Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1874-07-22
WHAT ISSUES THEY WOULD MAKE.

active part against ex-President John
son in 1872, made a speech at Paris
IA few days ago, which is being widely
quoted 10y Democratic journals, and by
most of them heartily commended.
The Memphis Appca publishes it en-
tire with flaming headlines. One of
the Majors strong points is that the
Democratic party is in no wise respon
sible for the present State debt. This
point made satisfactory, he made an
exhaustive argument on the question
of reputation, and really seems to
think there is a powerful party in
Tennessee which favors reputation.
Fortunately for him, he had the aid of
our erratic friend, Hon. Isaac II. Haw-
kins, of Carroll county, ia making his
speech appear plausible. Col. Haw-
kins belongs to no party, and never
did belong to any, but goes founder
ing about denouncing or advocating
whatever he chooses, and is generally
party by himself. He made speech
in which he took grounds, it is so re-
ported, at least, in favor of the repu-
diation of both the State and national
debt. 1t was to this absurd PROPOSE
ton that Maj. Sykes replied, in which
he charged the 5 ate debt to Governor
Brownlow's administration, and took
grounds against reputation, all of
which is species of demagoguism that
can scarcely be styled clever.
In the first place, large share of the
responsibility for the State debt lies
with the Democratic party. That par
ty.is wholly responsible for precipita-
ting the State into war against the
Government. That party is response
BILE for "a rebellion which resulted in the
death of thousands of our young men,
and I'm prosecuting war brought about
by it. our fields were laid waste, our
towns ana cities destroyed, and public
improvements of every character ut
terIy ruined. When Gov. Brownlow
came into office, he found nearly all the
railroads in the State in a helpless con-
dition. Without aid, they would have
been unable TO resume business, and
all classes would have suffered. The
Governor recommended that the State
extend the required aid and the Leg
lsIature complied with his recommen-
datiou. That loans were made in a
reckless manner in some instances is
all very true. but at the same time it
is also true that the bonds Issued went
into the hands of Democratic railroad
officials in most instances, and if
stolen at all, which we do not pretend
to deny, they were stolen by Demo-
Gratis.
As 10 this talk about reputation, we
have never heard OF it outside OF the
Democratic party, except from few
impracticable men like Colonel
Hawkins. We have observed be-
fore in these columns, that
the people Of Tennessee are honest,
They do not desire reputation. The
idea is distateful to them, and they
. lODh uIlOil IL " llll lbdlbllE hN1 al Z
willing to bear any burden which they
can at all carry, in order to preserve the
honor of the State. They will pay
/ taxes, all thai is necessary to meet their
| Just obligations. There is one way in
which the people might be goaded to
desperation, in which case they might
be forced to repudiate, and that is when
they see their hard earnings being
made the basis upon which a selfish
and corrupt ring is specializing
upon the State credit and grow
ing rich upon the misiortunes
of tax payers. Letus have hon est men
to manage our financial atfairs-men
who do not purchase their positions,
and who are not popular enough with
rings to have positions purchased fol
them, and the people Will no Longer
J murmur. So long as there is such open
and shameless corruption in high
: places, we may expect the tax payers
to mUrmHr and complain. If Major
Sykes wants to strike at the root th,
- evil, let him remove all cause for com
Z plant, by denouncing the rings tina
I nave grown up and have been fostereC
e by his party at the State capital
. When he does this his sincerity cal
D not. be suspected, nor his motives caliet
Y in question.
r We have alluded to this matter a
: some length, because We think We sc
;, "a disposition 20 make these the issue
y Of the coming State campaign w
e are willing to accept them, and vii
If not shrink from their discussion