Knoxville Whig and chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1875-1882, 1875-07-07
THE PROSPECTS FOR 1876.

III L lNOoI TIL 1910.
While we believe that the next
Presidential campaign will be almost
entirely Invested of questions grow.
ing out of the war, it will, in our
opinion, be one of the hottest and in
some respects the bitterest in the his
tory of the country. The success of
the Democracy in gaining control of
the Lower House of Congress last fall,
gives them some hope OF success next
year in the Presidential contest, and
they will make the strongest fight
they are able to make. They have
been out Of power so long and are so
hungry for office, that they will use
every eXertion to accomplish their
ends. In every town and city in the
land, there are scores of men who
want the local Federal offices. They
have been laboring with this end in
view for the past ten years, and now
that their hopes are revived by the
results Of last fall, they will redouble
their diligence and fight with desper-
alton never known before. Like the
boy who was digging for the ground
hog, they are bound to succeed, as
their meat and bread depends upon
success. 1t is this class that will
fight longer and stronger than any
other, and if they should become
unduly excited, the reason above men.
toned may be offered in mitigation of
any little improprieties in which they
may indulge.
But with all this taken into consid-
Grafton, and in view of the great zeal
they will display, we have no fears of
the result. We have no idea that the
American people have made up their
minds to place the Democratic party
in power. Its past history has moth
ing in it to commend it to public favor
and its recent acts where it has come
into power is anything else than re.
assuring to the people, of its
good behavior. The party has
had complete control of Tennes-
see for six years, and its history here
is one continual succession of ipeffi-
cheney, blunders and corruption. If
any one ever entertained the hope
that Tennessee Democracy would re.
lieve the State from financial embar.
easements and financial oppression,
that hope has long since been dis
PEELED. Its only policy has been q
wild hunt for office, and the best men
in its own ranks have not always been
the successful ones by any means.
We have had three Democratic Legis-
latures, and the most popular act OF
each one of them was their adjourn.
ment, sine die.
Tennessee is not the only State by
any means where the Democracy has
been in power and utterly failed to
give satisfaction. In Kentucky, where
the party has unlimited control, O
policy has been pursued that would
have been worthy the middle ages
Everything Of progressive character
in keeping with the spirit of the age
has been ignored, and the old nut.
have been tenaciously followed
Other instances might be easily given
but they are too familiar with our rea
ders TO need repetition.
We do not pretend to say that the
Republicans have always been right,
or that leading men who have acted
with the party have all been free
from corruption, but we do think the
country has more to hope from the
Republican party than from the Dem
ocratic party. The people know this
we think, and consequently, notwith
standing the herculean efforts that
will be put forth next year, we have
the fullest confidence of Republican
success.