The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-05
oLD-TIME ELECTIoNEERING.
A Remiui-cence of the Spirited
Know Nothinl. Campaign in 1854.

To the Editor OF The Times:
In Times editorial, capuoned, "The
Light OF Liberality." it is mentioned that
in Pennsylyania church en- Sunday a
layman was permitted to occupy the pull
Dit as a substitute for the regular minister
You say: Fifty years ago the presence Of
an active political worker in church pull
pit would probably have been regarded as
a scandal, though he had volunteered to
teIp out a sick pastor He would pToba
bIy have been unable to secure an audi
enee even if he had been permitted to
stand in the regularly ordained preachers
place
This reminds me of an actual occurrence
in nv first canvass as a candidate for
Congress in the Seventh CongIe sio1al dis
trict of Tennessee in 1854. NV CON )eti:or
was the son of a distinguished Methodist
preacher My grandfather was Baptist
peracher and a captain in the War Of the
Revolution. and this was known TO the
voters We met on a Saturday at Bretts
Landing. The American. or Know Nothing.
marty. was Just coming into notice, and my
competitor was the nominee of that patty.
we smoke tn a large audience in a great
warehouse The next day bsing Sunday. II
was usual for candidates to attend church
In the neighbOrhOOd. Having learned that
nv competitor would &c to a great Method
ist meeting a few miles on. l. belng iu-
yited went TO large Baptist gathering.
The Baptists were Hard Shell BaptiSts.
When 1 arrived at the church ! was urged
to address the people on the subject OF
Know Nothingism. Many of them had been
unable 10 attend the meeting on the day
before and they we're anxious to hear some
tha ctrhf nj rInfrCv / Ce
cIined on the ground that it was unusual
for a candidate to speak on Sunday. and
that il would make a scandal The lead ng
churchmen however. remarked that they
would ask their preacher Gabraei Lancas-
Ter to preach on the subject. Gabrael had
heard me speak on the day before. When
the congregation had gathered in the log
church | entered and sought the NEST OBJ
scure corner. GabT2el, who was at east
six feet four inches high and broad-shoul-
dered. took his text from Revela;i ms, chap
Ter t.. which treats of that formidable
beast, described as having ''sevel heads
and ten horns" He proceeded to give to
each of the six heads OF the beast its ap
nrcpriate name. The seventh head. he said.
represented the Know Nothing party. He
then delivered a powerful defence OF the
doctrine of religious freedom. He closed
bv saving The Know Nothings are max
ing war on the Catholics. and when they
get through with the Catholics they will
begin on the next most unpopular church.
and that is the old Baptist Church. to
which We belong. We must stand together
shoulder TO shoulder and vote for my Ii
tie friend Wright, who sits over there in
the corner" ] carried that audience almost
unanimously and was elected My competi-
Tor was astounded at the result. having
been defeated in. district in which his
party had the majority. In defending him
self he said. Why. gentlemen, on one Oc-
casion on Sunday ! attended a Methodist
meeting where | learned that Wright had
preceded me- and after shaking hands with
he people had left and gone over to big
9aptIst meeting. | followed him and found
Wright washing and wiping the feet OF the
Baptist brethren. Do you think | or any
one else could beat such a man as that?
This was greatly exaggerated. but my com
netitor had made the best excuse he could.
JOHN V. WRIGHT.