The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-03-19
SENATORrA G. HARRIS.
WHAT HE PROMISED WHEN LAST
ELECTED fotTHE SENATE.
with the End Of the Present Term, II
Should Be Fortunats Enough to Live
So Long, Shall Pleasantly Bow Down
and Out OF onipiai Station"


1-4l-
From the Nashville Banner.
The Democrat publishes letter written
by Senator lsham G, Harris, under date OF
March 3, 1888, to the, Hon. i. f. Ragland,
in which the senator declares to be untrue
the statement frequently made to the ef-
feet that in 1888 he promised never again
TO aspire TO a seat in the Senate. Says the
senator:
This means, and Is evidently intended to mean,
that when candidate made terms with oppo-
sitlon by promising that would never be candi-
time when would have bargained my way into
the Senate or any other position. No man ever
asked me 70 make such promise, or intlmated =
been made should have refused TO make the
promise, even II had known that my election de-
pended upon H.
mcnt has Is found In this fact On the night Of my
reelection to the Senate In 1882, was called out
at the Maxwell house, and IN speech then made
| said 'ro have been elected 10 the United States
senate In 1877 and again In 1888, ~ have been by
u majority OF both houses OF the Legislature, the
first ballot might well oil the cup Of any mans
ambition. II has hlled mine 70 Overlooking, and
this Is probably the last time that shall ever ask
any official position at the hands OF the people OF
Tennessee This was a voluntary uttemnce OF
future course.
Senator Harris rather strains a point
when he undertakes 10 assume that the
frequently repeated statement that he had
promised that he would not again be can
didatc for the Senate Is intended TO mean
that he had made terms with the opposi-
ton, or had bargained for the place he
now holds. In his protest against such an
imputation, he seems TO take pains to as
sumo possible implication, in order TO
emphasize his disclaimer OF having ever
said he would not again be candidate for
the Senate. But. the fact Is, the repeated
statements that he would not again be q
candidate have been made by those who
heard his speech in the Maxwell house on
the night oil January 10, 1883, just after
his reelection M senator, and by Others
who read the published reports Of that
speech, the correctness OF which have moi
before been denied.
The attrition Of many years and the
weight OF many cares oil state must have
blunted the memory OF the venerable
senior senator from Tennessee. At any
rate, the something like this" which he
finds himself able 10 recall Of his Maxwell
house speech does not agree in some i'm.
newspaper reports of his speech published
In iha Sasb villa iournals he nexi mornino
and evening infer ne delivery.
On Tho eyening of ,he dav ri Januarv 10
lssg inst after Ills election 10 a second
torn IN Tho Senate Senator Harris wa,
called for M The MAXWELL house' and wa,
inirnduced NV Co. Colyar M The neonl,
assembled' The seraior expressed IN,
"proioundest thanks of a grateful heart
or ,he honor conferred unon him snol,
If varions offices In, had been given min
law The neople Of his native state assured
,Lem that N Tho extent of nj,
| nsiss ii =. ~ .'.'. a.
| hDinty nc Woulu cnucaNof 10 prono'e ,hs
| best interest OF the whole people. and re
fcrrad with nridd tol tho nrominence a.