The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1857-05-21
THE FIDDL1Na CANDIDATE

wire-worker, to question from an aspi-
ring political candidate, as to- tie the pro-
per means to secure his election. And so
widely, during the last election, WIS music
called in to aid .oratory, that his answer
serves as good endorsement to the poets
note that
Music hath clarmcs TO soothe savage breast"
and attractions to-"go to tho polls and
vote early"
The forty horse power of music on cleo
tions being thus settled by common consent,
leads us to believe that "too much credit
cannot Le awarded" (style of expression
sanctioned by usage y to the Kentuckian
who faced his political opponents music as
follows =
"Both were candidates for the Office of
Governor Of Kentucky, and "stumpcd" the
State together quite harnoniously, until
they reached one of tile counties in the
chill country" Here it was necessary to
make decided demonstration, and accor-
dinghy the two candidates fairly spread
themselves to catch all the votes possible
soaring up the American eagle, and calling
down the shade of Washington; pitching
out protuse promises, and pitching into eacll
others party politics, in manner decidedly
refreshing to their hearers. On the first
days canvass, victory hung suspended by
the tail feathers over the rival forces, but
the second day fell slap into the lap of the
shortest and stoutest candidate, who, wc
may premise here, was lelt-handcd, leaving
his long and lean opponent "no kind of "a
SHOW" In vain the long man pumped up
the waters of eloquence and poured out a
full stream; there was no body to drink.
But round the short man eIbowed and
crowded mass Of thirsty voters, drinking
in his tones with delight. Why this at
fractions! Had he barrel of old Bour
bon? No; lie had fiddle Getting tile
start of long man, lie had addressed the
voters in short speech, and then. for the
first time, bringing out fiddle, he retired
short distance from the speakers stand,
in order to let his opponent reply, playing,
however, such lively airs, that he soon drew
the entire assemLlage away. and left the
other side Of the question unattended to,
unlicard.
| For three days in succession short man
and fiddle carried the day, in three success
sive mass meetings, in as many towns in
the hill country, and long mans chances
for single vote in those parts grew re-
markably slim. In vain long consulta-
ton was held by the latter with his political
friends.
Get the start Of him at,thc next meet
ing and speak FIRST" advised one.
"Raise fidde and play them chooncs!"
said another.
"Yell him down." shouted third.
The long man followed the advice of his
first counsellor, and got the start in voice,
but the noise of the fiddle run him neck
and neck; lie, would have listepcd to his
! second monitor and raised a fiddle; only he
knew it would fall through, as he couldn't
scrape note and as for his third adviser,
he told him that Cycling down" short man
was "simply ridiculous.'
Affairs grew desperate with long man.,
when, on the third meeting, he saw, as
usual, the entire crowd Of voters sweeping
off after short man and his fiddle, leaving
only one hearer, and he lame one, who
was just about to hobble1 off after the
Others
"Can it bc possible that freemcn-citi-
zens Of this great and glorious county,
neglecting the vital interests Of their land,
will run like wild men after cat-gut strings
Can it be possible. | say?" And the lame
man, to whom long man was thus eloquent
ly discoursing, answered, as he, too, cleared
out
"Well it can, old hoss !"
Despair encamped in the long mans
face, as he watched the short man, at dis-
tapce,- playing away for dear life and the
gubernatorial chair, on that blasted" old
fiddle; but suddenly FAY of hope beamed
over his "rueful visage," then another, and
another ray, till it-shone like the sun at
mid day.
SCOT him now, sure !" fairly shouted
I the long man, as he threw up his arms,
jumped from the stand, and started for the
tavern, where he at once called meeting
Of his political friends, consisting of the
landlord and one other, then and there an
folding plan which was to drive his rival
"nowhere in no time."
The fourth meeting was held. Short
man addressed the crowd with warmth, elo-
quence and brevity, vacating the stand for
his adversary, and striking up a,lively air
oHT tue violin, in order to quash his pro-.