The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1874-05-15

admitting the fact 10 the country? Il
seems to me that is inst.
But IL is said by some tina, If YOU in.
terfere with the taxes OF the people ii
Won tslk OF reduction OF taxes, and re-
lieying the people, there is great dread
aud alarm aud the fearis that the Demo.
cratic party is to be disrupted. Well,
now upon this subject of Democracy.
| claim 10 know something about that
thing YOU call Democracy. | claim to
have been a Democrat sometime before
some Of those that are so scrupulous
about the Democracy were born. Ii
they can put their finger upon one
single cardinal point of Democracy
from which | have departed. | viii
agree never to appear before the public
again.
Well, well. il these assessment and
funding measures are not Ignored, De-
mocracy is to be disrupted. Let me ask
YOU here tonight, when did YOU here
that proposition to reduce the taxes
of q country for the relief o. the people
from the onerous burdens resting upon
them. meant the disruption of party?
Are these tax, assessment aud funding
bills TO be tcncts of the Democratic
party! If they are tcnets of the Dem.
ocratic party. | say here tonight that
my conception of Democracy is entirely
wrong. Democracy Is not responsible
for them. Whenever we say that these
measures shall be taken off Of the peo-
pie. they try 10 get up the idea that
somebody wants to disrupt the Demo.
cratic party. aud they cry out that he is
disorganizcr, and the things all settled
| have never been out Of the party, and
never expect to be. So far as Democra-
CIV is concerned, j ANA Democrat in
principle, and not Ia mere profession.
If measures like these are TO be incor-
porated and made part of the Demo-
cratic creed | shall never acknowledge
them rs tenets. Suppose you reduce
the taxes twenty cents, and the pay
ment Of the interest from Sl,G00,000 TO
100000. and pay but three per cent. in
terest instead Of six per cent, would
not that be relief TO the people !?
Could they not be allowed to do this
until they regain their strength aud
accumulate enough to pay the balance?
Will that be hardship? Expenses
should be reduced in all departments
in the State, county and municipal.
am fsr harmony, Cancellation, and
reconciliation, and it seems TO me that
this proposition to reduce the burdens
Of the people is one of the best PROPOSE
lions that could be submitted TO all pa
triols in favor Of the relief Of the people
OF their expressions. Meu of all parties
can unite on this proposition.
don't say 1t with any unkindness.
bat in these times we have rings and
combinations that take charge of everv-
thing, aud il you don't happen to go
the wav they say, you are all wrong,
you know. And they will attempt to
cry YOU down. Mad dog, mad dog
And in our State, pardon me for saving
so. there is close corporation which
laid you on Procrnstes' bed; if you
are too long for the bed, they cut YOU
short, and If you are too short they
stretch you out; they propose to take
everything in their own hands, and d.
vide things out to suit their own pur-
poses. They possess the sentiments cx-
pressed BY the old man who drank the
toast Here's to me and my wife. my
son John aud his wife, us four and no
more"
Can there be closer or more selfish
corporation than this, claiming all,
wanting all? Yes, its us four and no
more, and they are ready to stand up
and undertake 10 read me out of the
Democraticparty. If they left me out
| | am inclined to think there would
not be much Of the Church left. Then
let us all come together in IA spirit of
amity and friendship, and quit talking
so much about party, and talk n little
more about country and its interests.
Let us lay down our principles, that
patriotism is to steer the ship of State.
The other day the citizens had meet.
ing, submitting to the consideration Of
their fellow. citizens suggestions not die
tatorial in their character the reduction
Of taxation, and submitting the question
to tho people as whether they would
not cypress preference at the ballot
box as to who should represent them
in the Senate of the Uui!ed States. They
did what any other man might in sug-
gesting any idea which might be thought
beneficial TO the people.
Mr.. johnson then discussed plan OF
electng President and Vice. President
of the United States directly by the
people. lie alluded to The intrigue and
corruption which he claimed TO prevail
IN tho United States Senate, saying the
legislators had, unhappily for the coun-
try. become a species of merchandise,
to be knocked off to the highest bidder.
lie advocated tho policy of bringing
the government closer TO the people by
a direct vote, that they might look into,
and seeing the corruption Of representa-.
ativcs cast them out.
He then discussed at great length the
currency question, in which he suggest
ed that the people wanted more green
back aud less national bank currency;
that to initiate would only bring more
deprecated currency on the country ;
the policy should be to get nearer TO
gold basis; that there was more curren-
cy in the country now than there was
before the war. National banks were
literally eating up the interests OF the
people. People were actually paying
II per cent before getting money on