Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1874-05-19
Nashville Banner, May Sth.
ANDREW JOHNSON'S POLE
CY.
Taxes, Direct Election of Presi-
dent and Vicc-President, and
the Currency Question.

EN-IreSluelI Andrew johnson au-
dressed a large assemblage of citizens
on the Public Square at 8 O'Clock last
evening. IN the course of his remarks
he said:
FELLOW-C CITIZENS At the request
of and in compliance with the wishes
of number who reside here, l appear
before you tonight for the purpose of
discussing some questions that agitate
the public mind, and with q determi-
nation that have long since formed,
that / would, whenever | could aid
wherever could, contribute anything
that would convey correct under
staading to the public mind respecting
TIE questions or principles that in
folve their in interest 1t may be safely
assumed, as an atiom in the govern
ment Of States, that the greatest
wrongs inflicted upon people are
caused by unjust and arbitrary legisla-
ton or by the unrelenting DEGREES Of
despotiC rulers. and that the timely
revocation of injurious and oppressive
measures is the greatest good that can
be conferred WpOn nation, The leg
islator CT ruler who has the wisdom
and magnanimity to retrace his steps
when convinced of error Will sooner or
later be rewarded with the respect and
gratitude of an intelligent and patriot
ic people. 1t is said by some that if
you interfere with the tt..Xes O. tht
people, If you talk of reduction Of
taxes and relieving the people there is
great dread and alarm, and the fear is
that the Democratic party is to be dis
rupted. Well, now upon this subject
of Democracy. l claim to know some
thing about that thing you call De-
mocracy. ] claim to have been De
nociat some tisaae before some of those
THAT are so scrupuious about Democra-
cy were born. If they can put their
finger upon one single cardinal point
OF Democracy from which have de-
parted i will agree newer TO appear be-
fore the public again. Well. well, if
these assessment and funding measures
are not ignored Democracy is TO be
disrupted. Let me ask you here to-
night, when did you ever hear that d
proposition to reduce the taxes of a
country for the relief Of the people
from the onerous burdens resting upon
them meant the disruption of party?
Are these tax, assessment, and fund
ing bills to be made tenents of the
Democratic party? If, they are ten
ents of the Democratic party. L say
here tonight that my conception of
Democracy is entirely wrong. De-
mocracy is not responsible Tor tileTsa
Whenever we say. that these measures
shall be taken off the feoD'e, they try
to get up the idea that somebody
wants to disrupt the DeHiocratic party,
and the9 cry 1ut that he Is dis0rgan-
izer, and the things all settled. >, have
never been oht Of tie. party, and never
expect to be. So far as DeiiiQcrqcy is
concerned, am democrat IN princi-
pie, a.!d not in mere prQfes3lun.. III
measures like those are to be incorpo-
rated and iiiade n part of the Demor-
Cratic creed | shall never acknowledge
them as teDents; Suppose you reduce
the taxes to 20 cents and reduce the
payment of the interest frosii 81 $780,
! 600 to $500, eco and pay per cent. IN
tereBt Instead of 6 per cent, woJld
not that DC relief to the people ?
Could they not be allowed to 10 this
until they regain their Strength and
accumulate enough to pay the bal
ance? Will that be any hardship p?
Expenses should be reduced III all de-
| partner is in State, county and tf1u-
nicipal.
AR. Johnson discussed a plan of
eIecting a President and Vice-Prcsi-
dent Of the United States directly by
the people. He alluded to the intrigue
and corruption which he claimed to
prevail in the United States Senate,
saving the Legislators had, unhappily
for the country, become a species of
merchandise. TO be Knocked off to the
highest bidder. He advocated the poll
CIV of bringing the Government closer
| to the people by direct vote, that
they might look into and seeing the
corruption of representatives., cast
them out. He then discussed at great
length the currency question, i'll which
he suggested that the people wanted
more greenbacks aEd 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 currency in the country now
than there was previous to The war
| National banks were literally eating
up the interests of the people. Peo-
pie were actually paying IL per cent.
| before getting money on loan from
these National banks, while the peo-
ple had to take currency at discount
of 10 per cent. or more. He had been
denounced, illuminated. but in the
midst of it all he had endeavored to do
his duty. He had his betrayer, his
seller. He concluded by saying that
he had oftimes been charged with be-
ing ambitious, and he did not deny the
charge 1t was his proud ambition 70
be at all times willing to do suea good
for his people in every respect as ne
could, to the end that they mighi
know prosperity and happiness.
Attempt at Sucide-Restored by
Electricity.