Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1885-05-21
WHY L AM A REPUBLICAN,.
And Why | Am Not q Democrat.

And Why Am Not q Democrat.
A few days ago | had the pleasure
OF meeting with an old fellow-sol,
der who, after having expressed his
delight at The meeting and avowed
his lasting affection for your hum.
BILE servant, turned and said "By
the way, | think you are a Republi>
eau. Tell me how it is that YOU
can have gone back on your princi-
ples.''
lie had my answer in full, and
was satisfied; but as the question
"Why are you a Republican," has
SO often been asked me, | take this
method, by your permission, of
answering the question fully-so
fully that | may hereafter point to
this answer and thus save my lungs
for the fall campaign:
Because the Republican party
found this Government (which we all
profess to loye) rent and torn, with
a Treasury depleted, a number Of
States in open rebellion, and re-
stored it to its former condition,
giving it a financial system superior
to hal of any other country, and
cementing the Union, | am a Re-
publican.
Because the Republican party
broke the chains that bound mill
lions Of Gods creatures and held
them in calling slavery, setting them
free and clothing them with politis
cal rights, | am a Republican,
Because the Republican party
made it possible Tor a laboring
white man to hold up his head in
the South and be a MAN, | am a
Republican.
Because the Republican party
has fostered free education, giving
the means by which the poor, as
well as the rich, might obtain the
priceless boon of knowledge, | am a
Republican.
Because the Republican party
fayors a protective policy, whereby
American laborers are not compelled
to compete with the paupers of
other countries, sweating out their
life-blood for a mere living of the
meanest kind, [ am a Republican.
These and other reasons | could
give why | am a Republican; | will
give you a few why | am not a
Democrat:
Because the Democratic party ats
tempted odestroy the Union, whose
foundations were laid in the blood
Of our ancestors, | am not a Demo-
crat.
Because the Democratic party
favored and q belieyt) still favors
slavery, | am not a Democrat.
Because the Democratic party lin
the South surely look upon a poor
laboring white man with q con-
tempt that is as plain as the noon
days sun, haying no use for him
but for his yote, | am not a Demo>
Because the Democratic party has
made the most unrelenting fight
against its own members who chose
to think for themselves, | am not a
democrat.
Because the Democratic party
attempted to throttle, and did throt.
tie, a free expression of the people
at the polls (Danville and Copiah),
thereby multiplying the will Of the
people, ] AN not a Democrat.
Because the Democratic party is q
Free-Trade party, | am not a Demo,
crat.
Because the Democratic party
throws every possible obstacle in
the way of popular education, | am
not a Democrat.
Because the Democratic party Gin
Virginia. DETAINED the name Of one
of the braveSt soldiers who yer
went on a field-one of the purest
and brightest statesmen that ever
represented a constituency-one of
the noblest patriots chat ever grac,
ed a State-the peerless, incompar-
able MAHoNE-I am not a Demo
crat.
| have many other reasons for
not being one, and when time and
your space allows | will give you
them; suffice it to say, that sur.
rounded as I am by a people who