Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1895-04-10
81 A YEAR IN ADVANCE
ANOTHER MANLY LETTER.
capt. A. >. Deaderick Expresses Him.
self ON the Count Ont.

NaeuVlile banner, will be read with in
terest by all parties, and particularly
by those who know Captain Deaderick.
and know in what high esteem he is
held here, where he is best known ::
ED. H. and IT,
JoNEsBoRo, TENN, March 20, 1866
hon. John Allison-Dear Sir: fear
that many of our people who have, like
you and l, given our best efforts to
Democracy in Tennessee during the
past twenty five years, are almost
ready to leave the party and to fully
Identity themselves with the Republi-
can State organization.
confess to you that am disgusted
with the present "low comedy" Il for.
bear mention of the penitentiary
shame) over the State.
have never found myself willing to
entertain even suspicion of the integ.
rlty of Judge Turney, and have always
entertained that high esteem and vener
alton for his bold, fearless and honest
conduct which my father taught me to
feel for him.
But, my friend, he is in the hands of
bad advisers, and l fear, of desperate
men, and the state of affairs which o
has allowed to be precipitated upon the
State by yielding to vicious counsel has
justly subjected him to criticism.
1t has occurred to me that we may,
just at this time, make grave mistake
by yielding to our feelings and tearing
ourselves away from the old party.
This seems the natural thing to do, but
am sure it is not the wisest or best.
believe the true, honest men OF the
party all over the State are disgusted
with the situation and will feel enough
interest in the party to make a last eff.
fort to save it from utter ruin.
We must reform our party, acknowl.
edge our wrongs, rebuke the men who
have so sorely distressed us and bring
about new order of things.
Bossism in Tennessee must end. A
new set of men must be brought to the
front, and the ideas, men and methods
must be discarded.
A certain class only have been eligi-
BILE to office in Tennessee during our
time, and man with q lower rank
than Colonel has had no chance, what.
ever might be his qualifications. This
must end, and Democracy itself must
bring about the change.
We must not join in the belief that
we will be beaten in '96, and we must
keep this idea away from our friends
and in its stead impress uron them
that each and every man must lend his
individual aid in righting the wrongs
which have been done in the name of
Democracy, and not leave the correc-
tion of these errors to our political
enemies.
How can this be accomplished There
are but two ways. Either through the
press, or in mass meeting or conven-
ton.
1t will not do to await the meeting of
our next gubernatorial convention.
The party machinery should be taken
from the hands of the element now
controlling and directing it, and, in my
Judgment, it should be done at once.
Enough Democrats may vote with the
Republicans to accomplish the defeat
OF the report of the committee and seat
Evans, but this will not remove the
stigma from the party, for take it the
majority of Democratic members will
shut their eyes and vote for the wrong.
Now, allow me to inform you that
there is not one Democrat in this coun-
ty who approves of this legislative
farce, or who does not feel that it is un.
fortunate that these socalled ''ques.
tions have arisen; nor have l heard a
single Democrat of my acquaintance
anywhere in East Tennessee express the
least sympathy with the movement.
AS you are aware, am not politi-
clan; never have and never will ask
for office, yet l have always had the
welfare of the people at heart, and in
an humble way have worked for the
advancement of Democracy, because l
could not if would, and would not if
1 could, be anything else than Demo-
crat, am sure, from what know of
you from our long and intimate friend
ship, that you are not taking sides
with the investigators, and in this be-
lief, have written plainly to you. am
ready to cooperate in any movement
looking to the publication and preser-
walton of our party, and I say to every
one who speaks of leaving the organi-
cation, Don't do that, but come out
and exercise your privileges as factor
in the party, and demand reorganiza-
ton and publication. l have been
emphatic, somewhat, in offering the
suggestion, knowing that you would
after all regard them as suggestions,
and Gull the bad from the good.
do not know how to start the movs-
ment suggested, but have thought that
you and the friends in Nashville would,
and can assure you that ninety nine
hundredths of the people of East Ten
nessee will sustain any movement in
the direction of reform.
One thing is as certain as that day
succeeds night, ruin and degradation
is before us If the present bosses remain
in control. Let us hear from you.