Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1857-02-12
WHOLE NO. SO2.
A Candidates Position.

-
was guilty Of the indiscretion, to call
it by no harsber Eame, of running
for the Legislature, in the county of
Persimmon, State Of Hoosier. The
party by which | was nominated and
supported, had a clear majority of
three hundred in the county, and Of
course my election was fixed fact.
At least | thought so, until about
three weeks before the election
About that time, the first wave of
the Maine Law excitement reached
the State, and ugly questions began
to be put to me by voters Of both
parties.
To take position on either side
was dangerous, and dodging seemed :
the emily safe policy, Fortunately,
had never belonged TO any tenn
perance society. That satisfied most
of the antics On tire other hand, /
never drank anything stronger than
coffee, and the temperance men took
lit for granted, | was one of them.
Things went off pretty smoothly
in the canvass, and | and my oppO-
nent were to make our last speeches
in one Of the back townships, on the
Saturday preceding the election.
1t was hard place for temper
ance man, and | was most thorough
ly cross examined during my speech,
as to my antecedeDts in connection
with temperance societies, and especi-
ally whether had ever belonged to
the Sons Of Temperance, this order
being the special abomination in the
neighborhood. My answers seemed
to satisfy the sovereigns, and ! was
myself that the last
ordeal was passed.
| was slightly mistaken. Some
malicious political adversary had
it about the crowd, that I
could not bear the taste or smell of
whiskey. This was a serious and
dangerous charge, and my friends,
without consulting me, determined
that convincing proof of the false
hood should be given, before ] left
The ground. Tom W, about
is hard case os the neighborbood
Afforded, was selected as committee
)f one, to carry out their resolution.
Just as had mounted my horse to
cave, Tom approached me with a
orimming tumbler Of new whisky in
lis hand, and asked me to '.jine the
boys in a horn.'
| glanced at the crowd, and saw
hat at least fifty votes were bang
ng in the scale. 1t was no time to
and couple of swallows
IF rs villainous whisky as ever came
rom t be still, found their way down
ny throat.
A grunt Of approval from the
'rowd told their satisfaction; bat
vas determined to have my revenge
or the martyrdom had suffered
Leaning over towards Tom in q con-
idential sort of way, / said
Tom, / carry better liquor than
hat"
"The devill' said Tom, "do you
larry bottle?''
''Certainly do. But you must
Keep dark;a and lot let the fellows in
own know of it."
This was degree of soundness OH
he temperance question my friends
lad not dared to hope for in me-
{ was like marrying a woman for
,sauty, and finding she had a for
une beside.
By the time the crowd had gath
red | had extracted from my sad
lie bags large bottle of extract of
ringer, and handed to Tom With an
invitation TO "try it"
Tom did "try it.
"Lord gemeutily!" gasped be, as
he burning compound took posses
ion Of his mouth and throat.
'What is that? Water!--water!
| told him it was tenth-proof
brandy; and the crowd unanimously
'wore that any man who carried Ii
luor that would make Tom W,
Try for water, was sound enough for
hem on the temperance question.
] distanced my competitor in that
precinct the succeeding Monday.