Clarksville evening chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn) 1886-1890, 1888-10-15
Fair Play.

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What right has Harris and Atkins
to say to the people of Tennessee that
we are entitled to the place of Sena-
tor, and we will force you to say
which one Of as shall have it? Are
they the only men in the State who
are capable and entitled to considera-
ton at the hands of the Democratic
party? The Constitution gives to
the Legislature the election of Sen
ator for the State, and with view of
forestalling the action of that body
Harris friends say we will force a
primary election between Harris and
Atkins and thus deprive the men,
bers of the Legislature from this
county of any choice in the election
of Senator, except between the two.
| insist that there are other men
equally capable, and who really de-
serve more at the hands of the DEM
ocratic party than these two men,
whose cups of ambition have been
filled to overhowing, not once, but a
great many times, and who are rarely
If ever heard of in the struggles of the
party in the State, except when they
themselves are candidates.
When have they taken the stump
and canvassed the State for the DEM
ocratic party unless in their own
interest, and / might even go farther
and ask when have they expressed
even an opinion upon political ques-
tion dividing the party until they
found cut the drift of public senti-
ment. The real man of worth is the
modest man, and the one that will
mot thrust himself into a fight for an
office at so inopportune time as the
present. Suppose these gentlemen
had awaited patiently until after the
election, as they should have done,
then we would have now no disturb
ing element in the Democratic party.
These two gentlemen were greatly
honored by the party before the war.
Were the leading men in bringing it
on, and Office holders beyond the
reach of the cannon ball and bullets
during the war, and have been hon
ored ever since the war with the
highest honors in the gift of the State,
and yet say they alone have the right
to be Senator. / do not object to the
Legislature electing either one if it
sees fit, and believe either would dis
charge the duties well, but do object
to their arrogating to themselves the
right to be Senator, and excluding by
primary election all the other noble
sons of Tennessee who have not only
fought the battles of Democracy when
they were not candidates and had no
personal interest, save that interest
we all have in the success of the
Democratic party, but have also
fought the real battles of the State
when shot and she'll were flying, and
while these gentlemen were honored
and beyond the reach of danger. At
the last election when Senator Bate
was elected Senator, Governor Marks
had very large vote in the Legisla4
ture. Why not give Marks chance?
He has done the hard work of the
State and the party while other gen.
temen were enjoying the soft places
and posts of honor, and net Of danger.
He was first where the battle was
hardest, leaving leg on the battle
field of Murfreesboro, and is now
making a glorious fight for the De-
mocracy of the State as an eleetor, an
Office of no profit, and is not thrusting
his own personal advancement before
the people as stumbling block to
the success of the Democratic party.
There are other true and noble sons
of Tennessee equally worthy and de-
serving. We are told that the office
should seek the man; was there ever
in the history of Tennessee a time
when the people could with more
profit teach this salutary lesson than
now. FAIR PLAY.