Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-09-13
D~YERSBURG.
he 6ubernatOrial Candidates
Wilson Still Gaining
Ground
BY His Earnest and UuanswerabIe Ap-
psaIs to the People.
A Graphic Description of His
Style and Line OfArgument.


seat Of Dyer county. The town of
Dyersburg will, as usual cast a small
plurality for Wright, but the county
is for the people. The reason is easily
explained by the influence ofthe ma
tional bank system. The
merchants of the town are
dependent,in a measure, upon
the national banks, whose stock has
been distributed with a view to polit-
ical influence, or, in other words,
where it would do the most good. In
an interview with Mr.. Wilson, he
acknowledged the correctness Of
this view, and said further
when he was beginning to rise at the
bar he was approached by holders Of
national bank stock and asked to buy
stock, and when he replied that he
had no money, he was offered the
stock for his endorsed note, and told
that the interest on the bonds would
bring him in a handsome return.
He said he knew two promising young
lawyers Of his county that had been
bamboozled into taking this stock,
and thus been forced to accept the
situation aud support the banks, In
which they were part owners.
But to resume. The debate was
opened at noon to-day by Mr.. Wilson,
introduced in a glowing eulogy
BY DR.. A. Harris. Opening
his remarks by referring to the
cry of the Wright men that
he was a bolter," why" said he,
pointing to Judge Wright, my dis
tinguished friend over there would
bolt anything in the world. He
would bolt a ten rail fence staked and
ridered with ~alligators, with a twenty
foot yoke around his neck and the
state debt tied to his tail. He would
bolt a Methodist camp meeting. He
would bolt an old Baptist association
foot Washing. He would bolt any
thing. He always has been a bolter.
He bolted the democratic platform
of 1873, and at every speech he has
made during this campaign he has
bolted the platform upon which he
was nominated. He is going to do it
again to-day, so you had better clear
the wayi" Wild cheers.
Judge Wright carries a bond with
him which he reads and calls a state
bond. In speaking of this, Mr.. Viii
sun says the law is printed on the
bonds, and thereby stuck under the
very nose of the purchaser, who knows
when he buys them that they are rail-
road bonds and to the railroad he
must look for his pay, citing an act of
1852 which provides that the railroads
shall pay the interests on the bonds
and set aside a certain amount for a
sinking fund to liquidate the bonds.
Judge Wright has repeatedly said
that no body ever heard of the inva-
lidity of the state bonds until it struck
these new light fellows" To this
Mr.. Wilson replies that it was known
and recognized in 1899, that the old
whig governor, Jimmie Jones,
and Andy johnson and
Isham G. Harris when governors
all in eloquent messages to the legisla-
ture, implored them to issue no more
bonds until the will of the people at
the ballot box was consulted. The
right of the people to instruct their
legislatures at the ballot box" says
Judge Wright, was given them long
before your boiling convention was
ever heard Of" Mr.. Wilson replies
to that, that it Is an unalienable right,
and the very point be wished to urge,
adding that if every man, woman, and
child in the state were to assemble
and renounce this right, their decision
would be null and void.
Judge Wright denies Mr. Wilson's
argument, that the laborer pays four
6fths Of the taxes, a fact not disputed
by the best writers on political
economy. Mr.. Wilson remembered
our eloquent home politician, Pat Win
ters, again to-day. l don't know
whether | have mentioned it before,
but will give it now, as it is too good
to miss.
Rising with a great deal Of dignity,
Pat said. Gentlemen, / don't know
where | am. Before | speak | would
like to knowwhether this is a railroad
convention or a peoples convention. "
Somebody yelled, Put him OUT
Wipe of his chin ' or Pull down
his vestl" but standing his ground
b%ravely, he said: Now, boys, that
won't do. | expect the last one of
you have your pockets stuffed with
railroad passes, and | know I've got
one in mine"
In his speech Judge Wright said
the republicans cheered for Wilson at
every speaking place, but was inter-
rupted by one Of the crowd, who said
well, you are wrong this time ces-
tain. l don't see a single republican
cheering for Wilson, and | know this
crowd. | have lived in this county all
my life, aud Pve been a democrat all
my life. | eheered for Wilson, and |
am going to vote for him, too" His
remarks had created a stir, and a wave
Of voices could be heard endorsing the
sentiment expressed.
As a specimen Of Judge Wright's
supplementary method Of argument.
will cite the following To-day
Mr.. Wilson repeated the expression
he used yesterday in reply IN Judge
Wright's charge, that he had bolted the
old Presbyterian church. lie re-
marked that il the christian religion,
full OF grace and powerful as it was,
were to attempt to carry Judge
Wright and the great mass of fraud
and corruption represented by that
convention, it would not have grace
enough lett to save sinners.
Judge Wright said in his speech to-
day: Mr.. Wilson has come here rep.
%resenting himself as a democratic can.
didate, and yet he goes so far in his
abuse OF that very party, as TO say
ltI.N ava, Al aI..A.- ~