Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1880-06-05
COL. SAVAGE'S SPEECH.

25th ult,, on the general theory and
practice Of governments. He spoke in
our absence, and we shall have to speak
in his, for we understand that he is now
at Jackson attending the court in the
States employ in the "New Issue" suit.
AS we did not hear the speech we
are dependent entirely on verbal re,
ports from those who did hear it. We
will try not to misrepresent him, and
certainly will not abuse him, nor any
one else, as that is not our style. Per-
sonally we presume we like the Colon
el as we'll as the most of those who fol-
low his latter day teachings,
We are informed that he announced
that Moral Philosophy teaches that
there are two antagonistic principles in
mans nature, the one, the love of good,
and the other, the love Of evil. Politi-
cally we shall not object to this. He
next took for a text the entire fifth
chapter of Nehemiah and deduced
thcrefrom the conclusion that there ever
have been two theories of government
among men, the one aristocratic, the
other democratic. We add still a third,
to-wit, autocratio, the most dangerous of
all, and still agree with Col. Savage
that the Democratic is best of all. We
regard a representative Democracy as
the paragon and true type Of human
governments. So we agree on this,
Let us agree where we can and dispute
only where we differ. We are glad to
see that the Colonel has taken to the
Bible as good authority. That book
teaches this idea: cove no man any
thing except to love him." The first
part of this he has the credit Of obey
ing, but he has never manifested much
love for man or woman so far as we are
apprized. In fact it is one thing urged
against him that he is too bitter.
But seriously, what was Mr.. Savage's
object in reading the fifth chapter Of
Nehemiah? Are we threatened with
oppression, usury and confscation Of
lands and vineyards as these Jews
were? Who is now proposing to be
"king," "nobles" and "rulers" over ouI
people? We agree fully with Colonel
Savage about the case recited in Nehe.
miah. But if we are now so threatened
we want to know exactly who it is that
we have to fear and watch. Come
Colonel, you made this speech to en-
tighten the people, please tell US by
name who are they that now propose
to enslave us. We the people have
, elected you to office and kept you ii
Office at a good salary for four years
past in our Legislature where you coult
see and know who it is that now pro
, poses to take away our Glands anC
vineyards" and it is your duty to tel
us just who these oppressors are. w
5 have had beating of the bush enough
if there are any birds in the bush it i
| time they were driven out so we can SCI
5 them. We have had generalities, Sucl
r as "sharks," "Shylocks," and "bloat
ed bondholders" enough. We nov
want the names of the oppressors. w
! sent you to Congress some years ago
e and kept you there for years, and W
: now have had you in our own LegiS
$ lature as the champion of the people
!, for four years and if this usury, oppre'
. sion and confscation Of lands and vine
a yards have been going on as you seer
to say, why did you not have CON
T. mittee appointed to investigate tn
e matter and then come home and tie
o Us in specific terms giving the names ,
those whom we have to fear. If an
e body in our Legislature, or in Congre.
at anytime attempted to steal, waste {
squander the peoples money by uuju
" Legislation, by fraud, OR by raising the
II own salaries while in Office, it is you
1t duty as our representative to tell |
% plainly who it is. You have raise
a our apprehensions and now We want
! know who are our enemies. If fol
years in the Legislature and eight
)" Congress be not time enough for you
Sc find out the oppressors, perhaps we ha
at better try some one else. If there
i an evil tell us specifically what it i
to and who are Its authors, and then pr
if scribe your remedy, and then let tt
people decide whether they will CO..
", W tinue you as family physician or nc
ce This is business, nothing short of it
is,
NJ We are still for harmony and yet we dol
az well see how to bring it about SPrtN