Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1882-11-03
Houk Arainat Preschars.


The following communication is from a
prominent minister of the Gospel in Sewer
County:
We hear the cry from Houk men on every
hand saying preachers ought not to have
anything to do with politics Houk poll
ticians are trying very hard to raise undue
prejudice between the voters and the
preachers. Now, we preachers think we
are citizens as much as politicians are, and
if we choose to, there is nothing in the laws
of our country to forbid us from entering
into active politics. Neither do we believe
there is anything in the Bible to forbid us.
But on the contrary, the Bible warrants us
in rebuking crime in high places, as well as
low places; in Congressman as well as other
officers. And, besides, some of our wisest
and best men of the past have been active
politicians and also preachers. James A.
Garfield, w. G. Brownlow and Judge Gil
lenwaters were all preachers of the Gospel,
and filed their Offices with acceptibility
to the people. (And even Houk
himself has been preacher
But at this peculiar crisis, with Houk
men, especially, preachers seem to be under
par. We wonder, in perfect establishment,
| that Houk and his friends did not consider
them under par two years ago, when nearly
all the preachers in this Congressional dis
trict, especially the Republicans, were for
Houk. We heard not one word of com
plant then from Houk nor Houkites
Indeed, we thought they we're esteemed
then even above par. For Col. Gibson
even invited them upon the platform with
him. But, alas, some great change has
matter? Are we not as good and as faith
full to our calling now as we were two years
ago? Why are we now to be Missed at,
scorned at by the followers of L. G. Houk =?
Why have some Houk men failed to pay the
small plttance to their preachers they usual
ly pay! 1t is for no other cause under
heaven but that the preachers will not now
bow the knee of submission to BOSS
Houk" and his sub-bosses. We state it az
our opinion, that the preachers of this
Congressional district did as much as any
other agency to swell Houk's unprece
dented majority over L. L. Williams two
years ago. And now, because they dare &c
assert their rights as free American citi
zens in showing whom they will vote for fol
Congress, they must receive insults at the
hands of some Houk men. Many of the
preachers of to-day who are now opposing
Houk with their might, have heretofore
been his ardent admirers and supporters
knowing his abilities to perform the respon
slble duties of his Office with credit to him
self and constituents, and they (the preach
ers) would have been his strong supporters
to-day if he (Houk) had have stayed sober
as he promised them he would and haC
been honest, as we expected him to be-
For 1t has been the serious charges against
Judge Houk that has driven them away
from him, which charges he (Houk) has
treated with silent contempt until the las
few weeks, and then comes to us with tina
thin and hmsy Corkhill letter as an answer
to the charges against him. Houk himself
ought to hang his head in sha ne, If he hai
any, for the attempt to palm off any such
deception on the people as that letter
which has al eady been abundantly an
swered IN various papers. With all Houk'
opposition to preachers, he has come to the
conclusion they have little influence tina
, procure a preacher in this Congressional
district to take the stump and defend hi
fast waning course, he (Houk) had to SEM
r to the LIST Congressional district, and pro
cured the services of Rev. W. P. Gillen
, waters, a local preacher in the NJ. E
Church, to come here to help him out
, Now, the Rev. W. p. seems to be read
political tool for almost anyone who will pa
him his price. We do not know what Hou
r is to pay him it may be in promises, hk
he is paying hundreds of others, or it ma
be his pay consists in what the old darkey
did when he said ''Brederen, rs neithe
preaching for the love of God nor the goo
/ of souls, but if yes got any old boots, shoes
: caps or clothes, I'll take them and be yer
thankful" 1t may be that Judge Hou
will give the reverend gentleman that cele
brated dirty suit of clothes he wore Will
: in the calaboose as reward for his services
l They say these were the kind of clothe
Rev. W. P. wore while in the Confederat
5 army. If he were to get suit of this kin
on it would remind him of old times.
PREACHER,