Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1888-06-09
Johnson---Taylor.
Shelbyville Gazette.

cratic Convention of 1853 when An
drew Johnson was nominated for
Governor, will find that convention,
counterpart in the one recently held
at Nashville, and by which Gov.
Taylor was re-nominated. The same
excitement and like passions and
prejudices prevailed. A very large
majority of the delegates in '53 want
ed to nominate Andrew Ewing, now
dead, but at that time sterling DEM
crat, and extremely popular all over
the state. But he was in some way or
other committed through George w.
Jones to Mr.. Johnson and refused to
allow his name used. This only en-
ragged the Ewing men against john
son and they were determined that
he should not be nominated, because
of his refusal to release Mr.. Ewing
from his pledge. At that time, al
though Mr.. Johnson had been in
Congress for ten years from the first
district, but little was known of him
in Middle and West Tennessee. His
district had been "gerrymandered"lor
as he called it, "henrymandered" SO
that it had become a Wing district
and his return to Congress was i'm
possible. This being so, George W.
Jones, man at that time of great
power in Tennessee, determined that
johnson should be Governor, and
the first step was to get Andrew
Ewing committed. This he did the
more easily for the reason that john
son had been badly treated by the
preceding Wing legislature as well
for the reason that he did not want
the nomination. Finally the Con-
vention was called to order and John
son and other Democrats were put in
nomination. The enemies of John
son were firm in their opposition and
declared that he should not be the
candidate. Ballot after ballot was
taken, with Johnson, Gust as it was
with Taylor railways in the lead, but he
fell short of the necessary two-thirds.
All manner of lies were told on John
son, a bolt was threatened, and GER
tain defeat predicted in the event of
Johnson's nomination. But for all
this, his friends, like Taylor's, were
true as steel and could not be moved.
At last some of the opposition weak
ened, just as it was the case the other
day, and Johnson, amid yells of de-
light and Kisses of scorn was declared
the candidate. After the convention
was over, johnson was the subject of
many bitter taunts from Democratic
lips, but he was silent.
Hon. G. A. Henry was already the
Wing candidate, and was every
where known as "Our Gus" and the
eagle orator." The Wings were
proud of him and laughed at the
Democrats for outings such man
as johnson against him. AS we
have said little was known of Mr..
Johnson in this part of the State.
The Democrats in this section had
never seen him, never heard him
speak and were in fact down in the
mouth at the outlook.
But the time soon came far the ri
val aspirants to meet on the hastings
They did meet, where, with his first
speech, Mr.. Johnson demolished
"Our Gus" In fact, Maj. Henry
never rallied afterwards. His fame
his real greatness, his popularity, MOI
his unrivaled oratory could stand be
fore Johnson's crushing strokes. Tit
Wings were thunder struck and ever
Maj. Henry said to Mr.. Bell, "W'
have desperate fight before us
Johnson is man of great power, anC
in fact a wonderful man." TIL
Democrats were elated; they tool
heart and went to work for Mr.
Johnson, and he was easily electet
over Tennessee's then greatest ora
tor.
Mr.. johnson passed through exact
ly what Gov. Taylor has passed, O
is passing. Like Johnson, he ha
been traduced within the ranks G
his own party, and yet like johnson
he has borne it all without retort
Gov. Taylor, as did Mr.. Johnson, ha
known all along that no matter wha
parcel of leaders might say or dc
the people, the masses were with hin
1t was this knowledge whic
strengthened and encouraged Johr
son and we doubt not that it will Ell
courage Gov. Taylor and will enabl
him to again triumph over every oil
stacle which may be thrown in tn
way.