Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1874-08-08
TIMELY TOPICS.
Senator Hamilton on State and Nation
al Affairs.

fairs.
have no disposition to become con-
spicuous before the public. L am a
farmer, and claim to be one of the
people, in sympathy with them, and
that our interests are identical. And
if [ can but succeed In contributing
something that will induce them
to read and study more closely, and un-
derstand the Importance of the pres
ent hour, and then act, | will have at
tanned the ultimatum of my ambition.
Every citizen that loves his country
and desires its prosperity, of every oc-
cupation and profession, should study
well the ground he occupies.
Take bold and decisive stand on
the broad and conservative democratic
platform, demand retrenchment and
reform from the Presidential chair to
the most insignificant Office in the gift
of the people.
Return to primitive principles, as
advocated by Jefferson aud other pa
triotTend statesmen in the purer days
of Sc Republic
With my countrymen | am willing
to stand or fall. | can not be moved
or driven from my position by odious
epithets.
If we fail, it will be the peoples
fault. We have the power, if we will
but maintain it. I'm union there is
strength"
Every man has his influence, and
can do something in this great refor-
nation, and should feel that this gov
is his government, whether he lives
North, South, East or West, and strive
to build up and perpetuate it as part
of his heritage A Republican form
of government is Like well regulated
clock, composed of many important
parts, so that if one is out or order, the
whole will be affected. A single indi-
vidual can accomplish but little in any
enterprise, but many, uniting their eff
forts together in one direction, can ac-
complish a great deal The ocean is
composed of drops. Millions of bush
els of grain are sustained by little
straws, one of which can be broken
by the slightest touch
This is done by each doing its part.
Therefore let every citizen who de-
sires retrenchmeft and reform in State
and National affairs, and equal rights
and equal protection, do his duty, and
the day is not distant when a new era
will spring up in our country, causing
tricksters, rings and monopolies, built
up by protective tariffs, executive priv
ileges, &C., to tumble from their lofty
positions, creating an epoch in the his
tory of this government that will go
down to future ages blessing untold
millions.
What right has any government to
protect one class of her citizens at the
expense of another?
What interest can the great mass OF
the people have in any party which IA
vors discrimination that builds up
huge manufacturers and monopolies al
their expense?
A protective tariff takes money from
the pockets of consumers, nine- -tenths
of which go direct to the pockets Of
manufacturers.
The tariff ON iron and steel is a gross
outrage on farmers and mechanics
1t is tax on every tool or implement
large or small, into which iron or steel
enters, from the steam engine to the
sewing needle, the table knife, pocket
knife, smoothing iron, kitchen uten.
sils, and thousandand one other tools
of every description used by them.
This tax on the consumer goes into the
pockets of monopolists, enabling then
to corrupt legislatures.
The crisis is on us there are live
issues of State policy as we'll as nation.
al that must be met promptly. 1t will
not do to ignore vital State question;
for the sake of party.
What interest has any man in mere
party name without principles, which
do not guard alike State and Nationa
interests. Party leaders should be re
quired to take bold and decisive
stand on State policy as we'll as ma
tional.
1t will not do to listen longer to the
siren songs of politicians, led on BY
rings and monopolists, who tell us o.
bright days in the future. They are
nothing but delusive phantoms calcu
lated to deceive
We would call upon Editors tina
love a good government and sympa
thise with tax-ridden and oppressed
people, to come to the rescue; cry
aloud and spare not, and the peopl,
will sustain those who defend thei
rights.
Great effortsa are being made by thos'
who speak and write in the interest o
bond holders to convince the peopl,
that they are not poor nor oppressed
by taxation, by describing rich noun
tains, fertile vallies, beautiful rivers
focks and herds; all of which is yer,
good in Its place, but does not pa,
| taxes or give present relief. From
this picture, highly drawn, they max,
light of the comp aint of onerous tax
alton, and say that the taxes of ou
State are not so heavy as are paid il
some other States. But they fail t
give facts and figures TO let the peopl
know that there are ten, fifteen and, il
some States, twenty dollars in circu
lation to one in this. The property il
those States is not valued At more thai
half of its real value; while the prop
erty in this State is valued at ful
value, and in some instances far NOR
than it could be sold for. As taxes in
crease. real estate declines, until it i
difficult to know what it would brin
| if sold for cash. There has bee
something radically wrong in conduct
ing the financial affairs of the State
In 1S45, according to Gov. Jone'
message, our State debt was abou
forty-six thousand dollars; since tina
time, from the foolish policy of fund
ing from time to time with other reck
less legislation, it has increased to tn
enormous sum of twenty one million
of actual indebtedness, with an add
tional Liability, as security for corpol
ations, of twenty-five millions.
IF this policy is continued, it mu:
ultimately ruin the credit of the Stat
and produce bankruptcy. The Stat
debt and taxation have both increase
, annually from l845 to the present; III
til the amount of taxes levied on re;
estate amounts nearly to rents and sti
the cry comes, more taxes" | al
; emphatically and unequivocally O,