The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1874-07-02
Tho Banner and U. s. a.

From the Memphis Appeal.
Beginning with small paragraphs the
war between these two papers has
grown by what it was fed upon until at
last, as is generally the case, it has been
narrowed TO personalities, and the
charge made, more by inuendO than by
any direct statement, that Comptroller
Burch bought his office from Hobbs,
who was elected thereto by the legisla-
ture of the State. The Banner for some
weeks alluded to the transaction as the
eEHobhs mystery" and, when called up
on by the Union and american to clear
it up by a statement in plain, vigorous
English of what it knew about 1t, made
no response such as il should have done
after all its taunt and sneer at the
Comptroller, whose private life It invades
by illusions to his family carriage, as if
an editor or Comptroller, ii able to do
so, should not indulge in a landaulet as
well as your merchant, capitalist or
successful mechanic. All this sort of
thing is contemplate, and only serves
to reduce the press to the level of those
unfortunate creatures whom passion
and ignorance confines to the paucity of
language so aptly illustrated by the rep
etitiOn of "You're another" If the
Bonner knows that Burch bought
Hobbs position rs State Comptroller,
why does it not say so in plain, equivo-
cal terms, and furnish the proof, and so
rest its case with the public? To do so,
even now, would be to do the manly
thing, and relieve, as it processes to be
anxious to do, the Democratic party
from the odium of so base a transaction,
and the press from the suspicion its inu-
endo casts upon US all, itself included.
To this complexion we trust the Banner
will come ut last, and tell us in plain
terms, not ii it believes, or is convinced,
or suspects, but if it knotcS that John c.
Burch bought the office Of Comptroller
of the State of Tennessee from one
Hobbs, who was elected thereto by the
legislature. Whether Burch has Ian
daulet or owns n common hack, whether
he feeds on birds, on toast, or plain corn
dodgers and buttermilk, has nothing to
do with the question at issue, in which
alone the people are concerned. They
want to know if Bureh bought Hobbs
position, and if the BGHlter can prove
that he did. Common Gecency, no less
than common justice, demands a ''no"
or eyes, and that either shall be
promptly forthcoming. This is what
we demand in the name of the people of
the State, having nothing whatever to
DO with the petty squabbles, the con-
temptible jealOusies, or local ambitions
that always underlie the wars Of our
capitOline contemporaries. 1t may be
the profits of the State printing; it may
be tax list; lit may be an office, or it
may be the journalistic leadership that
neither is fit for, that Is the real basis of
the quarrel that is so disgraceful to the
profession. OF that we know nothing,
and for it care nothing. We have only
% deal With the very grave charge of
the purchase of Hobbs Office by Burch,
and of that alone. We want all the
facts and particulars of which the Ban
ner stands possessed, and we want them
now, feeling that neither the public in
terests nor tile welfare of the Demo-
cratic party is TO be subseFved by ST.
lence, until the courts meet in Septem-
Der. Did Burch buy Hobbs place?
Let the Bonner answer.