The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1878-05-01

taken no part in the contest between
Messrs. Pettibone and Taylor. We
do not believe either one of them to
be dishonest or corrupt. But the
idea that a man is worthy Of belief
on ordinary matters and isnot TO be
believed when he writes OF things
"intended to have a political bear
ing is a species Of morality and
manly honor which we are totally
unacquainted with. Our notion is
that man who will utter a political
falsehood viii tell bouncing big lie
about anything else if an induce
ment is offered. Liars, hypocrits,
rogues false hearted men of every
description are born so and ought
not to be confded in at any time
We always tell the truth according
to the lights before us. We have
never abused the Republican party
The people composing that party
/
Democrats. A man would be a fool
who would say the Republicans were
all bad and the Democrats all good.
The mass of the two parties so far
as honesty, morality, and patriotism
are concerned, are equal. They all
wish to do right, We believe this,
therefore We never attempt to de-
ceive anybody. We would not
| Islander Republican candidate for
Congress or any other office, il we
knew the utterance of that Islander
would cause his defeat and the cleo
ton of Democrat. If ace were a
candidate for Congress and could
secure our election by telling foul
lie on cur opponent, we would scorn
to do it and wouldn't have an Office
or anything else gained by false
hood and dishonor.
There is an idea growing up in
our county that everything is fair
in politics" This is heresy which
will lead to mischief. It is the mere |
trick Of a scoundrel to gain place
and money. 1t is calculated TO I'M
dermine and corrupt the public NOR
ais. FalsehOed is never fair any |
where. If politician gains success !
By trick his victory is furnished,
his manhood degraded and his name
dishonered. We learned political !
morality at the feet of John Bell, |
Felix K. ZoIIicofer, Neil S, Brown
and the proud-spirited, brave-heart.
Ell patriots of their day and school.
Their plan was to make !heir prin-
ciples known and TO have no secrets |
from the people. They would have
scorned a dirty trick in politics as
they would have loalhed cowardice
and dishonor in the walks of private
life.
In the recent past too many men
Of loose morals and low standard of
personal honor have crept into high I
places in our Government. jug
glery, trickery and base falsehood
have too often succeeded in wre7t-
ing the victory from common homes
ty. 1t is high time we were trying
to elevate the standard of our peliLi-
cal morality. And now is as good |
time as any for us to appeal to the
young men to begin the good work. t
We say to our young men whe are
starting out in political life just now
let Honesty be your watch word let |
Honor be the shrine at which you
kaeel; let Truth be with you always
and everywhere. When yeu go into
q campaign make your principles
known and stand by them as good
soldier stands by his gun. Never
do a mean thing to gain temporary
success, and then in the end if you
are not victorious you will have the
proud consciousness OF feeling aud
knowing that you deserved TO be.
Let every politician and every State
man in the United States stand by
these principles and ours will soon
be the proudest, the graudest, the
happiest, the richest and most pow.
erful country upon the face Of the
earth.
We again say we have had moth
ing to do with the contest between
Taylor aud Pettibene for the Re-
publican nomination. We have said
ard here repeat, that either one of
these gentlemen weuld make US
respectable Representative. We
have never heard any charge Of dis.
honor being brought against either
one Of them. Mr.. Taylor belongs
to family with which We were on
terms Of intimate friendship years
ago aud we naturally have a kindly
feeling for the young maA. II he
was a Democrat he should go to
Congress from the First District or
the bottom would be knocked out of
The party trying to send him there.
As to Maj. Petttbone, we are not
acquainted with him, bat he made a
fair, an able and an honorable speech
here in RogersviIle two years ago.
We have esteemed the man ever