Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1872-09-18
THE TENNESSEE TAMNANY.

every one Immediately thinks of Grant
and Greeley. We almost forget that we
are Tennesseeans, and that State questions
ought to engage our attention somewhat.
Having, while in the State Senate, learned
many facts which my friends thought the
people ought to know at their suggestion
am here Tonight.
TENNESSEE WHEN THE wAREENDED.
Let us for moment, turn our face to
the past. What was the condition of Ten
nessee when the war ended? No Governor,
no District Attorneys, no law. The fa-
brio of government had been thrown down
and lay ruined and scattered in the dust
while grim anarchy stalked supreme
through the land. We had no money in
our county treasures no money in our
State Treasury, business was PROSTATE, ouI
railroads torn up and demolished by the
iron hands of war.
WHAT THE REPUBLICANS HAD TO DO.
Amid this general ruin the Republican
party took possession of the State; and in
n few years, as IL by magic, the fabric of
government was made new, the temples of
Justice rebuilt, the public treasures replen-
ished, the railroads reconstructed, business
revived, and law and order. peace and har-
mony reigned supreme from Johnson to
Shelby.
CONSERVATISM.
But the Political Satan entered this Para
disc. Andrew Johnson divided the Re-
publican party, and begat Conservatism in
Tennessee. Then arose discord and violent
discussion. The Democracy took hope,
and the Democratic press opened its bat
teries on Brownlow and his party, keep
ing up ceaseless bombardment of Islander,
abuse, villiIication, misrepresentation and
falsehood. The very air was thick with
their sulphurous YOlleys, and every mans
ears deafencd with their satanic hullaba-
loo.
DEMOCRATIC CHARGES.
The Republicans were called "proscrip-
tive" 1t was charged that they Kept open
the wounds of the war. They were called
Bond Thieves" and "Railroad Ringers
Their denial of the right of voting to rebels
was called unconstitutional and tyrannical.
The Republican office holders were repre-
scented as growing rich at the expense of
the taxpayers. The school law was de-
nounced as only devised TO swarm the
land with county superintendent. And
the management of the penitentiary was
denounced as criminal.
THE sENTER MOVEMENT.
Just then Gov. Senter came out in favor
of universal suffrage. The Republican
party was once again divided, and the
people, tired of the internal political din,
and longing for political quiet, allowed the
Democrats to take possession Of the State
and they have been In possession ever
since.
PROMISES.
| will now proceed to show you how
these Democrats have kept their promises.
They said we were "too proscriptive,n
that we kept up the "war issues - and
prevented "peace and reconciliation"
But when they got into power, did they
lay aside the "war issues ?r All no!
They called Constitutional Convention,
composed almost exclusively of rebel Off.
GERS. They turned every Union man out
of office, and put rebel soldiers in their
places. And to-day all of the principal
Officers of our State Government are grad
yates of jeff. Davis army They repealed
all the Union laws They gerrymandered
the State SO as TO keep any Republican
from being elected to the Legislature.
Senator DuBose their leader in the Legis-
lature, said in the Senate: ain redistrict-
ing the State no member of the Radical
party was consulted. Our main object
was so TO redistrict the State that for the
next ten years not Republican could he
elected to the Legislature of Tennessee. /
believe in the law of revenge. The Radi-
Gals DISTINGUISHED us, and now we intend
to disfranchise them"
The Democrats Te-districted the State
CongressiOnally, in order to prevent any
Union man being elected. They wholly
disregarded the wishes of the people of
East Tennessee. ITO keep Radicals out of
office is doing God service, they said.
And so, gentlemen, you see how these
Democrats "clasp hands across the bloody
'chasm" when they get into power.
sQUANDER1NG THE PEOPLES MONEY.
Now let us examine their second charge,
that we squandered the peoples money
This Is matter of figures. "Figures don't
lie" and they will show who has squan-
dered the peoples money.
The Republican Government cost the
State
Fer the year ls6G-G7, Sl,77GOOO
Deduct for:
State Guards. $4,000
Met. Police, 5000
Fr0zier's Trial, 1900
Regist. of Voters, 1900
Int paid ca Debt 7T7,000 l,059OO0
Cost of ordinary expenses, $7l7,OOO
For the year ls67.Gs, 1921, 900
Deduct for;
Penitentiary, $4,000
fiaim Commits 46OOe
Stc.9 Guards, $1,000
Schools, 23O0O
Interest paid, 202{OOO 234OOOO
Cost of ordinary expenses, Ss9l,OOO
For the year lsss-G9 S2834OOO
Deduct for
State Guards, t225 OOD
Schools, 49, 600
Interest paid, l,49l, OO9 2,I53,0O
C3st OF ordinary expenses, SGsl, 900
The Democratic Government cost the