Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1896-07-15
A NEW DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.
Continued from last week.

Continued from last week.
John shrugged his shoulders. 81
hadn't thought of Uncle Ben, but the
next thing is to help you get in that
hay" said he.
Uncle Ben Whitney was a Country
store politician" man mighty in ar
gument and one of Stills supporters.
When he learned Johns incendiary
sentiments he was filled with wrath
and fastened over to the farm the fol-
lowing day, sure that he could convince
him of his folly.
AS he was ~childless, there were GER
tain pecunia1y interests in the remote
future which had been held over
Johns head as sure rewards 'ff he
pleased Uncle Ben" So with an infu.
ence which had been thus carefully
cultivated for years the old gentleman
appeared, and. with his right forefiin.
ger tapping his left palm, unfolded to
his nephew the modern political Cos.
pei.
After tracing the history of the u
try since the war;" he closed by say.
ing: Now, my boy, if all your fine
sentlment''-and John had not failed
to use his most conclusive logic
would do any good, we might encour-
age it, but as it is, you only gain a lit.
tie notoriety as a Kicker The first
thlng to do is to get the country out of
Its present ruinous condition. Then.
when the All wise Ruler of the uni.
verse sees fit to give us a better public
sentiment, we will take up the great
moral questions you mention. Just
now, all you can do is to fit your gear
ing to the wheels that are in motion.
Try to stop the wheels and you lose
your fingers; even your learned Pro.
lessor Crazy would see that. So you
may as well change your mind" and
Uncle Ben patted Johns shoulder as
though a case of infantile collie had
been happily disposed of.
Following Uncle Ben came Dick
Ainsworth to tell John that pretty
Flora Billings, who had been selected
to recite a patriotic poem, declared she
would refuse if he did not take his as
signment.
And folks are taking Sides" con.
tinued Dick, g~leefully. 'Some of 'em
think your standing out just because
you've gone through college and want
to show how smart you are, and some
think Still is trying to run things a lit
tie too much and they wish you'd show
him what's what. Most too bad about
Flora, though, for She 3 got her Goddess
of Liberty dress made"
That night John was weary, disgust
ed and confused. He did not want no.
toriety, nor did he expect a following.
No one seemed to recognize his real
motive. He got no credit for conscien-
tious scruples.
well, mother" said he, joining her
in the sitting room, 81 might as well
give in first as last. 1t is a little thing
to read the old Declaration, anyhow,
and l can't stand all this fuss. Thew
think all l do is put on for effect. and
what's the use? l see now Professor
Crazy meant when he said he once
thought he was educating future states
men, but he had found out the country
has no use for them. I guess the old
fellow has seen some disappointments
in that direction"
VI can sympathize with him. said
Mrs. Whitney,
John understood. "Oh, dear, we're
abad lot-we men, I mean-disappoint
ing our mothers and the Professors.
But what's a fellow to dop I wish I
knew-if it makes any difference"
and then he took a lamp, and a United
States history from the bookcase, said
good night and went up to his room.
John had a very bad habit of reading
and studying in bed until he grew
sleepy, and his present intention was
to look over the Declaration of Indie.
p%endence, and try to decide what he
ought to do before yielding to Nor.
pheus. But while reviewing the old,
familiar words, he suddenly lost sight
OF them, and found himself upon a
platform facing a large audience in
STILLS Park"
The great Header of the people" was
chairman, and had just announced
Johns number on the program as mex
in order. He rose, book in hand, when
a tall, stately figure glided upon the