Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1871-11-05
REPUTATION MEANS DISGRACE FOREVER.

Absence from home for the greater
portion of the time since Governor Brown
sent his message to the Legislature has pre-
vented us from saying anything as to its
merits. So far as it relates to the finances
of the State-and it is devoted almost en-
tirely to this subjective think it compre-
hensive and to the point The Governor
is evidently opposed to repudiating the
State debt, and in this he will be sustained
by the honest people all over the State, re-
gardless Of Party. The idea of repudiating
any portion of our obligations because
bonds have been issued, as some say, in an
irregular manner, did not originate in a
spirit Of honesty.
If the acts of Republican Legislature on
this subject are to be considered void, then
all their acts are void. If they were legal
representatives of the people, they had a
legal right under the Constitution, to pro-
vide aid for internal improvements by is
suing State bonds, by loaning the credit of
the State, and the fact that the bonds have
been misappropriated in some instances,
is not an argument in favor of their repu-
diation, that will have the weight of a
feather, in the minds of honest men.
We believe there is not Republi-
can in the State, who would be will
ing to incur the disgrace of repu-
diation in any shape. We should
regret exceedingly to have such foul
stigma attached to the fair name of the
Tt, 70 1,o
disgrace which we would feel for the next
century, it would cause a stagnation in
every class of business, and especially would
it prove disastrous to contemplated in
ternal improvements, which are surround
ed with more flattering prospects now than
at any time in the past. These are all
matters for consideration in this cOnnec-
ton. The train of evils that would follow
such disastrous act, are almost innumer-
able. Their enumeration would occupy
the space allotted to this article, many
times over, and still the half would not be
tod.
We have been led to make these re-
marks in view of the great hue and cry
that has been made in some portions of
the State in favor of ''low taxes" recently.
Low taxes are popular, and hence politi-
clans seize upon that hobby for the pur-
pose of gaining temporary advantages,
caring nothing for the people or for their
welfare. In this case, the cry comes up
from the Western portion of the State
principally, and those who are leading in
it believe that Reputation is right, or at
least they affect to so believe. We do not
charge that all who favor % low taxes" are
in favor of reputation, but that those who
have organized for the purpose of carrying
the Legislature on the subject, and are
leaders in the low tax cry, are willing to
see State bonds quoted at 20 cents on the
dollar and then finally repudiated, we
have no doubt.
The idea that West Tennessee can not
pay her taxes is all bosh. The cotton crop
there for the present year is at least an
average one. and a better price is being re-
allied just now than last season. They
are just as able to pay their taxes there as
we are, or as any other portion of the State
is, and we all can better afford to pay high
taxes for few years than to bear theshame
and disgrace of repudiating our honest OBJ
legations. Our space forbids us pursuing
this subject further for the present. While
we do not wish to be understood as saying
that those who favor lower rate of taxa
ton than fifty cents on one hundred dol
lars, favor reputation, we do not believe
that lower rate is consistent with the
DuhIic credit The Crnntipp1pa who COW
that thirty cents on each one hundred dol
lars of taxable property is sufficient to
maintain our credit, have right to their
opinion, and no doubt honestly express it,
but we have also right to ours. and in
giving expression to it, we are actuated by
no other motives than the public honor
and the public welfare.