The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1891-04-24
THE HERALD.
r. ID. LANDER. Editor.
M. Mcdowell, the Oiler


Johnny Oiler, the greasy Toller, has
been here. He came unheralded, ex-
cept to the chosen few, and he held
his meeting-not in the Court House
where the common herd of curious
Democrats might gather-but away
off, in the second story of a church
building, where the elect only could
see and hear.
What this oily but earnest seeker
after hayseed votes is up to is not
vouchsafed to many, but it is general
" known that he carries his oil pot
with him. Wherever he goes there
may be found grease also, and just
now he Is being paid $1,000 per year
to oil up the machines and have them
in good working shape two years
hence.
There is no politics in it, of course.
To organize districts defined by politi-
cal lines, in order to be ready for the
fight' two years hence, is not poll
tics; oh! No! TO pass resolutions en-
dor5ing certain political principles,
and organizing to defend them, is not
of any political Significance. Ot
course not, for Brother McOiler, the
the head of the family, says not.
II it is not politics, then what is it?
Well, perhaps it is done to popularlze
Bucks administration. 1t IL 80
Democratic for the High Henchman
of the Royal Hayseeder to hold
secret meetings with select few and
agree on class legislation against the
many.
1t is so strengthening and encourag-
ing to the common herd to shiyer on
the outside out in the cold, while
Greasy Johnny pours out the Oil OF
promises upon the elect.
1t is so comforting for ]. Henchman
McTOiler, the patriot with the flow
ing beard and fat office, to appear at
the balcony and give assurance that
he-McOiler the Great-will furnish
to the grand old party of the people,
''good men to vote for"-"one OF
whom" quoth the oracle, II am
which,"
The plebean way that Presidents
have of travelling and shaking hands.
is out of date. The latest is, to be ex-
elusive. 1t is not ours to question
why! Behind his closed doors, in
the secret chamber, close to the ear
aud the heart of our Mighty High
Priest, he can do no evil. And
though our party fealty, and political
principles, and private property aud
personal rights, are being weighed in
the balance, we must think no harm
can come. Though legislation for
class is proposed and endorsed while
representation is denied, yet must we
not murmur, for Back the tIayseeder
is ut the Helm, and Johnny the Greas-
or has his eye on the gun, and there
can be no harm come unto u4.
OF course the Farmers and Labor
ers' Union, commonly known rs the
Alliance, has nothing 90 do with all
this. The Alliance as an industrial
and economic Organization of pain
practical farmers, has NJ sht to get
ready for" They simply wish IT, be
treated fair and given n chance.
But it is Governor Buck and Oily
Johnnie who are 'getting ready"
Getting ready for what? Getting
ready to help the grand old Demo
cratic party of course. Do you think
they are ingrates? Was it not this
party that took the man from between
the pillow rows and gave him the seat OF
honor? Wearing the ermine of this
party, enjoying its hOnOrs and reap
ing the emoluments, could Tennessee
grow a traitor so base as to carry the
secrets of state to the enemy's camp
aud tget ready" to fight elsewhere
than with his own people?
And does not the knight Of the
Oil Tank suck his sustenance from
the same teat? Would he pocket his
$4,000 for 100 hours work, and turn
and rend the flesh of his foster m>tn-
err? While he is drinking the oil his
heart thirsteth for could he mediate
treason? Does his WHISPERED High
ness forget the obligation he owes the
party that reached down and yanked
him all dry and forlorn out of the
Drohibition rut and anOinted him
with oil? Getting close down to the
marrow of the man, could he so far
forget his self-interest? We trow not!
But since Johnnie has got his gun,
and avowed his purpose to war; and
since he is the champion OF and the
petted darling aud greasy beneficiary
of Tennessee's Governor; and since
he is the High Chief of a secret organi-
cation, which, though good in itself,
through the cunning Of bad men might
be led after strange Gods since all
these have come ABOUT, would 1t not
be wise for the plain, good-old-Iash-
toned Democratic hosts to keep one
eye open?
If there is fight coming, let's be
rendy. II the Telling OIler means to
have a sub-treasury plank in the
Democratic platform, or fight, let's
fight, and fight to the finish, for death
ia better than dishonor, and a party
without principles has dishonOred
itself, and when it dies soon IT
must-it will go to its grave "un-
went, unhonored and unsung."
TIE clouds were heavily charged
with electricity last Sunday and
great number of the telephones were
.Aaaal 4 -