The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1882-09-27

From the Union City Anchor.l


From the Union City Anchor
The following private letter from
Gen. ". b. Bate to DIR. A. P. Water
field, of this place, fully explains his
position on the question of prohibition
and temperance involved in the present
canvass, and should forever silence in
shame those who charge that he is par
tiaI TO the whisky interest:
| NASHVILLE, Tenn, Aug. Is, 1882
Or. A. p. Waterfeld-My Dear
Sir: ! fully appreciate your motives in
urging me TO make certain pledges
asked for by the prohibition alliance.
| had hoped that my speech at Union
City on the 9th Of July was satisfacto-
Try to you and those you represent
There is no need, / am certain, for me-
to assure YOU that am in no sense the
candidate for the whisky men, {as
your letter stated had been alleged or
of any other peculiar interest whatever
My enuaciation was clear and emphatic
in said Union City speech in that re-
gard; as it also was that I would not
recommend the repeal of the four-mile
law.
/ know | am the friend of the cause of
temperance, and have no patience with
drunkenness. Yet | cannot recognize
the right of an assembly Of gentlemen,
however upright and intelligent, to de-
mand fiom nominated party candidate
the virtual insertion Of any peculiar
doctrines into the party platform
deemed necessary by the party nomina-
: ting hirn-nor do | deem it proper
course tc make personal promises and
/ pledges to individuals, even though ]
I agreed with them.
do not desire to indulge in personal
criticism of the action Of competitors,
!, but will only call attention to the fact
that the doctrine of prohibition is not In
corporated into any of the platforms
now before the people. The careful
and studied avoidance of any committal
of party, while at the same time al
: lowing the candidate to pledge or
promise all that is necessary to secure
votes (and yet be without power to ac-
complish anything, for no man can do
so unless his party be with him, does
not commend itself to my sense of fair
dealing with the people. The declara-
ton of the convention, July II, that
they were opposed to the repeal of the
four-mile law, which had never been at
tackled, (and the repeal of which / shall
not recommend means nothing, in my
4 opinion, save an attempt to mislead and
4 deceive. Entertaining these views, I
do not feel that it is necessary or prop
er that | should make personal pledge
as to my official action in regard there
to. nor can believe any failure to do
SO can be constructed into personal
i discourtesy to any gentlement who re-
quest it. / fully appreciate, however,
their integrity and purity Of motives.
1t is difficult to persuade a devoted
and faithful Democrat, when he sees
the great struggle going on in his party
! for harmony and unity of action, and
4 the sacrifice of individual opinions made
by many Of our best men to accomplish
1T, in order to save the State from Re-
! publican rule, that this brother Demo-
! crai, with like good faith and loyalty,
viii decline to vote for the nominee on
. account of a side issue not recognized by
the platform.
i | have been taught that it is cardi-
nal point in Democratic doctrine that
majorities should rule An overwhelm-
/ ing majority in our convention Endorsed
our platform, which must be instruc-
lions for their candidate, and / do not
feel chat any one has the right to add to
or take from, or that its nominated can
didate should give out opinions as an in
dividual affecting the success of the par
ty, in regard to which the platform is
silent.
Hoping this viii be satisfactory to
you and those you represent, [ remain,
most respectfully, your friend,
VIM. B. BATE.