The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1884-07-23
TIE SITUATION.

DO irreparable. Taylor. and his
friends claimed, as they do yet, that
bis nomination was regular-that
Pettibone and his followers are bolts
ers and disorganizers-that Petit
bone is an unworthy adventurer
anyway, and his followers are only
selfish ofIice>hOlders or greedy place
hunters-while Taylor is the pet
and choice of the people.
On the other hand, Pettibone and
his friends claimed, as they also do
yet, that Pettibone was the regular
nominee-(and to a disinterested
witness of the proceedings this
claim appears TO be well founded
that Taylor and his friends are dis
organizers and bolters-indeed they
20 further and claim that the So
called convention which nominated
Taylor was simply q rabblc, q dis
graceful mob, and that Taylor has
no considerable following among
the real and honest Republicans OF
the district, but that Pettibone is
the representative head and choice
Of the Republican party here for
Congress. 1t would seem to one
not conversant with East Tennessee
Republicanism that these differences
arc wholly irreconciliable. Yet
strange as it may appear, it now
looks as If all differences would be
settled, all wounds healed, all bitter
ness sweetened, and that thc fac
tons thus mutually denounced
would, in the end tremendously
support one of these centending
candidates. How is this to be
brought about? What power exists
that can force the followers of Petit
bone to swallow Taylor after hav-
ing been so denounced? 1t is the
p0lrer Of the Boss.
The Hon. Mr.. Houk of Knoxville
has, heretofore, through his init
macy with President Arthur, had
almost exclusive control of the Fed
eral patronage in Tennessee. He
is the practical owner of the party
here. lie was naturally extremely
DESTROYS that President Arthur
should be re-nominated. On the
other hand, Mr.. Pettibone, who had
but little influence with President
Arthur was on terms of personal in
timacy with Mr.. Blaine, and there
fore naturally desired to see him
nominated.
Mr.. Blaine was nominated, much
to the satisfaction of Mr.. Pettibone,
and disgust of Mr.. Houk.
Should Blaine, Pettibone and
Houk all be elected, it follows that
Houk's reign as Boss in Tennessee
is at an end, and that Pettibone will
be advanced to that enviable posi-
ton.
To avert so great a calamity it is
believed that JUDGE HOuk, immedi-
ately after the nomination of Blaine,
began to "agitate the waters " in
the First district with view TO de-
feat the denomination of Mr.. Pettis
bone and he is credited with hav-
ing been, through his agents and
emissaries, the moving spirit of the
so-called rabble, or mob that nomi-
mated Mr.. Taylor at Jonesboro.
New the RePublic2n Executive COM
mittee of Tennessee proposes to set>
tie the matter between Mr. Petit
bone and Mr.. Taylor, and Judge
Houk is accused of engineering the
job. True, he denies it; but hrs
SOD, John c. Houk, is q member of
that committee-is secretary Of it
and it leaks out that the very course
the committee is now Parsuing is
the course suggested and marked
out by Judge Houk in a letter to
his son John, which he was indis-
Greet enough to publish.
What will be the resultz This,
we think, is not a difficult question
to answer. The subcommittee of
the Republican Executive commit
tee of the State will DO here in
week or ten days-it will affect to
hear profit Will pretend to adju-
dictate the matter, and decide that
the "rabble or mob" which nomi-
mated Mr.. Taylor was the true Re-
publican convention, and will de-
clare Mr.. Taylor the nominee of the
Republican party.
What then? Mr.. Pettibone will
buster 4 little-his friends will re-
bel a little, but before tho election
comes round they will be severally
whipped INTO the traces by the party
lash. and all will he harmony
again in the "grand old party
True it will be the harmony of
slavery-such harmony as the task
masters whip produces among the
members of a chain gang-such har-
mony as The boatswain's knout pro-
duces when he quells a mutiny on
board a ship-but it will be harmony,
and it NAV secure the election Of