Blount County democrat. [volume] (Maryville, Tenn.) 1879-1883, 1882-10-26
WILL THE DEMOCRATS VOTE FOR
RUlE2

For the first time within my knowl.
edge, the canvass for seat in the
Congress of the United States j:
characterized alone by discussion ol
the relative personal merits of the
respective candidates. There is nc
distinctive issue between the candi.
dates touching the political principles
upon the basis Of which the affairs OF
the nation should be administered.
Judge IIouk is the candidate of the
regular Republican Convention, and
Mr.. Rule is the Republican candidate
Of the Republican opposition to Houk
both are, or claim to be, Republi-
cans; and heretofore both, it is con-
cedcd, have been "Pharisces" of the
"most strictcst sect" and it is alone
question between them az to who
shall control the patronage and offices
Of this Congressional District. The
next member will be q Republican,
whether he be Judge Houk or Mr..
Rule. What are the Democrats OF
Blountcounty going to do? VIII they
bolt in the election? If so, for whom
! have no hesitancy in saying that
the Democrats of the county should
support Judge Houk, The warfare
now being made on him by Rule,
Thornburgh, Brownlow, Cooper, Cos
set & Co., is mean and bypocritical
proceeding, in so far as the majority
of that political co.partnership is
concerned. They charge Judge Houk
with getting drunk and neglecting
his business. The greater part of
their charges are shown to be false
by the testimony Of prominent mem-
bers of Congress, both Republican
and Democratic, and that the charges
which are peddled out over the coun
try against Houk are the malicious
utterances of personal enemies, aud
of men who desire again 10 get into
place and power for their own per-
sonal gain. When were these par
vcnu moralists, Thornburg, Brown
low and GosSett constituted-or,
rather, when did they constitute
themselves censors over and correct
ors of the public morals and the pub
lie civil service? When did Rule,
Thornburg, Brownlow, Cooper, Cos
sett & Co. become opposed to the as
sessments upon office-holders for the
purpose of getting funds TO run a Re-
publican campaign? When was their
vIRTUoUs indignation aroused againet
the corrupt use of money in influence
ing elections? When did they, sin
their heart of hearts" Ito use one of
Henry Cooper's recent phrases), so
detest immortality in candidates for
office, and fraud and corruption in
conventions and Returning Boards,
TO find out that it was patriotic
duty to cry aloud, expose and de-
nounce it? Was it when they were
engaged in the Presidential Steal
Was it when they were publishing as
campaign document the speeches
of the notorious and blasphemous in
tidel, Bob Ingersoll? Was it when
they were supporting for Congress
that libertine and blackguard, Ben.
Buttcrworth, Of Cincinnati? Was it
when Thornburg was in Congress, or
a candidate for Congress? When
Gossett was Sheriff, Rule Postmaster,
and the Coopers managing the Reve-
nue. department, with Andrews
a silent partner, and the loaves
and fishes all enjoyed by the
partnership? Or has that vIRTUoUs
indignation only been aroused since
Houk cleaned out The stables, and cast
the thieves and momey-changers out
Of the political temple at Knoxville
Has not their patriotic zeal for civil
service reform originated since il
was decided TO run Rule for Con-
gress, and since these assessments $50
often heretofore sustained by him, are
being used against him? Has not the
property in the OK that is now being
gorcd had somewhat to DO with
the patriotic Judgment of the just
Judge in this case?
From any person at all acquainted
with the political anteCedents Of the
leaders of the opposition TO lIouk, as
well in this county as others, there
can be but one answcr-they are
psrvcnucs in political morals; and
seltishness, malice and jealously are
at the bottom of the opposition and
not the political welfare of the coun-
try Don't anybody know that if
there had been a Democratic candi-
date against Judge Iiouk, that Rule,
Thorburg, Brownlow, Cooper, Cos
sctt & Go. (and the "Co." includes the
little dogs in our county, would never
have raised any hue and cry against
immortality in high places, and
against political assessments? Have
they ever done so heretofore, when
Democratic candidates Of unimpeach-
able moral character were presented
to them, and civil service reform
made an issue? Did thcy sunuort