Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-06-24
HOPEFUL SIGNS.

The indications for harmonious CO.
operation among the people in the State
canvass are increasing on every side,
and coming, too, in the most desirable
shape. For instance, the Banner, which
has hitherto been silent on the question
Of State credit. now says:
Retrenckment and economy in all
the machinery of local government is
a vital necessity. The taxes must be
reduced-not to the dishonor of the
State, but the better to enable the
people 20 fulfill their obligations as q
community upon whom no stain has
ever yet left its touch.
We have limited our cry forretrench-
trenchment in city, county and State
to such matters as call for it and will
bear it without injury to the public in
terests. Sometimes fit of economy
goes so far as to paralyze the powers
of State or local government. We
want rather that degree Of economy on
sach matters aswill make itpermanent,
because reasonable. We do not be-
lieve IL such spurts as that of the Leg
islature of 1870, which reduced the
State tax to 20 cents, only to jump all
the way to 60 cents the next year.
Again, the more local retrenchment
that is effected by town and county,
the less need will there be for any such
reduction of State taxation as might
jeopardize its plighted credit, which we
are all interested in sustaining.
In State matters also, there is room
for "retrenchment and economy" Take
for instance the two items of criminal
prosecutions, and official perquisites.
The question of how much or little
State taxation can be reduced, without
dishonor, depends on the amount of
retrenchment actually effected by the
next Legislature. Therefore We OPP
pose setting up twenty cents or any
other figure, as test in advance, be-
fore we can possibly estimate the ac-
tual reduction of current expenses that
may be effected. How far the people
need relief from the State, depends to
some extent on how much relief they
secure for themselves from town, city
and county. True reform begins at
home, at each mans own door.
Whether the non-payment of interest
now, after we have resumed such pay
ment, would be dishonor is a practical
question, involving a judgment of our
present condition, on which no man or
journal should hesitate to express their
honest convictions, when the question
has been mooted. Non-payment of in
terest was no dishonor during the rava-
ges of war, when all productive industry
was turned into destructive. But it is
now full nine years since the swords
were beat into plowshares and the
spears into pruning hooks. Again,
was no dishonor vixen We
emerged from the worse ravages of !
But it is now over five
years since Brownlow took his seat in
the 4lst Congress. We have in the
retired the notes Of the Bank
Of Tennessee. By the sale of railroads
and other means the State debt
that he left US has been re-
duced from forty. three millions
TO the twenty-four millions on
which we are now called to pay in
terest. We are to-day paying that in
terest on a State tax which is the aver
age rate since the war Shall all our
efforts at home economy and retrench-
nent result only in an inability to con-
tinue the work so well begun? Or |
shall we default on the interest and |
allow it to accumulate till our debt !
again looms up to the frightful figure |
IF S43,000,0O0? The question does not |
all for discussion. Give us a Legis-
allure that represents the majority of |
and We have no fear for
heir answer.