Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1871-12-13
THE PROGRAMME.

The programme presented by the Re-
publican party for the future, is all that
could be desired. The reduction of taxa
ton, amnesty and civil service reform are
all urged by the President and the heads
of Departments, The defunct Democracy,
even if we admit it as live organization,
which we do not, could not well get up
better platform than that. We have every
reason to believe that Congress will act on
all these topics as men of reason, and for
the best interests of the entire country. If
these measures are carried out as suggest
ed, all will be done that the people want
done.
Reduction of taxation to the lowest
standard consistent with honest nation
al obligations, will meet with the
hearty approval of tax payers
all over the country, North and
South. Let us be thankful, that in
this our time of need, when we are bur-
dened with an enormous public debt Gre
ated for the perpetuation of the Union,
that we have a President who faithfully
enforces the law for collecting revenue,
and who, after it is collected honestly APP
plies it to its intended use, thereby melt
ing the burden away gradually month
after month, paying not only the interest
but also reducing the principal.
On the question of amnesty, the Presi-
dent, in our opinion, has said just what
he ought to have said, and what his friends
desired that he should say. We might
add that he has said on that subject, just
what his enemies were DESTROYS that he
should not say. A very large majority of
the Republican party, believe that the
time has come when some such
measure as the President proposes
should be adopted. AS he sug-
gests, If there are any great crimi-
l.. Il, a. al,
part they took in opposition to the gov
eminent, and there certainly are, they
| might, in the judgment of Congress, be
excluded from such amnesty. There are a
few men in the South that are in no wise
entitled to the lenience of the government.
| They are unworthy of any sympathy, but
| that anything can be gained by keeping O
large number of persons under the disa-
| bilities incurred by the Fourteenth Amend
ment, has for "a long time been question
able. If, after all this lenience, rebels will
continue their infamous opposition to the
government, then the most stringent meas
ures should be adopted to compel them tC
| do so. We heartily approve of the Presi
dents reasoning on this subject, and have
no doubt but that it meets with the appro
baton of the entire Republican party.
Republicans everywhere will APP
prove what the President says on tn,
subject of civil ser ice reform. AS w
said few days ago, it will be utterly i'm
| possible to put the civil service in such {
condition as to meet with the approval o
Democrats. No matter how pure public
| servant may be, he is II rogue in the eye
| of Democrats, unless he belongs TO thei
party. If he does, then he may be a devi
incarnate, and yet they will. hold him VI
rs an example of honesty and integrity
We would rejoice to see none but the bes
men in office, and trust the Republican
party will adopt such measures as TO secur
this very desirable result.
We expect Democratic politicians to at
tempt TO break the force of these points
by saying they are promises only made t
be broken. They will try TO do this, bu
will fail. The Democratic party has neyc
maize promise to the country but 70 1
broken. We defy them 20 name u singl