Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1882-08-22
Letter from clinton.

seen coming from the different points of
the compass into Clinton, in response to a
call by the chairman of the county Repub-
hcan executive committee, for the purpose
of selecting delegates to the approaching
Congressional convention at Knoxville.
BY 10 o'clock fair sized crowd had as
sembled. Men were seen to collect in small
crowds and appear to discuss matters of
importance. 1t Was difficult to ascertain
the predominating element, but the fact be-
came evident that large numbers of the
best men IN the Republican party in Ander-
son County had remained away, notably
Capt. Rules friends without whom and
whose influence the Republican party in
Anderson would be a mere bagatelle. These
men were at home, as is usually the case
with the best men on such occasions, at
tending to their own legitimate private
business, not dreaming of what a slaughter
would be attempted upon more Jealous
friends and the cause they represented, and
hold most dear, l. e. virtue and the prinei-
pies of the Republican party.
At an early hour the Houk element be-
came extremely concerned, and appeared
anxious to rush into an organization, and
they signalZed their course by calling
Houk tool to the stand, who proceeded in
very unjustihable manner, to assail Cap
tain Rules character and to repeat the
threadbare charges so often made by Judge
Houk and his organs that they have become
stale. He was frank enough, from want of
training, to admit that the Hon. L. G. was
sometimes guilty of tipping the flowing
boWI' ''leetIe" too freely, but then host
of other good qualities % condoned this
small affair.
Capt w R. Hicks was called for who
took the stand and proceeded to state solid
facts. He holds dearly the principles and
policies of the Republican party, and is al
ways happy to see Republicans harmonic
ing and working together to exemplify and
carry out the avowed mission of the Re-
pdbhcan party. When he attempted to
stase the truth concerning Captain Rule and
his character, the Houk men became so
boisterous that he could not be heard This
short discussion developed the fact that
certain element in the crowd would allow
nothing that was not highly coIored ex
parte statement in Houk's favor. TIE Rule
men had hoped for the Republicans of
this county that none of them had
learned the tricks that are dark and
ways that are vain" But in this
luSy 1OTSoL Will WuOln luSy MedSufSu
lances, and found, when rather too late, tue
old familiar handiwork on the wall
An organization was then hurried into
Joe Brown, otherwise sheriff. was then de-
clared chairman. In his preliminary re-
marks he saiG that the Rule men, ''bolters,r
he called them, ought TO be kicked out of
the party. He forgot that the votes of
some of these Rule men are exceedingly
handy when votes are wanted to elect man
sheriff. But they don't forget it. The
chairman was understood to be a notorious
Houk man, and was asked If he would organize
and conduct the convention upon basis of
equity to conflicting interest. He refused
to answer, and was told it was goodbye
sweetheart and was assured that there
was large element of Republicans in An
derson who have long since learned that
principles came before men anu that these
tenets should be uppermost, and would
live when the present gentleman IS forgot
ten. Further, they did not pro
pose to compromise or trail them IN the
dust They would proceed to organize and
set these principles before the world as
living witnesses of their faith and purposes.
In tumble down, drag aud scramble, the
Rule men could pc haps, have carried the
preliminary organization. Their pro
gramme and practice was for a peaceful
issue. Seeing not much hope for this they
preferred peace at all events, and allowed
the Houk crowd to have their own way.
am not going to say there were not
some good men in the Houk convention.
There are some good Republicans in Ander-
son, as well as everywhere whose zeal
causes them to shut their eyes in the face
or tne most glaring dellnquencies and prac-
tees at square issue with true Republican
ism. Good though they were, they We're
certainly yoke fellows" with a boisterous,
unruly set where the evidences of benZine,
or pokeberry juice, were SO potent that a
blind man could have discerned it.
The proceedings were but rehash of the
conduct of boss gang in the other counties
with this popularity, however, that the
reatfimlng of support of national Re
publican party" was put at or near the rear
end of the resolutions.
The Republicans in Anderson who oppose
Judge lHouk, have no personal prejudice in
the matter They are numerous and among
the very best class of our citizens. These
hasty fellows will yet, in sober moments,
see their folly, and that in kicking" all
men oft who disagree with them, that they
have cast the very salt out of the organiza-
ton. These men who oppose the Hon i.
q. regret very much the forced issue, but
they are determined to meet it, and are
confident that justice and truth will prevail,
though the heavens fall.
The conduct of Houk's friends in the
Clinton convention made no friends or con-
verts to that side, but rather tended to
strengthen the zeal and open the eyes of
many who were Indifferent to the canvass,
and I have heard men who were disposed
to support Houk, declare they would not
now do SO, and there's many of that very
class who won't. ~
Clinton, Tenn, Aug. 10, 1882.