The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-07-24
DIVIDED FAMILIES.

ALI who keep posted are familiar with
and have been amused by accounts of the
political division between members of the
Taylor family OF Tennessee. At the last
gubernatorial election in that state the
present Democratic governor had his
brother for an opponent on the Republican
ticket. while their father was an Indepen-
dent candidate for congress. The two
brothers made an amicable joint canvass,
and political differences in no way marred
the cordial relations between all the men,
bers OF the family.
And now comes the report of another
Ind no less interesting division in Alaba-
ma. B. M. Long is the Republican candl-
date for governor. He has two sons, who
sons are wool-dyed and moss-backed bour-
bon Democrats. All are educated and in
nuential citizens, bound together by strong
ties of family affection, but the two bour-
bons are tooth-and-nail in the fight to pre-
vent their father from beating Colonel
Jones. the Democratic candidate, in their
own (Walker) county.
OF course Long has no hope of an cleo
ton, and the chief center of interest be-
tween him and his sons is the carrying OF
Walker county. To strengthen their
chances in this connection the Republicans
made John Long, one OF the sons who
agrees with the father, chairman Of their
County Committee. which position he ac-
cepted and the case seemed hopeful But
the Democrats responded by nominating
his brother Tom for the legislature. This
put John in an awkward predicament. He
could not help his father without imperil-
ing the chances of his brother, and he did
not care TO defeat his brother. who is better
qualified than his opponent, and personally
more worthy, TO obtain for his father a
barren honor. So John resigned his chair
manship and the chances are that the old
gentleman must forego his hope of carry
ing his own county.
But there are several things that are
pleasant to contemplate in these cases.
they indicate an independence of thought
and belief that gives better assurance OF IN
telligence and principle than the "born
Democrat" and "born Republican," OF
those who .'imbibed their principles
with their mothers milk" all of which is
bosh and nonsense. II Copernicus and
Ealileo had accepted ''born" beliefs or the
teachings to which their forefathers and
contemporaries gave intellectual and relig-
lous acceptance, this world would now be
regarding itself as stationary and the GEN.
YER of the universe. with the sun, moon
and stars revolving around it and created
or its satellites.
But the chief beauty of these examples is
In the lesson Of political liberation which
they teach. These men differ in political
opinion. and make their ballots conform to
hose differences. but still maintain their
kindly relations. The one does not hold
she other TO be a knave and a scoundrel
because they do not happen to look alike
u questions Of governmental policy. any
more than they would fall TO cutting each
NE others throat because the one pre-
TERED beef and the other mutton as a
steady Diet There are many people all
over the country, not few OF whom are
called great and good, who might learn a
useful lesson by study OF these cases OF
the Tennessee Tsyiors and the Alabama
Longs.