Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1886-02-18
TENNESSEE.
WONDERFULLY SIGNIFICANT
POLITICAL FIGURES.
Tho State Already Heavily Republican
with the Vote Brought Out-Some
Interesting Reading for
Politicians.


pondent of the Cincinnati Commercial
Gazette, whose articles were so widely
read during the last campaigns in Vir-
ginia and Ohio is now the special Wash
ington, d. c., correspondent of that pa
per. The following article from his pen,
on Tennessee politics, which recently ap.
pearcd in the above mentioned paper,
will be of deep interest to many readers.
There are some Republicans who belong
tq..,,le sisterhood Of Republican States
who say they hear gentle knock at the
outside door, and when they call out,
who's there?" a pleasant voice replies,
Tennessee"
What do you want2"
IF you please, would like to come in.
have been trying for long time to
reach the door and knock for admission,
and now am here. If you will open the
door and come out and help me little, /
think l can come in and join the family
circle, and sit by the fire and enjoy your
protection
what do you bring?"
Il bring free ballot and fair count.
bring vast natural resources; the loyal
mountains and fertile plains. bring
loyalty to the Union, Cancellation and
good fellowship. ! bring the spirit of
the New South that broods over the fair
land in the clouds of smoke that arise
heavenward from mills and furnaces and
foundres. bring, with back to the past
and face to the future, desire for devel-
opmer.t, for investment, for progress and
material prosperity. | bring, in short,
the growing characteristics and qualities
of Republican State.
This is the vision or the reality that
haunts the minds of some Republicans
who have kept their eyes on Tennessee
and watched the course Of political events
in that State.
And now what is there to justify belief
that Tennessee stands knocking at the
door and declares herself ready to enter
the circle of Republican States?
put that question to James NJ Vernon
the other day. Mr.. Vernon is tie editor
of the Chattanooga Daily Commercial
He is an Ohio man, and was formerly the
editor and proprietor of the Wilmington
Journal.
He replied: 81 will show you why it is
true that Tennessee is ready to be Re-
publican State, and give it to you in the
fewest words possible"
He did so after the following fashion
as caught it:
The Republican vote in 1884 was for
Blaine 1914 200 The vote for Cleveland
was 1873, ,304, Democratic majority Of
9,049 Governor Bate had q majority of
1894 only.
The Republican gain in Tennessee
from 1875 to 1884 was "a, ,653 The Dem
ocratic gain in the paet eight years
is SO. The annual Republican gain for
the past eight years is 4,331.
II the Republican gains can be kept up
they will gain from November, 1884, to
November 1885, S,662 votes, or 1893
more votes than enough to overcome
Governor Bates majority in 1884
Tennessee will elect next November a
Governor, members of the Supreme Court
members of Congress and Legislature
The Legislature will elect successor to
Senator jackson. The last Legislature
stood fifty six Republicans to seventy five
Democrats. A gal. Of ten members will
give the Republicans majority of one
on joint ballot
In 1882 the Democratic majority in the
Third Congressional District John Ran
dolph Meals districD was 1,705. In 1884
it was reduced to 6S.
In 1882 the Democratic majority in the
Eighth District John May Taylor's dis
tricO was 2,S20 In 1884 it was reduced
to 1889.
In 1882 the Democratic majority in the
Tenth District Zachary TaylUs's district)
was S59 In 1884 the Republican majori-
ty was 5S8.
Tennessee has 95 counties. In 1884 the
Republicans made gains in rs counties,
aggregating 1926. The Democrats gain
ed in 10 counties 1924 votes, but lost
enough in the other rs counties to make
their net gain only 3S as compared with
the vote of 1876. In 1880 the Democratic
vote was 100, ,569 as against vote of
1873, 1866 in 1875.
These are wonderfully striking, in
structive and significant figures.
The influence of the Commercial has
been enormous in bringing about these
changes. 1t was the main influence in
effecting a clear gain of 5000 in the
Third Congressional District, and net
gain of 1857.
The showing is almost irresistible in
favor of the opinion that the next cleo
ton will see Tennessee fully and fairly
Republican, and come to stay. Said Mr..
Vernon:
"The Republicans had no idea of be.
ing able to carry Tennessee in 1884, or il
could have been done. Never until after
the vote was announced did they realize
that il was possible to achieve Republi.
can success. They are fully aware OF
that fact now. and if given encourage.
ment from Northern Republicans they
will go into the contest vigorously and
carry the State.
Ever since 1876 the Republicans have
cone into each Presidential contest will
a solid South staring them in the face
They have conceded 1876 Electoral vote
TO the Democratic party in advance of thu
opening Of the campaign. With thi
wonderful leverage the Democrats hav'
concentrated all their forces in a few
doubtful Northern States. We had a re
markable example of this in the las
Presidential campaign. The Democrats
concentrated their strength principally il
New York and Indiana, even after tn,
Republicans had been flushed with vic
tory in Maine and Ohio, and won in botl
of those States
1t begins to look as though the way in
10 the Solid South lies through Teunes
see, and that the peaceful invasion o
free speech, free thought capital laoo o
and progress will follow the course SEQ o