The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1876-12-28
Itcdiield's Politics.

The extract below is made fro m q
recent letter from II. V. RedGeld to the
Cincinnati Commercial
| do not conceive that it is a matter
Of interest to anybody how l vote.
But | sec an article from the Chillcothc
(O) Register floating around IN the
uapers TO the effect that | " am .
| Southern man by birth, education ant
as,ociatiou.' and "a Democrat will
stroup tendency to CaIhouLhsm, an,
holds among his dearest friends me
who were active participants IN the wa
against the Union,' and "thcSc ltcts
were communicated to us personally
b. him."
Nv friend Of the Register must be
mistaken. Even during the excitement
Of the Bill Allen CAMPAIGN could
not so far have lost myself m to have
forgotten where | was born. The rest
of it is colored up considerably. was
born in Erie county, New York. and
South three years before the
war, when twelve years Of age. Marion
county, East Tennessee. has been my
home the most Of my life. and until
three years ago. Upon coming ofage
my first vote was cast there, for
and Bill Stokes, That
ought to be a certificate Of membership
in the Republican party for ninety.nine
years, and no questions asked. But
have not voted the Republican ticket
with stlic, regularity since. l have
scratched a great deal. l am an indie
pendent voter in all that the term im
plies, but have voted for Republicans
more than for Democrats. | Away!
try to vote to secure the best interests
of the country, without confining my
self to party boundaries. l 90 outside
often, and come back when / fee
like it.
But upon all questions which brought
the Republican parry into existence
and into power | am Republican.
This | say with emphasis. | glory in
that party for rising up against that
hideous sin, slavery, and for carrying
the flag OF the Union in triumph
civil war. And that party is not to =
day securely in power at Washington,
in all departsment of Government, and
in t~wcnty-six States out OF thirty
eight, because Of its own corruption
and extravagance. Its extravaganza
has made me sick more than its corrup-
ton, for the reason that only compare
lively few OF its leading men have been
corrupt, while they all have been ex-
tIavagant, or most Of them. The ten
dency Of the party is towards eYtrsva-
gance. They resolve that they are in
favor Of retrenchment and reform, but
never do any 81 it. | want to see
some performance. The party has es-
capped this time. if it has escaped at
all, by a tight squeeze. There Is not
much margin to play upon. There is
room for foolishness.
I like the Republican party because.
il is the party of human rights. and l
want to see it conduct itself better in
he future, 80 we all can stay in it with
, good conscience. But there must be
10 more wasteful extravaganza and
grabs, or | will get out and stay
,ut. And ] have no doubt that there
re more than q million voters of the
anne way of thinking. They prefer
he Republican party as long AS it half,
way behaves itself.
The paper | have quoted from and
'ome others calls me Doctor" 1t is
this thing was stopped. | am no
and never thought of being
ne. Mr.. Padman, of the Courier
.ourual, evolved the titls. as applied
. me, from his fertile imagination.
nd kept it up, although ! requested
i'm not 10 do SO, as ! TO not wish to
Nil under false c%olors, Oh enjoy" q
tie not rightfully mine. He has the
,,isfaction of causing inc much an
oyan.e, although. doubtless, without
, intending it. ii. V. X. u