The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1858-06-11
PRESIDENTIAL spECULATIoNs.

tions upon the Presidential prospect Tor 1901
II says;-Gen. Wilson, in 4 late speech in the
Senate, and Mr.. Sherman, in recent speech
in the House, on government expenditures,
retrenchment and reform, have hit the nail up
ON the head Mr. Buchanan is not responsible
for the crushing effects upon the country and
the treasury of the late financial revulsion;
nor is he responsible for that public nuisance
of Mormondom and other expensive legacics
inherited from poor Pierce and his predeces-
sors. And yet, let it be. made apparent in
1860 that the expenditures of Mr.. Buchanan s
administration have bern exceedingly large
for the peace establishment, and that the
pockets Of the people are suffering, and must
continue to suffer, under such state of
things; and let the opposition factions com
bne upon one candidate, for change, for
retrenchment and reform, and the democracy
will just MS surely 60 to the wall as in 1910.
The lessons of the past are the best ad-
monitions for the future. Since 1928, when
ever the niger question was out of the way,
the money question has ruled the roast
The first election of General Jackson was
secured upon the cry of "retrenchment and
REFORM" A horrible disclosure of the corrupt
condition of the administration Of John Quin-
cy Adams was the fatal parcel which broke
the camel's back. Tobias Watkins, an ac-
counting officer of the Treasury Department
at Washington, was found TO be defauter,
or in deficiency Of four thousand dollars
| (4OOO) to the government. The whole
country was reused TO Indignation, and this
unheard of crime of Watkins was punished
with the expulsion of the whole adminislra-
ton to which he was attached. or course at
this day Thurlow Weed, the Chevalier Webb
and Orsamus Benajah Matteson would con-
slider four or five thousand mere snack; but
poor Watkins fiourished when the expenses
of the government were less than thirteen
millions year.
In 1882 the country was too flush Of funds
and bank accommodations and speculations,
and too full of the bank monsters, to inter-
fere with Old Hickory; and in 1886 the oppo-
stion forces were divided upon too many
candidates to do anything, or to expect any
thing, and the revulsion had not yet come
But in ] 1877 it did come, and in 1910 it swept
Van Buren, and the democracy out of power
with the force of tornado. In 1914, the
money question being adjusted, the Niger
was brought into the foreground, and being
on the popular side of the niger issue-the
annexation Of Tcxas-tho democracy slipped
in their candidate by the skin of his teeth
In l84S the opposition rallied upon Gen.
Taylor, sinking the niger ms much as pos
sibe, and old Zach was elected. In 1852
the feebcness of Mr.. Fillmore's administra-
ton and the niger heresies of Sewardism
brought the democracy again into power
with tremendous rebound; but in 1856,
having carried the niger little too far to
the north of Mason and Dixon, they escaped
a crushing defeat through the assistance of
Mr.. Fillmore and his dark lantern.
In 1860, it is now evident, the Niger
question will be out of the way; and evident,
too, that the policy of the opposition will
be battle upon the money question, and
for retrcnchment and reform. But as yet
they are all at sea. They have not n single
candidate in the field upon whom they can
combine, nor have they indicated any pro-
grnmme beyond that of Messrs. Wilson and
Sherman, upon which republicans, Know
Nothings and fshey democrats, North and
South, can possibly coalesce. From all the
signs of the times, the odds are decidedly
in favor oftwo or three opposition candidates
and platforms in 1860. The rump of the
Know Nothings are asking too high n price
for their stock in trade, and there will proba-
bly, be no sale