Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1881-07-16
The Mass Meeting at SmitavlI:o.
SNnTHY1ELE. TENN, July 5, 'S1

SuTHvILLE, TENN, July 5, 81.
Editor Standard 1T had been an
nounced for weeks that the low tax
party would have mass meeting at
this place on the first Monday, the 4th
of July, to express their Indignation
at the 100 3. settlement, that they
would have a barbecue, brass band, etc.
These announcements, together with
the fact that it was Quarterly court
day, brought out fair crowd, ma
iority of whom came for the barbecue
and the immortal fourth, and as they
were disappointed in the dinner, music
and the ceremonies Of independence
day, it was a success as an indignation
meeting indeed, for the crowd became
very indignant at the failure to carry
out the programme. / scarcely ever
get mad, but having saved myself to
do the table justice and the music
honor, l could not suppress my ''indig-
nation" and thus we all indigaated.
Senator Smallma. was master of
ceremonie. and Hons Jas. Head and
D. J.. Snodereso we're the speakers.
| The lemonade man collie, ted a crowd Of
cid anvil. Mr., sandman then intro
duced Mir Head as a political won
der who Cor one hour d!"1ussed the
merits Of he S,a,e deb, rather than
the 1908, after the manner of S. F.
Wilson in the lac canvass which so
completely overwhelmed "the people"
by majority of $4,000. The people
used to I've successful at the ballot box
but got it laid on to them badly last
November. Mr.. Snodgrass also labor
ed long and earnestly to show that we
did not owe the debt, which was the
same plea that "the people" made in
the last election, but were routed on it
to the tune of $4,000 against them
that is, against "the people"
Resolutions were offered in accord
with the sentiments of the speakers,
and before their adoption a liberal Dem
ocrat who desired peace and harmony
in the Democratic party offered the fol-
lowing resolution as a compromise:
WHEREAS, The whole subject of the
State debt is now before the courts, hav-
ing been taken there by the opponents
Of the 1908 settlement; therefore,
Resolved, That in this, as in all other
cases, we are in favor of abiding by the
decisions of the court and CT carrying
them out in good faith.
2. RESOLVED, That if the 1908 set
element be set aside we are in favor of
settling the debt at fifty cents in the
dollar, with four per cent. interest, the
bonds to be payable in twenty years.
On motion of Mr.. Nesmith these
resolutions were tabled.
fgS5RH t ss afs4t2 ny t. fRSE od fhe!
by this vote put themselves on record
as unwilling to abide the decision of the
courts, to which they have appealed
under such leaders as Savage and Snod.
grass, who are good lawyers and toe
sound to inculcate such a doctrine as
this. If the citizens of DeKalb are
not going to abide the action of courts,
what becomes Of our lives, liberties
and pursuit of happiness? Are We
not then at the mercy of mob violencei
These resolutions were inteded also
to form basis of settlement at some
figure as a compromise between the low
tax and State credit men of the party
but they refused all figures and seen
determined to have no compromise anG
no settlement of this unhappy and dis
turbing question. They boast of hay
ing defeated the 50-4 in 1879; they re
fused all overtures for compromise il
the Legislature, and thus brought the
1908 upon us; and now, when w
desire to get from under it by com
promise figure, they still refuse. II
them belongs the responsibility of THU
unpleasant division and disturbance il
the party and among neighbOrs.
Maj. w. j. Sykes was here on pri
vate business. He was urged to speal
but declined, saying he was not here
for that purpose, but at some future
time he would address our people upor
the means of relief.
| ~