Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1871-12-23

Is MuCA HctuCtly ehi't " AAC7S ~ .
would be incalculable, i. c., free city
schools.
Free schools, whose doors shall be
opened to alone for the whites
and one for the blacks-are a great
public necessity, demanded by every
consideration ofpublic veal; and in
the interest of that establishment l
simply propose to prove my faith by
my works. / further conceived it
to be the duty of such men as my
opponent and myself to take the lead
in such benefcent and christian en-
terprises. My competitor being
minister, and one whose calling leads
him especially in tho ways of good
works, l deferentially waited some
time for him to lead of, but he fail
ing, promptly did so, ambitious
only of securing to the public the
benefits of great and much needed
institution. This is the "head and
front of my offending" 1t is for
this that | am accused of an attempt
to .'buy votes" Buy votes Sirs, l
would not insult the intelligence of
Jackson by even imagining, much
less charging, that any man of com
mon sense could so far forget HIM
self and the proud character of this
people as to even think he could bay
their votes. The credit Of this most
extraordinary discovery belongs to
NV competitor. Let him wear the
honors of i'll would not divide
them with him. Yes; because in
offering for the highest Office within
the gift of this city, L followed the
time -honored custom of stating
cyearly what 1 could and would do
towards developing all its inter
| ests, and because, having the ability,
| saw tit to offer the compensation
Justly belonging to the office towards
the establishment and mainte-
nance of free city schools, l
am charged with an attempt to
buy votes. Is it crime for candi-
dates for office to tell the people
clearly what they will doif elected ?
Are the people to vote blindly? Is
my opponent, or any other man, so
immaculate that the people shall
place their interests in his keeping
without any specific pledges what
ever? VIII the citizens of the rising
city of Jackson put in office men
who are silent or non-cOmmittal on
the most vital neutrality-suspicious.
which affect, for veal or woe, the
future of the city? Where does my
opponent stand upon ANY of the
great questions which now agitate
the city? Win he use his influence
and means in the establishment OF
that grand want of the city-free
schools? VIII he use his influence
and means in The development of our
railroad system, and in the estab-
lishment of manufactures VIII he
use his influence and means i'll per-
fecting our fire department? VIII
he use his influence and means IN
making West Tennessee Agricultu-
raj and Mechanical Association the
leading institution of its kind in the
State or South? VIII he boldly as
pire, as Mayor, to lead in all the
great enterprises which have for
their end the growth and prosperity
of Jackson? Where does he stand
upon any of these great questions ?
Has he ever committed himself to
anything clearly? Can you put yo't''
finger on him upon single issue of
The hour? His platform, as far as
known to this people, consists of one
plank that is, he will pocket his
salary as Mayor if elected. Upon
every other question he is silent.
But he charges me with owning
plethoric purse. In the name of all
that is fair and just, what is the con-
lition of my opponents purse? The
insinuations of this charge are en-
rirely too thin-even a blind man
can see through them, and doubtless
would laugh at the exquisite inno-
cence of the joke. Yes, that was
simply a 'Iittle jokep' Again. he
charges me with desire to separate |
the ''honest, Woodworking class of
the city from Others" This is also |
Just little too thin. Indeed, have |
too much respect for the intelligence I
of my competitor to presume that !
ne is ignorant of the fact that ''frce
schools" are opened to all the chill |
dren of the city, poor and rich alike. /
However, they are an especial bless
ing to the poor, enabling them, upon |
a perfectly honorable and equitable |
basis, to obtain for their children
those inestimablc advantages which |
the sons and daughters OF the rich |
so generally and IGofitably enjoy. l !
have been poor myself. l have felt |
the want of such institutions; and /
the smiles which fortune has be- |
slowed GA lHe, have not steelea my
heart or made me forget the strug-
giles of my INDECENT youth.
Again, my competitor climbs the
heights of Parnasus and kindly in
forms me that this mountain of
Apollo and the MUSES. has 'two
peaks" He thenI with a grace pc
culiar to himself, like the Colossus
of Rhodes, attempts to stride both
of the peaks" The figure of my
competitor, as he attempts to strad-
die the two ''peaks" of this classic
mountain, beggars description. /
However, his own language best de- [
scribes the picture, when he pain
fully exclaims, "The question is be- /
set with difficulties" The truth Is, /
my honorable competitor, after this |
painful confession, like the rider of
IL BaCtrian camel, serenely seated /
himself 6et,oeen the two peaks /
leaving the people wonderiRgly in
quiring, (Which end does he face -
In conclusion, Messrs. Editors. I
will state that I made the offer to
subscribe $500 towards the purchase
of Il steam fire engine, and towards
the building of a tirst-class hotel.
before l became 4 candidate for
Mayor, the gratuitous and unwar-
ranted editorial in Saturdays Plain
Dealer ''tO the contrary notwith-
standing" mean all that l have
said; and even as a private citizen
| will faithfully discharge those OBJ