Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1876-05-06

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also the dying embers of past pre-
JUDGES to fan into flames, and dema-
gogues in abundance to do the blow
ing. These are advantages not easily
overcome. They cannot be overcome
except by wisdom, energy and unity of
action. The Democratic party as a
National organization must not only
besound and trustworthy, but as an
earnest and as guaranty of this the
party in the States must be equally so.
Will Tennessee do her duty? Upon |
every question Of public interest, the
party in this State stands above criti- |
cism. except one. By the action of |
few men and a few newspapers doubt |
has found its way into the minds of
many as to the honesty and good faith
OF the party upon the subject of pub
lie obligations, and the impression
made that it is the purpose of the
party to repudiate the State debt
We now say, as we have ever said, the
party in this State can't afford to en-
gage in reputation, and they would
not if they could. The people of the
United States are sensitive upon the
subject Of public debts; they believe
them to be debts of honor, and as
such, sacred. The Republican party
is fully committed to this, as is the
National Democratic party, and none
could succeed with different views
could, then either as National organ
ization inspire confidence in its good
faith and honesty, when declaring it
self unalterable in favor of sustaining
public faith and credit, if at the same
time the same party IN the States shall
proclaim itself party of Reputation?
If we were disposed to be politically
dishonest. to get rid of the pittance of
tax which is necessary to meet the OBJ
legations of the State, in so doing we
would place around the neck Of the
National Democratic party a weight
that would bring it to inevitable de-
feat, and thus destroy any hope of re-
lieving the country of the immense
drain upon the energies of the people,
caused by the official stealage which
has become so commoA under Repub-
lican rule. We are for many reasons
opposed to observation-disclosures
form it may take, whatever name it
may be called by-scaling, compromi-
sing or what else, for the reason, as
we have before stated, that disgrace
accompanies one and must precede
the other. The great body of the
Democracy of the State spurns repudi-
alton, but some few advocate it, and
already Republicans elsewhere have
begun to charge it as Democratic
measure, and to throw mud at the
National party. Redield, the cores
pendent oftbe Cincinnati Commercial,
says of us in Tennessee
Tennessee has been brought low.
She is in the dust cf humiliation. Some
of her proud sons" are going up aud
down the State advocating reputation,
either entire or in part. Mark it,
every one of the repudIationists is a
Democrat. Make a note of that when
you cast your vote at the next election,
if these advance skirmishers should be
sustained by the body of the party. If
Democracy is party of reputation
and rascality, let us know it. The
fellows who are bringing dishonor up
on the name of Tennessee, clothing
her in a garb as disgraceful as that
worn by a penitentlary convict, bring
ing the blush to every man in the
State-these fellows are only showing
their true colors. Give them a chance
and they would repudiate the debt of
the United States like lightning There
is no honor in them, State or National.
They are illustrating in small way
what they will do in large way if ever
they have an opportunity: l hope
the country will spot these Tennessee
reputation Democrats, and if they
raise the standard of reputation as
party, then let the organization in the
United States suffer for it. II they
repudiate in Tennessee they will in
Washington if they get chance. This
question rises above party. Mind you,
they have not repudiated here yet. and
may not, but ! write this that the eyes
of the country may be upon them, and
thus give the honest men in the party
the aid of a healthy outside pressure.
| The repudiationists, having no honesty
may have some policy. and they will be
slow to connect the name of Democracy
and repudiation so closely together at
this critical period. Therefore watch
! them.
If the rascals commit the party in
this State to the doctrine of repudia-
ton, it will not only prove disastrous
to the national Democracy, but 1t may,
and | hope will, cause the party to
lose this State. There are enough
honest, debt-paying Democrats in
| Tennessee to unite with the Republi-
cans on this issue and carry the State.
But how are the Republicans you
may ask. Straight out States honor
men, every one of them. Not Repub-
lican, either of high or low degree, is
advocating reputation. The Demo-
Gratis monopolize that quality of rascal
ity exclusively. And this, if it comes
to an issue cannot but have its effect
on national politics. A party that
can't be trusted with debt of twenty
three millions certainly cannot with
debt of two thousand millions"
Such is the language of the CORES
pondent of the leading Republican
journal in the West. If true to our
selves the interest. of our State, and
of the National Democracy, to whom
the people look for relief from the
misrule and corruption of the present
administration, we will furnish no
such weapon as reputation to our
enemies in the coming canvass. Let
US stand squarely upon the platform
of the National Democracy, for econ
omy and honesty. Upon any other we
may expect dissension, disgrace and
defeat, State and National.
A W0Rn Upon NATIONAT pOTI.