The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1908-09-25
az rHE RECORD.


Our usually amiable friend. the Mt
Pleasant Record, somewhat peevishly
takes rs to task for the comment
made in these columns a few days age
on the candidacy Of the Hon. George
n. Tillman. II is often as unpleasant
To state truths as IL is 10 hear them.
In commenting upon the record and
the character Of the Republican party
in Tennessee The Herald was not
moved by partisan prejudice. On the
contrary it made what it conceives 10
be a plain statement Of facts and drew
therefrom such deductions as any
conscientious journal would neces-
sarfly draw. Our contemporary rs
mistaken If it thinks that The Herald
was prompted to its structures upon
the Republican party by memory Of
the horrors OF reconstruction days.
To sustain its statement that the
Republican party in Tennessee is
wholly undeserving the confidence OF
the people IT is not necessary TO go
back forty or thirty or even twenty
years for the proof. It is known Of all
men, and often admitted by Republi-
cans who would rise superior to their
party, that the organization in this
State has been in recent years little
more than huge Federal ONCE
brokerage business ready at any time
for any trade or any deal that would
open the way for another patriot to |
the Federal pie counter. 1t has un-
blushingly exploited the negro in or
der to accomplish its selfish designs |
1t has used the negro merely as an
asset upon which 10 build machine
for the distribution Of ofices. There
have been a number Of occasions In
the recent past when Tennessee would
have elected Republican Governor
had the leaders of that party shown
a more patriotic and unselfish devo-
ton to the interests of the people of
the State and less activity in getting
the ear of the powers at Washington.
But to come nearer home, the Rec
ord knows. or should know, that the
Representatives of the Republican !
party in the last Legislature had an
to be Of real service to
The people and to demonstrate that !
.heiry party was worthy of confidence.
How did they meet this responsibility ]
and this opportunity? Instead of
dining forces with the Democratic y
and forcing through reforms r
o which both parties were solemnly | h
pledged, the Republican members u
traded and trafficked with q
he Democratic machine-control of 1,
he party election machinery being +.
he only consideration and the only r,
mbition of the warning Republican h
actions. 9,
Had the Republicans really been r
lithful to their ante-election profess 9,
ions and true to the interests of all n
lie people of Tennessee they would q,
ave scorned to trade and deal with
le Democratic machine and would re-
ave voted with a patriotic minority III
the Demonstration the spoils of nr
fice could not tempt, nor the threat IA
executive disfavor deter-to carry N,
to effect reforms so much demanded wi
: the people. Had they done this or
stead of entering into an unholy di,
mbination with an INSCRIPTIONS TT
achine there woulds have been real los
form of the election laws, the sa-
OH would have been banished from
Lafollette and the in nj,
nous ripper bill would never have bo
sgraced the statute books of Ten did
ssee. mi
Now with such a record of so recent sci
liking what hope have the people in ser
> accomplishment of reforms rac
rough the Republican party? We prc
peat that it is better to endure the tict
; that we have than to fly to those init
know not of. Reform in Tennessee paI
D be secured through the Democrat era
party and through that party pos
ne. gat
r,on