fragrant, en-
dure every assault upon his honor and
good name without resentment, and,
in general, humble himself that he
may be exalted. 1t will also show
that no one can ever sin away his
day OF grace with the present all-mer-
ciful machine; that no man can ever
become so vile, so degraded, SO cor
rupt in it's estimation that it is not
ready to raise him up and load him
with dignity and honors If he only
will give up everything and serve it
with fidelity and singleness of heart
1T will be remembered that Gov
ernOr Patterson professed to have
only one great motive in seeking the
office of Governor-the wholly patri-
otic and unseltish desire to purge the
State of the shame and infamy
brought upon it. by Cox and the Cox
machine. He openly declared that
he would rather some other than he
had the task and the honor, but his
soul would not consent that such a
man as Cox should be the Governor
of Tennessee. He charged that Cox
had degraded and debauched the
politics of the State; he represented
him as the plant tool of the saloon
and corporations; he charged that he
was Democrat only in name, a Re-
publican in fact; he called him a
traitor to the Democratic party.
Not only that, but he viciously as
sailed his personal honor, his pecu-
mary integrity, and from every
stump in Tennessee he pictured him
J III the bitterest words in his vocabu-
larry as common CRATER And the
whole crew Joined their voices in one
: universal chorus of damnatiOn-
:; crook, CRATER, corrupt politician,
! cheap John demagOyue-su were
$ the words that flew thick and fast
t from the mouths of Duncan B. Cooper
and all the leaders in the great move
{ ment to reform and urge and purify
the State, to destroy the power o
n the political machine and restore
u power to the people of Tennessee
The whole campaign was conducted
n with view not only to defeat Gov
{ ernor Cox. but to load him with in
n fanny and drive him out of the poll
e tics of Tennessee So far was thi.
|. carried, that after Governor Patter
/ son had been nominated for Cover
(, nor and Cox had been nominated 20
|. the State Senate, Maj. Cooper jour
|. neyed to Bristol for the purpose O
II getting out an independent candidate
r. against him.
ii "These facts will serve to glorif,
~ the recent pact of peace. 1t show
D, how far Governor Patterson had t.
r stoop, how much Governor Cox ha'
r to forgive and matches ali infinit