The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1884-08-20
LETTER FROM .MISSo URL
A FORMER EAST TENNESSEA N
ON DISTRICT AND VA IL. +,
TTONALt POLITICS..
ST. Jo, Mo-, Aug. I6, 1884.


=. ST, 10, Mo-, Aug. Is, 1884.
To the Editor of The Morristown Gazette: ...s..
1t is now several years since have
thought much of East Tennessee poll
tics. But, from some, cause or other,
have been deeply interested in the
movements of some men in the First
district this summer. Since the district
is hopelessly Republican,, we outsiders
naturally take up the cleanest end of the
Republican "record" and pray for it
however. / fear the power addressed in
political prayer-meetings is not always
the throne of infinite love and harmo-
ny. And ia our prayers during the past
few months we have espoused the cause
of the losing man. Tennesseans in this
city, both DemCcI ats and Republicans
Eyes, two or three of tie boys, l am
sorry to say, are Republicans were
strong Taylor men. Aft. was my choice
from the fact that when / used to know
him he was pretty good Democrat. But
conventions do up the destiay of good
and bid bad men alike, and now we
look with some degree of interest ts the
action of the MorIistewn Plot Frsm
the course it took IN the affair before
the nominating convention met it seems
to me that it would be impossible for
that paper to support Pettib me. To say
the least, it would be surrendering its
in lividuality and placing it in The now
too long list of tools. Such a course
could not help acting as di.ad-
vAntageous to its future work, aud, no
doubt. would lose to it much of the ca
teen and conf lence of the better Re
publican element of the First district.
for Know whereof l speak when | say
that Pettibone represents the worse ell
ement of that party-a kind of Brown
ow's-mili ia party-and those who will
take the trouble to reflect back only
few years can have no difficulty in re-
membering the Brownlow regime, and
ne who can remember those days of
base disregard of all law and order and
then can support Pettibone Is surely no
friend of The modern progressive spirit
of things. l had hoped that the first
district had left the leadership of such
men as those who We're leaders fifteen
years age. l remember the names that
shown at the Republican masthead in
the district In those days and many of
them, like Jones, of Claiborne, were
no more than common criminals, dis
grace to the sturdy and manly noun
taineeTs whom they misrepresented.
But let us wait and see if.the Plot is
greater than the machine, and whether
it will stand for principle or merely
as fgure-head, and strike for that OBJ.
nnxious element that has stood in the
way of progress in East Tennessee for
twenty years. Yes, we will wait. Men
here have told me that they feared to
antagonize the old Republican machine
of the First district. And l believe it
is moral cowsrdice that Ike ps them in
IiRe--a cswardicc that is a disg: ace to
any independent, progressive man.
have already said too much about
matters out o. the family, and now will
barely mention few things farther
WIS.,. The action OF a Republican leg.
isture has successfully laid the corner
stone Of another Democratic State in
the West, and if Iowa, the Banner Re
publican State, should happen to go for
Cleveland in November, don't be sur
prised. Such things have happened out
here before To-day Kansas il doubt
full State There win be a strong fight
made ihsIuwa and Kansas, and this year
will determine their political future.
Missouri is solid, ara therefore requires
no pattit a ar hard work. The German |
vote may change the political compl, K
len of Nebraska this fall, as they are |
all for Cleveland, and in that State they |
hold the Baiapce Of power. Therefore,
If you read, on the 9Th of November, |
kansas. Nebi aska and Iowa for Cieve- |
lapd and Hendricks, = don't be alarmed. /
Victory will assuredly be written along
the line, snd there will be wailing and |
gnashing OF teeth throughout the Re-
publican fold. glnn BAD LUCN
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