Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-11-01

The Veteran Politician Leader address
ses the Citizens OF Davidson.
Review OffEe Democratic platforms
Words Of neutrality-suspicious. De-
nuneiati0n Of tIse Present National
Administration


nunciati0n Of tlae Present Nations
AdmiRistEstlon.
| Hon. Gustavus A. Henryeof Clarksvill'
in accordance with his announced appoint
ment, delivered an address at the COurt
house last night upon the issues Of the day
He was not greeted by very large aud
ence, but his speech was none the less ex
haastiye, able or eloquent, and should hav
fallen upon the ears of every citizens Q
| Nashville.
| The speaker was introduced by Col
Frank L. Williams, as he whom We ha'
delighted TO call the "Eagle Orator Of Ten
nessee."
SPEECH OF GUSTAvUs HENRY.
Maj. Henry said: Gentlemen and fellow
| citizens: l have been invited 10 addres:
you upon the political questions now en-
gaging your attention and am now here tC
perform that duty.
We are just now on the eve Of an i'm
portant election. Indeed, l regard il as th'
most important election we have had fo
many years past II Tennessee is carried
by the Democracy this time, she will re
tain here place by the side of Missouri
Kentucky and Virginia; if she does not
she will sink down to the level Of SOutf
Carolina, Alabama and Louisiana.
To achieve success and maintain the SUI
premaey of Democracy, we muss put dowI
lawlessness in the land, and show to the
world that we will preserve the faith, honol
and credit Ofthe State untarnished. Thi:
is the mission Of the Democratic and Con
servatiye party before the world. Execute
il, and we will have no need of immigra-
tiOn societies to bring capital and labor
within our borders. But, so long as law
lessness prevails, so long as We neglect OF
abuse the fair name and credit of the State,
population and capital will never come;
and, unless We satisfy the world that lie,
liberty and property are safe here, We need
not look for increase of population or cap
ital. What we want just now, is men and
mOney-withOut both, we cannot achieve
prosperity.
With these Introductory remarks, l will
go back to the platform adopted by
THE STATE CONVENTION
of Aug. lg. We have drifted so far from
it that some Of Us have forgotten its enun-
Citations and the broad banner that waved
over the Capitol on that day. That plat
form set out:
@That all honest labor should be protect
ed, and receive its just reward
What principle can be broader or sOunder
than this? Ii set out next:
"That the burden of government should
be borne by the whole property of the
country; that all assessments Of taxes
should be equal, uniform and Just, aud no
improper discrimination should be made
against any speyies Of property"
-.
like than this. Money must be raised to
support gOveTnnent-a thing Chat cannot
be dispensed with, and il is gratifying TO
know that the burden rests upon all alike.
In the next place the platform declares:
''That We oppose I'll monOpOlies, rings
aud combinations formed for the oppression
of the people; that we are for the abolition
of all useless and unnecessary Offices; for
the proper reduction Of all excessive sala
ries; for the most rigid economy III the adj
Of the State government; for
all necessary reforms in the law so as to
make its execution speedy, just and certain;
that We will hold the collectors of revenue
to 4 strict accountability in the collection
and application Of said revenue; that we
deplore the existence of all Indebtedness,
Federal, State, county and municipal, and
demand that no more taxes shall be laid
upOn the people than shall be found to be
necessary for the support of the
State government, administered on prin.i-
Piles of the most rigid economy, and for the
payment Of its Just debts and obligations
and the preser ration of IFS credit and honor
and therefore to an increase
DftaXatiOn."
1t must b, pleasing to a free people to
know that they have party that has the
resolution to carry out such doctrines as
.heSe, and the others of like character that
he platform contains.
Here is enough TO enlist the people Of
Tennessee for a vigorous campaign; yet,
doubt not, some have forgotton the
principles that brought US together in the
Already we have divisions, the evidences
# which saw in Memphis the otEei day,
when | spoke there before a thousand peO-
,le. A gentleman there remarked that
here were
FOUR POLITICAL PARTIES
n Tennessee. The first there were the |
then the Republicans, and |
hen the Independents. Some one asked |
Who the fourth was. He said the fourth |
vas Emerson Etheridge. Emerson Ethe- |
idge constituted it and no one else, and |
here were alarming dissensiOns at that, |
md il behOoved Mr.. Etheridge to call a |
to harmOnize his party. |
Laughter and applause.i
Ii is impossible for any community 10 |
brow its strength into a contest without |
aud organization. The result |
f organization is success; of division, de- |
eat. We are engaged in a great conflict, |
which requires the earnest and honest sup |
OFt Of all of us. A people who divide |
mOng themselves OH the eve of a great bat
lie, are as bad as the Jews who wrangled |
mongst themselves when Jerusalem was |
n imminent danger of being overwhelmed.
When Titus was organizing his assault on
ne side of the city, they were quarreling
nth each other on the Other. So here we /
re fighting one another, rs if there were /
% enemy 10 be aSsailed. Keep yCur arms
but DO not use them upon one
mother.
You have made platform, and put your
upon it. They did not
eek the responsible post; you pointed them
D it. Is it fair, having placed them there,
, desert them in the hour OF peril? 1t is
our duty to stand by them, defend them,
nd defend them till the last. IApplause.l
Gentlemen, in old times the
WIG AND DEMOCRATIC
aTties eontended for power throughout the
'niOn- Both were patriotic, and they
nally met i'm 4 grand junction, and have
cen laundering along as one, under
road banner, ever since their eonsOlida-
on. They have blended as the colOrs of
Re rainbow that spans the dark brow of
le storm, and makes a pledge of its de-
arturo. It is a bow Of promise to the
orld, type of beauty, sign of hope, un-
er which we shall conquer. [Applause.1
The disastrous administration of the las
urteen years is only an interregnum in
lie sovereignty Of Democracy and Con-
rvatism.
What are the great issues? Some say re-
ldiate the debt; some, pay half the inter
{; Others, pay none of the interest. The
sbt Of Tennessee is about S20,000,OO0
er property is worth S5OO,00O0,OO0, and
I this she has an annual income of Sl40,-
l0,0O0. Is she, then, not able to pay s20,-
1900? For State to skulk its public
lot, is thing so dishOnOTable, as to defy
codes to image or name il. Our State
IS come down TO us the brightest heritage
or a. men ever had. And yet we find
,liticians skulking and talking repudia-
On, when much Of the debt will not be
Ie for forty years.
! remember, in my reading, that in 1924
ord Byron went to Greece to fight her