Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1884-11-14
MRS. JAMES X. POLK.
Her Recollections Of Her Husbands
Memorable Campaign for
President.
Extraordinary Excitement Over the
Tariff and Other Knotty
Issues.
Cor resrenaenee cIncLr natI EnquIrer.

Correspondence Clncin natl Enquirer.
NASHVILLE, TENN, Nov. 3, 1SSl.-
One of the most memorable political
events was that which seated James
X. Polk in the presidential chair in
1874. Then, as now, the question of
the tariff was n knotty one, and friend
quarreled with friend, neighbor was at
daggers drawn with neighbor, kins-
people forgot their ties of consan-
guinity, in one wrangle upon the sub
iect of the tariff. Then, as now, the
Democratic party contended for a
tariff for revenue only, while the
Wings believed that the higher they
made the tariff the cheaper would be
the goods, and this sentiment was
boiled down in the one expression,
"The higher The tariff the cheaper the
goods, which was an argument In the
mouth of every Wing.
Jas X. Polk of this state and Geo.
NJ. Dallas of Pennsylvania were NOM
mated to lead the Democratic hosts to
victory, and then began such scenes as
this section OF country never cares TO
witness again. Every district organ
lied its political military company,
some reaching the proportions OF bat
TALON. Here in Nashville the Democ-
racy were called together to organize a
military company, when their leader
told them he thought battalion
much more appropriate, seeing the
i ia -.
| part of the military organization.
Accordingly the march began from
the public square and was made
through the principal streets of this
city, the company In their citizens
on and join in. Men left their work
benches, dropped their tools, quit their
| counters, left buildings in an unfin-
In shirt-sleeves and with work
aprons on, Joined the march,
| ing band, which gathered material
and enthusiasm as II advanced until,
returning TO the public square, they
mustered 800 strong. Here they met
the Harrison Guards, Wing organiza.
ton, aud they begansuch shouts of de-
rlsion that made pandemonium for the
| time Of the public streets, while the
/ Democratic band of music which they
also enrolled played in mockery "Old
/ Zip Coon a-sottin' on rail- the coon
being the emblem of the Wings
/ while then, as now, 1t was Demo
cratic rooster.
Thinking over all this memorable
time your correspondent called upon
Mrs. James X. Polk TO hear hei
opinions upon the excitement ther
and now, That venerable lady wa,
found calm and undisturbed by tn,
outer events, but she was not averse t.
talk of the olden times when war anC
bloodshed had never raised theii
dreadful heads in this fair country
AT the time of MIR, Folks nomination
his home was in Columbia, and hi
family far removed from the turbulent
excitement that was then agitatinG
the country, aud consequently the
un pleasant side OF the contes
never disturbed his Preside. Friends
made their report favorable and pleas
ant, and If there were any opposed 4
AIR. Polk, they did not tell his wifi,
of 1t.
Mrs. Polk has passed her eighty
first birthday, which was In Septeln
I ~ AeA1Al anu EhN lIhl l1t
increasing age had somewhat dimin
ished her ardor concerning politics
though she ever felt, and would feel I,
the last moment OF her life, the deep
est interest both In state and nationa
affairs" She said that all she knew
now OF the interest manifested In THU
canvass was what she cleaned from tn,
newspapers, OF which SHE was con
slant reader.
One of the important questions o
Mr.. Folks canvass was the anuexa
ton OF Texas, and the motto Of tia,
Democrats was Polk, Dallas ant
Texas In those days there was ns
railroad stretching Its iron arms int
this state, and M Geographic wirei
threading their way and flashing IN
telligenee throughout the country, ans
the conveyance OF news was neeessari.
~ slow. Even In that early day the
slate Of New York WAS an important