Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1881-08-13
Let Justice be Done.

Editor Standard Having known |
Maj. Sykes for some thirty years l de-
sire to correct some statements recently |
made public, which are of that char
acter of attack generally made upon
every man who dars to propose any
plan of settling the State debt honora-
bly,. 1t is the peculiar mode of attack
of certain papers and politicians to call
everybody who differs from them
railroad employe, bondholder, SYM
pathizer, etc., without attempting to
answer their arguments, or giving
credit to the cause of truth.
l. An honest, a fair discussion of
Maj. Sykes letter would have required
the paper criticising it first to publish
the letter and let its readers see for
themselves what it is. Instead of this
an attempt is made to smother the
light and to break its force by low per-
sonal abuse.
2. The author Of this attempt did
not have the manliness to charge that
Maj. Sykes is in the employ of rail
roads and bondholders, but seeks to
make that impression without tax g
the responsibility of its authorship.
The insinuation is dastardly falsehpod
and the man who makes the charge is
the author of the falsehood.
3. Maj. Sykes was in Warren, De-
Kalb and White counties on private
business for parties who desire to make
investments in iron and coal lands and
declined to enter into political discus
sion with those who call themselves
Democrats, but claimed the right of
every free citizen to publish his views
upon the questions of the day, and for
this he has been ruthlessly assailed by
those whose only aim is agitation for
the sake of Office. If man can't come
into these counties on such business
without being personally abused and
charged with deception and fraud" it
is time the world knew what sort of
newspapers and politicians are in these
counties.
4. Maj. Sykes was for secession after
all other measures failed, although he
was then, as now, private ctize.n and
in no public position, and had not been
in any for eight years. Must he now
be called in question for his views as a
private citizen in 1861 in favor of Sc.
cession by these Simon Pure politicians
and Newspapers Why is he in 1881
called an original secessionist? Is it to
further some demagogue's claim to Of
fee?
5. By what authority is it said that
he could not be elected for constable in
his town? Is this the truth, or is it
the malice of an office-seeker who has
tried himself to be elected to office and
failed all along the line?
When it can be shown that Maj.
Sykes has sought Office since 1858 and
failed, then it will be time fer hungry
Office seekers to make this charge. II
, was the editor of the STANDARD and
not Maj, Sykes who said he Sykes
had not sought Office for twenty-eight
years, whereas this abusive personal at
tack makes Maj. Sykes say it, and crit
icises him for it. l know certain office
seekers who have laid their plans and
schemes for years for no other purpose
than to get into Office and have as Otter
failed and seem to be mad with every
| body on account of their failue. Yea
, l have heard of men seeking every
office, both State and National, for tel
,, years and failed, and then continued t,
rant and rave for office all the more
F., but Maj. Sykes is not one of them no
r a man of that type. CITIZEN.