The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1884-05-07

ton The packing scheme is not
disguised under the cry of tariff re-
form" The Memphis Erening Ledg
err informs us that certain members
of Congress "deslrs to see a full tar
if reform delegation from Tennes-
see at Chicago without the loss of a
man" As measured by what the
Democracy of Tennessee itself de-
sires, it is a matter of very little
moment what this or that Congress
man desires. The representative in
Congress is the creature and not the
master of the party who sent him
there, and it behooves him, of all
men, to be modest in the matter OF
dictation to the party, upon the tar
iff or any other question upon which
there is among Democrats wide
divergence of views.
But the Memphis twilight echo of
free trade impraeticabilities says
further that:
The man who is not in favor of tariff
reform is net the man to represent the
Tennessee Democracy at Chicago, and
furthermore we venture the prediction
that none such will be sent.
This, of course, is meant to in
clude under the ban of a species of
drill-sergeant arrogance and inse-
lence, not these merely who believe
the South and Tennessee's best in
terests demand tariff discrimina-
tons, but all who are opposed to the
untimely and utterly impracticable
agitation of the tariff issue, as being
fruitless of anything but Democratic
discOrd. Now, we feel pretty sure
that the Democratic party of Ten
nessee will not patiently tolerate
the dictation Of the political cow
boys who are cracking their bull
whips so freely over their heads.
The american holds that, without
regard to their tariff views, the
ablest, wisest and coolest of the
members of the Democratic party
should be sent up from the counties
to nominate State officers and cleo
tors and select suitable delegates to
the National Convention. Why
should the cow boys be cracking
their whips so prematurely, or why
should they, unbidden, crack them
at all, unless from a we'll grounded
apprehension that the common
sense of the party in Tennessee dis
approves the suicidal madness of
extremists with less discretion than
valOr and less judgment than per-
senal ambition? If this is not the
temper and tendency of the Demec-
racy of the State, growing hourly
and daily stronger, why should
these bull-whackers exhibit this
nervous alertness and zeal in the
endeavor to prescribe the qualifica-
ton and orthodoxy of the best men
of tho Democratic party.
If we understand the sentiment
of the Democratic thinkers of Ten
nessee, irrespective Of their views
about the regulation of tariffs, they
will resent and repel all such I'M !
methods of defeating a
full and fair expression of the entire
party of the State. The american |
makes no war upon Democrats of
any shade of opinion. We may
combat their views if we think their
hurtful and dangerous to
the country or the party, but we do
not propose to carry that opposition
to the extreme of denying represen
tation to the rankest and widest
and most unreasonable free trade
that breathes. Unless
this spirit of tolerance aetuates the
and the primaries which
are to form its membership, it would
be as we'll at once to enroll Tennes-
zee also in the column of doubtful
States. But there is no fear of any
such dire alternative. We have no
ear of the State Convention or that
he cowboy method of selecting
delegations TO it will prevail.