Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1886-01-23
The Rights and Privileges of Tennessee
Dogs.
Cor. Spirit of the Farm.

dog law, and that you intend to war
on dogs and demagogues until you
accomplish what you desire. We
beg leave to suggest that you have
undertaken an immense job. Dema-
gogues increase with the marvellous
fecundity of the yellow whelps they
protect and swarm all over our poor
tax-ridden State. In 1882 General
Jackson said to the South Carolina
nullifiers that the Federal Union
must be and shall be preserved. The
baneful dog demagogue mounts every
stump and says with stentorian voice
that yellow dogs must and shall be
preserved, and that the dear people
shall each keep dozen, more or less,
of these charming animals. Sink or
swim, survive or perish, he will
maintain the rights of the people to
breed scores Of the yellow quadru-
peds. This is a great constitutional
dog-right that must not be infringed
by regulation tax, and he will die a
martyr in the last ditch, if necessary,
to secure and perpetuate it. He
stands on this broad platform of the
people, he will lie on it, he will live
on it and die on it. On that he builds
his political faith, and the gates of
hell and the devil shall not prevail
against him. You may make it
privilege to keep jack or stallion,
and tax the privilege ad H6it,tm, but
touch not the yellow whelp. He is
too sacred to be molested by the tax
gatherer. He must be safe and Sc
cure under his owners vine and fig
tree, and no impertinent tax-collector
shall dare to modest him or make
him afraid. He is one of the people
and for the .sople.
Seriously, it is to be hoped that no
other State has been cursed with
demagogues as poor old Tennessee
has been cursed. The late war seems
to havs opened the Pandora's box
and turned loose on us all the pesti-
lent demagogues it previously con-
tanned. They were equivalent to all
the other evils, and the most malig-
nant spirit could not reasonably de-
sire that pestilence and death should
also be let out on us. They are the
creeping things that rot in the decay
of nobler natures, and attack with
loathsome voracity the living organ.
ism that would do the State some
service. Their name is legion, and
they are mighty for evil. What has
this diabolical host done, and what i;
it doing? The census of 1880 shows
that we have only four-tenths of one
sheep to each man, woman and chile
in the State. 1t shows further thatwt
make only one pound and q quarter
Of wool to each individual. Foul
pounds of wool each are necessary t.
clothe our people SO as to secure com
fort and health, and we therefore buy
six and a half million pounds of WOO
from "foreign paupers" at a cost o
two million dollars, including tn,
, tariff tax. With little attention t,
details, and with no wear and tear O
life, we could have four sheep to eacl
Individual instead of four-tenths o
one sheep to each. With that mum
Der we could clothe our people ant
secure comfort and health, and hav,
ten million pounds of wool to sell
which would put in our pockets tw
millions of dollars instead of payin
out two millions.
But the yellow whelp demagogu
sends forth his fiat, and says thi
financial millennium shall not be
The people must shiver with a poun
and quarter of wool to the individu
al, and must hunger still for want c
the chops and shoulder of mutton
The breeding of yellow dogs must G
if sheep are exterminated. This is
free country, and if the dear peopl
wish to breed rattlesnakes, viper
and unclaimed tigers, why not allo'
it? The Constitution looms up
only look at it and be convinced
Don't tax the privilege of keepin
such creatures, but only the valu,
10 do otherwise would break dow
the Constitution.
Now, Mr.. Editor, how will 70
meet the arguments of these sublim,
ted dog patriots? We buy two mi
lion dollars worth of wool instead
selling that much, and having I'll
money in our pockets. We shiv'
for want wool to secure health an
comfort, and hunger for delicious an
wholesome roast mutton, and al