Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1871-12-12
3" COME TO TIME"

The Press and Herald on Wednesday of
last week repeated some of the hypocriti-
cal falsehOods which Democratic journals
in Tennessee manufacture for the purpose
of diverting public attention from the
stealing, corruption and spirit of plumber IN
their own party. The charge that Repub-
hcans are responsible for the heavy bur-
dens that are pressing Tennessee tax-pay-
ers is stereotyped by the Democratic
press, and it is distinguished alike
for its falsehood and for the per-
tenacity with which it is made. A
more unblushing, malicious and wicked
falsehood was never uttered. In the first
place the Democrats bankrupted the State
for the time being, by espousing the cause
of rebellion. The people were forced into
a civil war, and the Democrats made this
the occasion for plundering the State
Treasury. The Bank of Tennessee be-
came migratory institution, and Demo-
Gratis stole all the assets which they could
get their hands upon, except about $500
600, which the military authorities of the
United States wrested from their
thievish'grasp. They perjured themselves
by investing the school fund in worth
less Confederate bonds. Instead OF using
it as the law provided, for the purpose Of
education, it was invested in a reasonable
scheme to break up the Government, and
no doubt every man through whose hands
it passed stole a goodly portion and APP
piled it to his own use. These are all mat
tiers of history, and, notwithstanding DEM
Ocratic journals may say otherwise, i'm
partial history will attest their truth.
But we asked our neighbors to be expli-
cit in their charges, and have waited three
days for reply, but none comes. Now we
do not deny that there are unworthy men
i'll the Republican party, as there are in all
parties. But if Republicans have been
guilty of robbery, theft and corruption,
such as these Democrrtic papers charge,
why, in the name Of reason, are they not
prosecuted and punished. The Governor
of the State is a Democrat. The Legisla-
ture is Democratic. Every member of the
Supreme Bench is a Democrat. We believe
there are only six judicial officers in the
State who are Republicans. Then with
the whole State Government in their
hands, why don't these honest Democrats
tndict and punish these Radical thieves?"
But if they don't wish to do this, why
don't they publish their names? Hold
them up by name, before an indignant
and outraged people, and let them suffer
the ,scorn and contumely to which their
conduct, if such as represented from Dem
ocratic sources, SO justly entities them.
AL the bonds that have been issued since
the war; in aid Of internal improvements,
have been issued to not exceeding two
dozen men.
We dare the Press and Herald to publish
the name of these men, giving the amount
that each received. You have an oppor-
tunity to settle this matter, so far as it per-
tains to Railroad bonds, by giving the
names of parties who receipted for them.
If your list shows that they went into the
hands of Republicans, and they have
stolen and Incorporated them, then
you have gained your point. Again we
call upon you to do this, and if you fail,
then have the decency to stop your hypo-
critical charges about Radical COrrup-
ton"