The west Tennessee star. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1888, 1888-04-20
FROM MGG PITS.
Bditor of the Star

Bditor of tbeS Star
April. II, 1888.-In yo Nj last weeks pa.
per YOU have an article advocating the :
lection of Hon. d. g. Atkins for the u. S.
Senate, and pledIcting that he wall BIO
Tennessee's next Senator. This NAV be,
Atkinsis an able man, true democrat, ar
doubtless has q host OF followers IN Ten
nessee. 1t is no discredit to any man 10
say he Imports Atkins, and as your pa
per has slgnifed your determination to dc
so, no one will object to a manly squar
sight for your favprite. But any other
mode OF meeting the issue must be held
by every impartiald mind an unfair and ar
digGued. In your article fall into the use
of phrase which must have been
thoughtless. and which has been frsquen T.
" used in connection with Senator Har-
ria name that the repetition of it car
scarcely 90 without injustice. YoR say
Col. Atkins has decided to make the race
without even CO insulting Senator Harris
AS if this is an ahront to Senator
Harris. And your meaning seems to
eomport with the idea of bosslsM, &c
fippantly used as an unworthy fling by
the enemies of this Senator. This is not
quite fair. 1t seems to have bee ONE Gus
tomarv in Tennessee politics to tn row Qua
this iusiuuation whenever an aspi u
the cry of persecution, to attract a sym
pathy viii ch ones own merits do not win.
1t is known throughout Tennessee and
these United States that Senator Harriss
is a positive, firm and self-reliant nam
He has convictions of his OPT Mons, as he
ought to have-what he thinks, he be-
lieves, and is always willing to stand or
fall by his opinions Others may differ
widely from him, but there is never any
uncertainty of his Political position. Now
if a nan of this sort happens not to coin
eide with the opinions of others, c-n 1t
properly or Justly be said tia this oppo-
sition is bossIsm, or dictation. Is 1t not in
hnitely better, to have = representative
whose opinions are positive and not varIa
bic. N hose convictions are firm and not
Wavering, and shall this be hurled at a
mar, as bOssism. 1t ia a fact which no
one can successfully deny, that there is
not Democratic Senator in Washington,
whose Influence Is more potent, or who
can accomplish more for his people than
the senior senator who, notWIths landing
his ultra partizanship as a democrat, can
WELD larger power with Congress, or his
brother senators. Now no man can &C
quire such an influence whoss methods
are those of diotatisn. Men naturally
resent the spirit OF dictation, but they
readily yield to persuasion and reason.
such men accomplish the work they are
O. Mt to perform, and such pubic servants
are what We need at the National Capitol.
41r. Atkins is certainly the peer Of henator
Harris, as y gentleman, schola and
a statesman-5ut it is seriously doubted
q I'd will be hard to prove that In Wash
Ington where they have both been many
years, he controls the influence Of the
senior senator. He is every way worthy
of the support Of democrats, but for ettl-
cient practical work in the Senate-the
este>m and nj h estimate Of the Senate
chamber, where Senator Harris is best
known, would give very positive denial
to the assertion that Atkins or any other
man is his peer in actual power there.
What Tennessee wants and what the
South wants, Is influence at the National
Capitol. This cannot be acquired in =
day OF year or a senatorial term. There
are senators thore who are now serving
tAeir third or fourth terra and fl Is any
thing but wise tn the South to throw away
an influence such as Senator Harris has
acquired, to begin again, the slow process
OF acquiring 1t through 3 new man. IL
ls thus the South Iooses its power. Let
Us not, to crafty p sentiment for change
Or even a feeling OF opposition fall into
he error OF thFO wing overheard strong
man, unless his record is vulnerable anu
MS political views heretical. The writer
mas sometimes felt desire for change, but
wisdom teaches different lessou, and the
good d tne country points different
-oad. PATRIA.