Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1876-09-02
THE CAMPAIGN OPENED, BARRIE
CUE AT BRITTON'S SPRING.

GUE Al DnAA AOAN . "a AsAANUe
The good people of No. 3, splendidly
asserted their privilege of opening the
presidential campaign by giving good
old fashioned barbecue at Britton's
Spring last Saturday. Their arrange
menss were all perfect; the spot select
ed, both for scenery and comfort left
nothing to be desired. The speaking
ground being on an elevated platform
well shaded by venerable oaks, while
the cooking department was placed in
the valley in the near vicinity of the
celebrated spring. 1t is said that the
army Xerxes drank several small riv-
ers dry on their march through Thrace
and Greece, but that celebrated host
could have taken several big drinks at
Britton's Spring, if it had been in their
way, and not left it dry. Even with
the clerk of the weather, that very ca
PRECIOUS funetionary, the committee
must have established a thoroughly
good understanding, for had the choice
been offered, a more favorable day
could not have been selected. The
showers of the day before had laid the
dust, and cooled the atmosphere, and
though there was no rain, the frequent
passages of light clouds over the sky
prevented the sunshine from being op-
pressive.
And when to all this was added that
two OF the very best orators in Ten
nessee had been secured to address the
company, nothing was left to be wished
for. These were Ex-Governor Ishan
G.. Harris, and the Hon. John f.
House, NJ. C..
At about 104 a. m. the principal
guests assembled the platform. These
were the Hon. g. A. Henry, who
acted as chairman, the two orators of
the day, Gen. VIM. A Quarles, Mr..
A. f. Garner, Mr.. II. M. Doak, and
last, but not least, Dan Gold, Esq, the
master of the ceremonies, without
whom no affair of this sort can go right.
Gov. Harris was now introduced to
the audience and very soon held them
unclaimed by the interest of his speech,
which lasted over two hours, during
which the attention of the people never
tagged for an instant.
SPEECH OF THE HON. IsHAM G. HARRIS.
He reminded the people that it was
twenty eight years since he first ad-
dressed a Montgomery county audi
ence, and offered them his heartfelt
thanks for the uniform support they
had given him from that time. For
the last sixteen years he said said he
had been virtually dead to all political
movements, and it was only in the
present eonjuncture that believing
that there was some chance of escap-
ing from the evils in which the nation
had so long been enthralled, he had
gained his own consent TO come to the
front again. .....
He warned his hearers that they
were to expect but little argument and
no defamation, he did not forget that
he was speaking in county which
had long listened to the eloquence of q
Henry, a House, a Quarles, a Bailey,
and who had not long lost that Of a
Hockett Allen. He did not expect to
enter into vain competition with these
but simply to present few facts in
which he believed that all were inter
ested and draw a few plain conclusions
from them.
Down to 1860 he reminded the au-
dience that the country had been ruled
by two parties aud only two, the Wing
and Democratic party-this was from
the origin of the nation a hundred
years ago to 1860, a period of eighty
four years, during which the history
of the country had exhibited a con-
slant growth in liberty, civilization
and prosperity.
What then? Sixteen years go, or in
1860, the Republican party acceded
10 power and retained it to the present
day.
What now is the result Of sixteen
years of Republican rule?
Neither the Wing nor Democratic
party is responsible for the result.
The Republican party has ruled
throughout all that time and, except
for the last two years, practically with
out opposition. with what result ?
You are the judges. Are you prosper
Gus? Are you as we'll off as you we're
in 1860 ? as well off as five years ago2
No you have less wealth, less happi-
ness less hope than ever. WHY? Is
il your fault? Are you less industri-
Gus, less economical, less energetic,
less enterprising than formerly2 No.
You are making greater efforts, work
ing harder, spending less, and still not
prospering., Why? 1t is not that the
ordinary gifts &c Providence &C g.! GO.
ing you. The soil is not less generous
the fertiliziBg rains and dew and the
life giving sunshine have not failed
you, and vet Sdversity is everywhere.
Where then is the evil? We must
find it five hope to remedy it. Where
is it?
Is it with you or is it with the gov