Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-03-19
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TRUE REFORM BEGINS AT HOME.
The little nest of regulators about
Memphis are trying to organize party
upon their platform, ignoring both the
other parties under the pretext of be-
ing in favor of Low Taxes" 1t is
needless for us to repeat that the Dem
ocratic sentiment of the State is in
favor of the lowest rate of taxation
that economy and retrenchment can
bring about, consistent with the plight
ed honor of Tennessee. These fellows
seek to raise an issue where there is no
issue, and to prevent harmonious ac-
ton among men who all think alike on
this identical topic. There is not an
honest taxpayer in the State who does
not desire as low taxation as is consist
emit with the State credit. That the
present assessment laws are objection
able in some features and ca
pable of improvement is uni
versally admitted, and we have
freely given our columns to the
discussion of amendments. Whether
such improvements as experience and
public opinion demand, are more ike
ly to be obtained from a Democratic or
Radical Legislature, does not admit
of debate Whether low taxes are more
likely to result from a continuance of
Democratic rule, or from a restoration
of Radicalism, is equally plain. There
fore our people cannot afford to run the
risk of reyiving Brownlowism. Mr..
Topp's attempt to pledge Legislative
candidates to twenty cents on the dol
lar, is an attempt to pledge them to a
violation of existing law and obliga-
tions. Unless the taxable property in
creases surprisingly, that rate is not at
all likely to meet current expenses and
interest. These agitators avOw their
knowledge of this fact, and say "let
the interest CO." That Is, after
Tennessee has resumed paying her in
terest, ten years after the war, and has
paid the two semi-annual installments
of July, 1874, and January, 1875, as
provided for by the last Legislature,
Mr.. Topp proposes TO pledge the next
to PROSTATE the State credit by an
official declaration of Tennessee's in.
solvency, and by open reputation.
The people whose votes would endorse
this policy, would cry in vain for the
immigration of honest men or produc-
tive capital Why do not these gentry
go for reducing the city taxes in Mem
phis to something under four per cent,
upon all the taxable property of the
city. Or let them be consistent, and
go in for repudiating the city debt of
Memphis; for it is this and the
county debt of Shelby that give
those people high taxes. We
believe the real object of
these men is not to reduce taxation,
but to divide the Democratic party in
the State and place the Radicals in
power. If they were true reformers,
they would begin at home. Our Mem
phis correspondent cannot say whether
it is advisable to notice these men at
present, but we must watch them"
We think it eminently advisable to ex-
pose such marplots, who seek thus early
to dash the hopes Of harmony bred by
the Bartlett meeting in Shelby. We
think it well that the people should
watch them" As regulators, let the
mark of the beast be put on them.
Baffied in this vile scheme, they are
liable to concoct others. Exposed in
this, the people viii beware of their
other coming wiles. We want the
people to watch them, and hope their
devious devices may be tracked out