Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1874-03-28
SIGNS OF THE TIMES.


All that We can gather. from reading ,
and conversation, tends to confirm the
discouraging belief, that the disorgan
lied condition of the conservative OPP
position, two years ago, is unchanged !
for the better. The difference in the
two periods. seems to consist in the
fact that, prior to the last election,
there were primary elections and
the canvass opened with a prospect
of harmony and success; but the dis
organizers began their work, and it
soon became apparent that thousands
who had voted for one man, primarily,
would discard their solemn pledge and
vote for another. This wide spread
want of good faith, on the part of
so many who had pledged their vote to
the candidate, they had helped to Sc
lect, gave the victory to the Radicals
and the shame and dishonor to them
selves. Now, however, the disorgan
izers are leading off and, in manner I
which seems to say to the opposition
you must elect rs, orwe viii elect Rad
icals. And the sovereign people, boast
ing of their ability and determination
to break down monopolies and rings, |
bow. in humble submission, to these |
political tricksters. and sacrifice their |
most vital interests that demagogues !
may flourish.
five are correctly informed, the an
ti-funders are coming to the front, and
their strong card will be-no rate OF (
taxation that shall exceed twenty cents |
on thelhundred dollars. But why con-
meet the funding bill with this clap
trap? They know that the law can
not be repealed without violating a
solemn compact between the State and
its creditors, and that, in order to re-
duce the rate of taxation one-half, or
more. the funded debt must be repudi-
ated. Those who are playing this
game, may hesitate to shock the pub
lies sense of honor, by boldly advo-
eating repadiation, but assaults upon
the funding bill and a promise OF low
taxes, mean nothing but reputation,
sugar-coated to disguise the bitter dose
which the people will be invited to
swallow.
There was a time when, in our judg-
ment, partial reputation would have
been wise and proper. When the
State had freed itself from the curse of
Radical rule, careful investigation
should have been made, of its liabili
ties. carefully separating the legal from
the Illegal bonds. and all of the latter
should have been repudiated, allowing
only so much of the carpet-bag issue
as would suffice for the economical ad-
ministration of de fdcto government.
Instead of pursuing this policy, the
Legislature enacted that the railroads
might pay off their Indebtedness to the
State, in its own bonds. Consequently,
the Brownlow issue, being either IL
legal, or of doubtful authority, were
the cheapest in the market, and these
the railroads bought up and paid into
the Treasury of the State. In this
way the only bonds which might have
been honorably repudiated, were legal
lied and accepted in payment of debts,
leaving the bona tide bonds of the
State &c be redeemed by the heavy
drafts upon the pockets of the taxpay-
ers. The people, it seems, will now be
asked to repudiate an honest debt
after having paid off the bogus obliga-
tons imposed by thieving ring of
swindling carpet baggers and native
traitors.
Whilst the people are being divided
on the foregoing issues, and defeated,
in consequence of that division, the
Radicals are cooperating with the dis
organizers and reading their title clear
TO another victory in November. They
know that there are seven, if not eight,
ofthe Congressional Districts, decided
" against them, on square contest
between parties, and therefore, their
policy is to make no effort to contend,
o,enly. for the election of their own
men i'm those Districts which are strong
against them, but to work upon some
prominent Independent, in each, to run
at all hazards, gently intimating that,
having no candidate Of their own,
such Independent may calculate upon
the Radical vote. Unfortunately there
are not wanting, in every District men
who will freely sell themselves. and the
opposition for seat in Congress. The
Radicals know too, that every defeat
of the conservative element through
the Joint agency of treaehery and con-
structive bribery, hastens their return
10 power, and with an organization as
perfect and as despotIc as that OF an
army, they. as one man, carry out the
programme as il is said to have been
arranged by Maynard and Andrew
johnson. Divide and conquer, is
now the watchword of that party and,
knowing the weakness incident to di-
vision, and the demOralizing power OF
selfish ambition. the Radicals see IN
the. not distant, future, the certain con-
quest, by their party, of State which
has learned nothing from past tyranny
and corruption save how to submit to
the former, and to yield TO the contain
mating influences of the latter.
And. meanwhile, what is the oppo-
sition doing? Squabbling, like en-
lightened patriots, about where their
candidate for Governor shall come
from; whether a Convention, or prl-
mary elections shall designate the can
didates for the various offices to be
filled in November, losing sight, all
the while, of the grave questiOn-shall
we unite and conquer, or divide and be
defeated? Will the people solve this
question in the interest of their honor
and prosperity? or will they, as the