The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1906-08-23
Help Mr.. Patterson.

son, every democrat in Tennessee ought
from now until the November election
do all in his power to relieve the demo-
cratic candidate as much as possible OF
the campaign, which will, OF course, be
conduc ed by him while pressed down
by the burden of his irreparabIe loss.
Mr.. Patterson is man of great forti-
tude and sturdy character. He is the
nominee of his party, the dominant
party in Tennessee, and he will, we be-
lieve, make an energetic and vigorous
campaign, despite his recent bereave.
ment.
Nevertheless, that sorrow will be
obliged to affect him, and it should be
the object of his supporters now, more
than ever before, to relieve him as
much as possible and give him the earn
est and enthusiastic support to which
he is entitled
Tennessee is a southern state. It is
one of the greatest of the states of this
section. The interests, hopes, aspira-
tions and sentiments which move the
rest of the south move Tennessee,
Since 1870, with brief interval of two
years from 1880 to 1889, when the de.
mocracy was divided, that party has
controlled the state.
The growth of Tennessee has been
under democratic rule, The party dur
ing that period has produced many en-
inent men. 1t has ranked with other
states in the councils of the nation.
The states history for the past third of
century, and all the evidence of to-
day, indicate that the democratic party
of Tennessee represents the intelligence
of the state and the influences which
have given it strength and made it
prosper.
There is no reason why this state
should be governed by any other party
than the democracy.
The republican party of the nation
and of the south are not to be consider
ed in the same relation. We frankly
copcede that in East Tennessee there
are many intelligent, patriotic citizens
in that party, but we do not believe
these are in sympathy with the policies
and aspirations of the ordinary south
ern republican officeholder or leader.
y The republican party in Tennessee for
years has been merely an organization
, for the dispensation of federal patron
age.
The present nominee for governor,
Mr.. Evans, promised something better,
> but his first act after being nominated
was to secure the appointment of the
: chairman of his state committee refe.
rec" " for dispensing Offices showing
/ that his real ambition was no higher
D than that of his predecessors. Party
: for pelf is his idea, like theirs
We take no stock in the attack or
D Mr.. Evans because he is not Tennes
: sean or southern man. Indeed, thil
: attack on him has been largely made
by members of his own party. William
Carroll, one of the greatest governors
: of Tennessee, was Pennsylvania
i born, but VIM. Carroll was, when elect
: ed governor, Tennessean and south
i ern man in spirit, saturated with thu
pride and aspirations of his state-ant
this H. Clay Evans is not.
: Mr.. Evans, we grant also, is a goot
business man, but so is Mr.. Patterson
. and so is Gov Cox, Gov. Frazier, Gov
McMillin, aud long line OF Tennessee
9 governors.
J. The fact that Tennessee in the las
five years has increased the capita
stock of its manufacturing plants 62.
per cent. is conclusive proof that Ten
!. nessee is not suffering from any error
} of government.
Z We have no criticism for Mr.. Evans
. record as pension commissioner Tn
b complaints against him on that scor
y also come from his own party, but il
" that administration he was merely fol
III lowing the lines of democratic officials
70 He is, however, a disappointed poll
tician, removed from Washington be
u cause of the protest of old soldiers, an
y then from London because more poT
ular man needed the job He has com
back to Tennessee to recoup his polite
al fortunes and his only object is I
~ make showing for The republican pal
sa ty and then he will dispense patronag
S. for Tennessee aud take some fat job fo
Of himself.
y The democracy of Tennessee wi
~ with absolute certainty control the les
ID islature and the party does not need
le republican governor to manage the a
Is fairs of the state. The whole state go,
- - ernment should be controlled by th
b, party that best represents the good ci
n izenship, intelligence and wealth of tt
= state.
W Mr.. Evans was once chosen as a rel
Is resentative of his district to congress
ee He secured his election by wholesa
o. importation of Georgia and Alaban
negroes whom he voted in blocks Of II
in the Fourth ward Of Chattanooga, at
IN, elsewhere. He,defied the poll tax la
in 1894 and deprived the school childrt
rn of hundreds of thousands of dol ars.
to denounced that law in his plstform 81
Ite declared for manhood suffrage, mea