The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1884-09-13
wrItten lor TnncnNrr.


BY SEMEN.
1t is well-known fact, that there
are thousands Of paopl1, who depend
upon others to do their thinking for
them The world is well stocked with
intellectual uyaptptics, and drones,
who feed entirely upon tho fruits of
other mems labors, and whose intel
lectual assimiiatiye powers, are conse-
quently, SO wo,tk; that they can only F,
appropriate food of the simplest char !
aoter, or such as has been digested by
others. -
And herein lies one OF the great
dangers to Republican Governments
for it is said that the pcimanonce and |
prosperity of such Governments de-
pend upon the intelligence of those
who WELD the ballot.
And When the manifestation of such
intelligence is only reflex Of the in
telligenco of others, and it may be,
designing men, the ballot becomes an
uncertain agent as respects both the
purity and permanenco of the Govern
mont.
There are few leaders, and many
followers, and while elections are car
ried 10y force of numbers, the result is
aimed, and Indicated, by few think
ing men. What a fearful responsible
ty then, rests upon political leaders;
what a fearful account awaits them at
the final roll call these thoughts arc
suggested by reading Mr. Blaine's let
Ter of acceptance. lie says 100000
100000 have been added to the wealth
of the country in twenty years OF Re
publican rule, against $14,000,000,000
in the preceding $50 years.
With an increase OF 60 per cent. Of
population, there is an increase Of 214
per cent. of property; and he styles it
a vastly enhanced wealth per capita,
among the people.
, And accepting the statement as true
as to amount, it does pro rate we'll ;
but the pro rate is only on paper.
: Thus, while the general statements
: may be true, it makes a false impress
' sion, that is calculated to mislead the
unwary
Those who open their mouths like
/ young birds and swallow everything
t their leaders give them, take it to
. mean just what it says; hence they
boast of our prosperity under Repub-
G licGn rule. Men who are not worth
G as much as they were ten years ago
men whose land has been sold for tax
7 cs, read Mr.. .Blanes letter, and ex-
claim VIC arc rich for figures don't lie
/ When men are blinded by prejudice
= aud passion they can lie made TO be-
= licyo that black is whito Admit tht
truth Of Mr.. Blaine's statement and
whom daea it bpn4Gt2 IL this wealii
distributed generally among the poo
pie? Or in tic States? Or, Is it contin
{ Ell to favored few? Whohas II? ano
; how did they get it? Have the PEG
= pis d Tglnessao got il?
The taxablo property OF Tennessee
k under the consls OF 1850, is only $2l1,
n 77S,53 1t was $300,000O00 in 1871
n Now adinitting~Mr Blsinc's statement
o as true. somebody else has the money
L (oxcept $40O,OoO0o0 in the Nationn
> Treasury and wlilo that somebody
4 has grown rich, tho figures show tina
r zoe hayn grown poorar.
d And if tho wealth Of tho Nation il
70 the hands Of the few is due to pro
toctiyo tariff, as Mr.. Blaine says, i
follows that the poverty of the many
is duo to the same cause and the cen
: sus reports correspond with our expe
10 rience, for the last ton or twenty years
Hard timos, is the general cry, not
:, withstanding Mr.. Blaine's statemen
= touching our increased wealth.
The system that builds up one class
~ at the expense of another is wrong
and the party that tolerates the fraud
ulent contracts and jobbery, by which
" its officials suddenly become rich
: should be retired at once.
Mr.. Blaine stands amazed, when HI
q says, An average gain to its wealth
"a of $125,000,000 per month surpasso
- tho experience Of all other nations, an
cient or modern.
a. And this is the more astonishing
y. y when we remember that last year W
III paid $120,000,000 freight-money, t
foreign ship owners, which Nigh
- have been made by our own citizens
y had it not been for protective taril
III