Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1896-11-18
EXPECTING TOO MUCH.


There are a number of good, we'll
meaning people who seem to derive a
large measure of assurance, satisfac-
ton and happiness from the belief that
Robert L.. Taylor will not enter the
G~ubernatorial office If the least speck
OF a cloud should happen to settle upon
his title thereto; and that he will be
abundantly satisfied within himself
that he is the honest choice of a ma.
jority of the duly qualified sovereigns
of the State before he takes upon him
self the solemn sanction of an oath to
faithfully execute the trust of the Gov
ernorship.
II he was freed from his presen MT en-
vironments, could the shackled Lonor
Of his soul assert itself, he might yield
to the dictates of his better nature and
mount to this high and noble decision.
But the character Of politicians who
nominated him aud with whom he has
beenx training for the last twelve
months-the gang" who did neither
scrnpls hesitate two years ago to
rob the people of their choice by the
most violent, lawless. dangerous and
revolutionary procedures preclude the
possibility of such a brave and CON.
mendable'course.
Robert was the first, last and only
chance of the gang" He was not
their choice by any means. On other
notable occasions they had fought him
like bloody tigers and he had vanquish-
ed them. They selected him as their
champion because in the alarming ext.
gencies of the situation it would have
been overwhelming defeat from the
very start to have selected one of their
immediate number" ''Barkis was will
ling, tho he didn 'tcare a snap for the
Governorsbip. He had held two terms
without any great credit to himself or
pronounced benefit to the people. The
salary was too meagre for his notions
of style in which the idolized Governor
OF a great State should live. Besides
Barkis is addicted to pleasures, though
innocent in themselves and highly an.
proved, require the outlay of a big
sum of cold cash. He held the office
foul years at a great pecuniary sacri-
fice and well he knew another term
would involve a corresponding loss.
But still "Barkis was willing.n His
love of fame and position is as inordi.
nate as the ambition of the Corsican
devastator. For years his heart and
big brown eyes have been set on a seat
in the United States Senate. A third
term would let him into Bates place,
The way was thus clear into the royaI
chamber of the nation g millionaire
Representatives, where Barkis could
yell his free silver rot and shake his
clepched fist in the rubicund face and
under thefowering nose of Plutocracy-
He readily. enthusiastically and pre-.
cipitately signed the contract to help
for helpagain.
And this is the reason, the main
reason, the cole reason, ''clouded titlen
or what not or what is, that Barkis
will go in, IL government by %injunc-
tion"-that barbarous device to restrain
the lawless-does not keep him out.
So the chances are that these good,
well meaning, old fashioned people
who are guileless and unsuspecting
themselves, SO truthful and c%onfiding.
who are actually oppressed with the
conceit that the average politician is
as good as the most consecrated
preacher and has an equal chance for
the better things to come, and are
anxious to stake their all on an office
seeker who claims to be the soul OF
political honor and honesty will come
to sudden grief If Barkis' well laid
plans for the future do not miscarry
and Senator Bate and a hundred other
hungry pothunters RETRO from the field
of their own volition.
If Robert can't get into the Senate
thereby he don't want the Governor
ship.