The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1874-10-21
INDEPENDENT CANDIDATES
COL. JOHN BLEVINS

No duty, incident to journalistic life,
is more unpleasant than to notice and
comment on the actions of men whom
we have regarded as upright and actual
ed by pure motives in their party affilia-
ations, but when they fail to get the en-
dorsement Of the party, will act contra
ry to their pledges. Col. John Blevins
submitted his claims to a Convention.
He pledged himself to abide its decision,
and, after the nomination of Capt.
Hodges, he publicly proclaimed that he
would support him. We compli-
mented him at that time, because we be
lieved what he said. Now, we are in
formed that he is an Independent candi-
date for the Senate! Nothing in life
time has astonished us more than the
candidacy of Col. Bleyins. His action
is inexplicable, inasmuch as there is
not the ghost of a chance for his cleo
ton, fact that he certainly knows well.
His violating his pledges and his offer of
$4,000 to Capt. Hodges to withdraw
from the contest and give him the field,
SC surprises US that we don't know what
to say, or where to commence saying it.
But-This action, we are confident,
will only arouse the friends of Capt
Hodges to renewed effort and insure him
a much larger majority. The position
Of Col. Blevins is so pitiable, so forlorn,
so hopeless! His standing as man, who
has for years had, to some extent, the
Of ho Iu
and gone foreverl His utter loneliness
hereafter in any party, because the Re
publicans cannot respect a man whose
past life has been so antagOnistic to the
principles of their party, all these tend
to arouse our compassion for one who
has become a candidate in direct oppo-
sition to his own pledges and to the
wishes of large majority of the honest
voters of both parties.
This action of Col. Blevins, as before
intimated, will not affect the result of
the race, only by imparting more vigor
to the canvass on the part of Capt.
Hodges and his friends. In self defense
Capt Hodges will be compelled to show
up the enOrmity of Col Blevins' action
1t will be revolving to the Captains ma
ture, as his every instinct is that of
high toned gentleman. But facts are
facts, and if such things come in mans
way, all he has to do is to meet them in
a gentlemanly way.
Friends of right, arouse! Let there
be such a vote pOlled in the Second Sen
atorial District as will forever rebuke
and men who are willing
to sell out for something we know not
what All honest men of all parties can
support Capt Hodges. Hon
est Republicans as we'll as Conservatives
viii vote for him because he is honest, |
capable, faithful. And We can not more
close this hasty notice Of !
the Independent candidate than by quot |
ing the closing paragraph of the Circular |
IF the Democratic State Executive Com |
nittec in tO-day's paper All candi-
lates who run against the regular nomi- |
lees Of the party, and who are endcavor-
ng to divide our forces in these times of
rOublc, should be regarded as enemies
If our cause, and treated accordingly.
The voice of Tennessee, if made in
hunder tones at the polls in November,
nay do much towards averting the dire
nj consequences of the Civil Rights bill,
measure intended to destroy our Ifber-
les and to blast our material prosperity"
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