The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1890-07-03
BAXTER RETORTS.
HE DENIES THE WORDS ASCRIBED
TO HIM AND DEMOLISHES
HIS TRADUCER.
The Campaign of Slander and False
hood Meets With Cutting re-
buke- "A Manly Defense to
Malicious Assault.


Chattanooga Times
The Nashville correspondent OF the
Times yesterday gave the details of
the sensational attitude that the State
gubernalorial canvass was reaching
The excitement was intensified great
ly on Tuesday by the declaration OF
the Nashville Herald (Col, Colyar's
pape) which has been Baxtcr's chief
organ, that unless he denied the
charges OF disloyalty to the Democratic
party they could no longer endorse
him. On Wednesday Mr. Baxter pub.
fishes a sweeping denial Of the charges
of Editor CarmOck, and shows why
his answer did not appear the day the
charge was made. He says the charges
are malicious slanders, but he
treats the matter in dignifed and
manly manner, in way that will
make him many friends, and cause
the ISLANDERS to recoil on his traducers
with damaging effect. His card is as
follows:
THE CARD FROM MR., BAXTER.
To THE AMERICAN:
| have been for several days fulfill
ing appointments in West Tennessee
made some ten days ago. My engage
menls are to speak each day this
week On last Sunday / wrote to Il
friend in Nashville reply to your
editorial of last Saturday. He, think
ing some OF the language too severe,
decided MOI to publish it until he could
see me personally, which lie did to-.
day. 1t will thus he seen that the
seeming delay in my reply is not my
fault
You charge that | am not II Demo.
crat. This charge is false. | have
never voted any other than Demo
cratic ticket in my life, and | have al
ways voted that ticket. have never
affiliated with or sympathized with
any other political party.
You attempt to give your version OF
discussion which was had between
your editor, Mr., Carmack, and myself
on arailroad train two years ago in
relation to the tariff.
l remember that l did have dis
cussion with Mr.. Carmack on railroad
train. He did, as he has always done
advance his ultra, impractical dogma
OF absolute free trade, and insisting
that it was and ought to be the policy
OF the Democratic party. | denied
that it had ever been the policy of the
party aud insisted that the platform on
which Mr.. Cleveland was elected an
nouaced the correct doctrine, and
went as far as the Democrats could
afford to go upon the tariff question
] said | regretted that Mr.. Cleve
land had written what was known
as the tariff message, because it haC
been construed by the people as al
Interpretation by him that the plat
form on which he was elected favored
absolute free trade, and | thought tina
such Interpretation would result il
his defeat, rs it did, ! said that
thought it was mistake on the par
OF Mr. Cleveland, and Mr. ClevelanC
must himself have afterwards though
SO, because he attempted to explain
his message, and to show that he di'
not intend to advocate free trade.
/ insisted that the industries OF tn
South which were being rapidly de
veloped, would need some protection
for some time to come, and tariff TO
revenue ought to be so adjusted as t
protect them as long as they needle
it. insisted that il the Democrat
party took the extreme position OF al
solute free trade it would give to th
Republican party the credit of favoI
ing the Southern industries, an
would injure the DeMocratic party i
the South
Asto your statement that plaC
myself in line with the Republica
panty, or that give to the Republ
can party the credit for all the pro
pcrity we enjoy, it is, to speak midi.
nothng more than your perverted il
ference from what | did say. Tt
discussion was between Mr.. CarmaC
as an ultra free trade Democrat, an
myself, as a Democrat standing upo
the platform upon which Mr.. Clev
land was elected, and YOU have Il
more right to claim that Iplace myst
in line with the Republican party b
cause diffor from Mr. Carmack than
would have to charge him with beil
a Republican, because he differt
with me on the tariff question.
1t is oil course impossible for me
remember everything that was sa
by either Of us in discussion tn
took place two years ago; that | sa
anything from which iair-mind
man could draw the inference thai
was a Republican, either in politics
sympathy, is absolutely false.
You charge that an supported
he Tennessee Coal, Iron 4 Railro
Company. That is false. ! am I
supported by the Tennessee Coal, lr
and Roilroad Company, as you
lege, and this you well knC
The best evidence Of which
~our onnosition To me beCal