The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1875-11-05
FILLING THE GAP.

|
As the political pot begins to boil and
bubble, it brings wildly to my mind an
incident of the last campaign in which
took part.
Being naturally vehement, as well as
an eloquent cuss, | was much in demand
with the "speaker committee" in various
portions of the state, especially where hard
blows were wanted. If there was a forlorn
hope, was sure to be called on, and given
to understand that the place was to be
carried for our party" or ruin would be
the result.
One dav, towards the close of the cam
paign. | received call from the chairman
of the state committee. There was another
forlorn hope. The town of Cowgrass had
to be carried in spite Of all opposition. If
| the enemy were victorious in COwgrass
our jig was up.
The train for there started at six clock,
and it now lacked only ten minutes of that
hour. The depot was about a mile away,
but as the whole responsibility of success
rested on me, | hailed a hackman, and
shifted the responsibility temporarily
upon his shoulders.
| shook a fve-dOllar bill at the driver,
and he put on all the speed that could be
worried out of his horses. Luck was on
my side. | was Just in time to hand
one-dollar bill (by mistake, of course, for
politicians are always hOnest) and to make
dive after the train as it rushed ont of
the depot.
A brakeman snaked me, losing his hat
by the operation, and making me pay five
dollars for it, and without more than the
usual number of mishaps, was landed in
good order at COwgrass.
The town is an important one for those
who live in it. There didn't appear to
be much excitement around the depot,
and began to have doubts as to whether
was expected or not. 1t was dark, and
the heft of the town lay about a mile
away from the railroad.
l found a coach driver who had interest
enough in "our party" to take me to the
settlement for fifty cents, being that he
was Just going that way, and that was his
regular business. He was a reticent,
half m ysteriUus old rooster, and i could
get but little information out of him re-
garding the situation.
Have you heard that anybody was
expected here to speak to- night p
asked.
wal, pears to me did hear some
thin bout ii"
"Where is the hall?"
owe go putty nigh onto it. Be you
the man"'
eyes, 1 was sent up here by the COM
mittee."
He looked at me somewhat oddly,
thought, as he gave the reins an extra
jerk, and his off horse an extra touch
with the whip.
at must be nigh onto time you war
thar" he muttered, jerking the reins
again.
i" What time is the meeting called ~
"Halfpast seven, | b'lieve."
"Why, good gracious! it is eight now"
"Is it? Wal, | guess as how is is. Git |
up Bobl Sure you amt fast, mister?'
Fast! l wish I was faster, or that
your horses weren'
"Git up, Bob" was his only reply.
After being bumped and jumped for
about ten minutes more, the driver held |
up in front of little hall, A few half
grown boys we're lettering about the en-
trance, and everything was as quiet as a
Quaker meeting.
Good heavens!" l exclaimed; ait is
no wonder they want a stirring up here. |
What is the matter|
oval, kinder on't-care-a-dam, guess. |
They want regul lar overhaullng and |
shaking up. Give it tew 'um, mister" |
said the driver, cracking his lazy horses |
and driving along.
"Bv graciousw thought J. "won't | |
stir the dry bones of Cowgrass, won't % |
Fully aroused to the importance of the |
occasion, darted upstairs into the hall.
1t was only a small affair; with, perhaps, |
two hundred men and women quietly |
assembled there. They looked as though |
they were sleepy, and without waiting |
for an introduction, | resolved to make |
my way to the platform and come little |
stage business and George Francis Train |
on them. I'd wake 'em up.
As | entered the room, the moderator |
appeared to have just said somethingand |
then sat down / darted up the aisle, |
mounted the platform, threw my hat and |
overcOat into heap at the back OF the |
place, came to the front and exclaimed, |
!. FellOw-citizens! amid the most intense |
excitement.
Fellow-citizens why do we stand |
here idle? What is it that taxpayers
want? What would they have? Is life |
so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be bought |
at the price of chains and slavery? Not
muchW
Bv this time the entire audience were
on their feet, while the moderator looked
at me in terror. i
'That's right! Rouse, we Cowgrassiansl
Rouse, We slaves! Get up and shake this
political sloth from your bodies! You
are dying with the potato-rOt! Our enc
mics, like potato-bugs, are in our midst
and are gnawing at our best seed ends
The issue of this campaign is narrowed
down to these four points"
CT beg pardon, sir" put in the
moderator, who had got up courage
enough to speak, but this is not polit-
ical meetingH
al should say not / should say that
YOU were a set of old grandmOthers, who
aforementioned anything more exciting
than taking a pinch of snuff! But |
have been sent up here to shake your dry
and musty bones to show you wherein
the danger lies; to strip the mask from
the face of our enemies, and knock their
political harangues into a cocked.hat.!
Bring me an opponent, bring me the best,