The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1886-09-23
The Fiddle left at Home.


The Fiddle Left at Home.
In speaking Of our candinates for
Governor the New york Sun, of the
18th inst, has the following to say ed
itorily:
Concerning the Hon. Bob Taylor
of Tennessee, it is our pleasant duty
to record an action that is chivalric,
magnanimous, and truly creditable to
him as man and a brother.
1t is already we'll known, that Hon.
Bob plays the fiddle like an angel. He
can play it either with the right hand
or the left. His performance of the
most popular mountain melodies, both
pathetic and mirth-inspiring, was the
great features of his famous campaign
for Congress eight years ago this fall.
Indeed, we mean no disparagement
of Bobs oratory when we say that it
was the music that elected him. He
would be dead sure of sweeping the
State in the presents canvass, if he
took his fiddle on to the stump with
him, No oopponent, however eloquent,
logical, and forcible in the presenta-
ton of the issues of the day would
stand aghost of chance against Bob
when armed with the instrument
with which he charms the Tennes-
seean's heart, and which he makes
talk, plead, weep, laugh, or jump Jim
Crow according to his mood.
Yet the Hon. Bob Taylor has de-
liberately hung up his bow for the
next two months, rather than take
what most people would regard as a
perfectly legitimate political advan.
tage over his brother Alf, the Repub
liean candidate for Governor. Alfred
is an earnest but rather dull speaker
and cannot play the fiddle, the corner
or even the accordion. By an agree.
ment with Alfred, undoubtedly ap
proved by the old gentleman and Mrs
Taylor, the two brothers are travelling
through the State together and ap
pearing simultaneously upon the same
platforms. This most interesting
joint progress and discussion began a
MadisonYille, in the Southeastern cor
ner of Tennessee, on Thursday, wa
continued at Athens on Friday an,
will extend to every part of the Stat,
during the next six weeks. The meth
cd is strictly fraternal. The tw,
brothers appear together on the plat
form. First Robert introduces AL
fred, with few well-chosen words o
commendation, and Alfred deliver
his speech. Before he sits down h
introduces Robert with brief bu
neatly turned eulogy. and then tn
Democratic candidate holds forth
There is no personal abuse nor bitter
ness, no blackguard language ex
changed between the candidates
You may be sure that neither orato
calls his opponent son of gun 0
any other hard name.
Afred's speeches are modelled yer
closely on Brother Blaine's first effor
at Sebago Pond. He is, as we hav
intimated, an earnest rather than
captivating speaker. He lacks tn
sense of humor. but seems to be
conscientious person. BY the time h
has got through presenting the sta
tistics of the tariff question, insistin
on the need of popular education. e,
planning the Blair Bill and tabulatin
from the census the facts about con
merce, bank deposits, and taxation
the joint audience is pretty well pr
pared to welcome his brother Bob.
Then Bob stands up and smiles, an
the entire mass meeting smiles wit
him. The fiddle is not theye, but ii
melodious tongue begins its vibr
tions, sending forth wave after wa,
of blithe rhetoric, humorous anecdot
and happy phraseology. From Il
moment when Robert begins his e
ordium, 'In the days of the Roma
empire it was the custom Of the En-
perors to amuse themselves and the
subjects with cruel ahd bloody ente
tainments call ed gladiatorial contests
to the very last words OF his eloque
peroration, inviting the voters OF TIE
nessee to "eschew the fatal errors
Repnblicanism and fight the battle
life under the glorious standard
Progressive Democracy" there is n
an uninteresting period in his speec
The attention does not lag. II
hearers love Bob more and mere t
longer he talks. When he sits dow
perspiring but still smiling, we We
ture to say that the result OF the &C
test is determined, so far as that pi
ticular locality Is concerned.
Would you like a sample OF Bo
glowing oratoryY
as there anything improper, indC
cate, or unbrotherly in our meeting
discuss publicly the interests OF gr'
State and great nation under th'
two ideas9 We have not met
wrangle or quarrel or scramble for I
high Office for which we have be
made candidates. The tender DO
of brotherhood is neither severed !