The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1876-07-12
HON DORSEY B. THOMAS

/ this section that the Hon. Dorsey B.
! Thomas. Of Humphreys county, had
/ declared himself as an Independent
candidate for Governor. The fact
that he had formally announced him.
self as n candidate for that office
seemed 10 give colori6g to the re-
4 port and it was gravely urged by
some wiseacres, upon what author.
ity we are not prepared to state).
that he was industriously coquetting
for Republican support.
We need hardly state that we lent
a very reluctant ear to these rumors,
affecting, as they did, one Of the
most estimable of our public men.
1t is, therefore, with nnfeigned salts
faction that we note that Col. Thorn
rs has 4" FASTENED to his own rescue"
and by one swoop of the pen, set
himself Alright. In a letter to the
editor of the Knoxville Age, as late
Iy as the 9th inst, he says. that at
/ no time has lie contemplated de-
claring himself an Independent can
| didatc for Governor" And, there
upon, Col. Charlton, the vigorous. ed
| itor of that paper, with customary
and praiseworthy frankness, pro-
ceeds to explain that he was, in
some degree, the innocent cause Of
/ the injurious rumor, by the inadver-
tent omission from Col. Thomas an
nouncement, of the very significant
words, "subject to the a0W Of the DEM
ocratic COnUention i1l august nert."
This announcement will be receiv-
ed with satisfaction by that gentle
mans friends throughout the State,
and chiefly upon his own account.
For, while it is the unquestionable.
right of the citizen to submit his
name to the people as a candidate
for any Office within their gift, it is
none the less his duty to do it in the
mode and through the channel which
public experience and wisdom have
selected for that purpose. Any 9TH
or mode would inevitably breed dis
cord and confusion within the lines
Of the great party now rallying to
the inspiring shibboleth of Reform,
and, with equal certainty, terminate
the public career of any man who
should be so unwise as to attempt it.
The era of so-called Independent"
candidacy is rapidly passing away;
and it has lately come to be regard
ed as a species of imbeciIity and
conceit in a public man to suppose
that he can be party unto himself,
and by sheer force Of personal will,
ride, rough-shod, over the ranks of
old and disciplined organizations.
There are, it is true, in all communi.
ties, a few malcontents, or weak
minded men. who always hold them
selves in readiness to rally under the
strange banner of some dashing po-
litical raider, with more obstinacy
than intelligence, and more self-es-
TEEN than wisdom but the result of
such an operation generally remains
a monument to the folly which gave
it birth. The experience of the last
few years in American politics has
contributed more than all the rest to
bring such movements into contempt.
Even when so respected and ven
cradle name as that of Peter Coop
er is mentioned as an Independent
candidate. on a greenback platform,
the fact is crested as & piece of harm
less folly, designed rather TO amqse
than be seriously considered. 1t was
so when Judge Davis was nominated
a few years since; and even so pow
erful gladiator as Andrew John
son, with his ancient following. and !
with the Presidential odor still hang
ing about his talismanic name, was
unable to overcome tho later and |
and higher sense of the people.
That higher sense, which is the |
logical result of stern experience,
has taught the American people that
but two great parties are possible. |
All else is the product either of a
soFe-headism, or of amiable !
A sensible man, at all !
10 observe public affairs.
is either the one thing, or the other;
and just as surely as such is the fact,
he will range himself upon the one
side or the other. If neither party
exactly suit him, then, in the true
spirit Of an American citizen, he will
yield a patriotic concession TO, or
1t least operate with, that party
which most nearly represents his
and if he finds himself
Unable to graft his views upon his
own party. he will. in the spirit Of
leferential good sense, do Tho next
,est and most practicable thing
LdopC the views of his party, or re-
main quiescent until he may urge
lis views with more prospect of sue.
ess. That these arc the ideas
which will ultimately win general,
not universal acceptance. can hard.
Y admit of doubt. And they apply I
nth equal force to the several States,
! the internal administration of
heir affairs. Hence, the regret with !
Inch :he announcement Of Col. L. /
as received. His best friends felt
to admit that while he 9
light, in some degree, impair Dem !
cratic prospects in the State. yet i
lat his overwhelming defeat was 8
evitable, and his own future, o
Tough never so promising as at 7
resent, seriously compromised.
his is not a time for dissension in
lr ranks. The juncture is "a critical 81
re, but with the Democratic skies o
lily Frightening, if we are true to f. :,
Irselves, and to the great interests ii
stake. we will move on to q glori, Il
s Centennial triumph; and the Il
cat aad salutary principles emu },
lted By the Fathers in 1870 will IL
d renewed acceptance and venera- Il
IN in the year of our Lord, 1876. al
al
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