Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1876-04-01
THE FIRST STEP.
The financial condition ofTennessee

is SUBJECT Gnab al LnlS moment en-
cages the attention Of a large proper
ton of her thinking citizens of every
class and occupation. We are aware
that it may be considered rather early
to agitate the matter, but sense Of
the Importance Of the questions that
will be presented for decision by our
next Legislature, impels us to present
the subject.
The issue of State credit will be one
that our Senators and Representatives
cannot evade, and one which cannot
be trifed with. IF no definite and de-
clslve action is taken, then ruin stares
us IN the face ruin which will in
volve all public and private interests,
to a greater or less degree, within the
borders of the commonwealth and if
the discussion and decision be hasty
and ill-advised, the case will be no
better
No question of public policy is so
closely interviewer with every chord
and fibre of our being as State, and
none other is so difficult of salts
factory solution. Let US, then, pre-
pare to meet it In a manner consonant
with its dignity and vital Importance
Unfortunately for our welfare, of late
years, we have been unable to com
mand the services of our most ex-
perienced men. The degeneracy of
modern politics has driven them to
the retirement of private life, and the
deplOrable conjuncture now upon Us,
in financial point of view, is only the
legitimate result of the absence of wise
counsel and deliberate judgment. But
the crisis is upon us and must be met.
1t avails nothing to talk idly of the
successive steps that led to it. 1t is
the part of prudence and wisdom to
begin in time to prepare, as best we
may, for extrication from our difficult
ties with as little loss as possible, and
to accomplish that result we need to
act IN full accord and harmony from
Carter to Shelby.
Let US, then, in every county and
every Senatorial district begin aoac to
select the best business talent we can
commandment of sound Judgment,
long experience, cool heads, and an
finching determination, who will not
shrink from the arduous duty imposed
upon them, but will perform that duty
wisely and we'll.
In conjuncture like the present,
personal interest and party policy fade
into nothingness the life of the State
is at stake and hangs upon the cast Of
die and it becomes us, as a people,
to decide with profound and mature
deliberation who shall be entrusted
with the serious and delicate respon-
sibility.
1t is idle to sit down and lament our
condition in simple inactivity it is
puerile to attempt merely to postpone
the evil day by make-shifts and tenn
porary expedients. 1t is unjust and
futile to censure an administration
when their hands have not been upheld
by competent General Assembly.
For term of years our people have
looked anxiously to the convention of
each new Legislature with the con-
fident' expectation that the problem
was to be solved during the sessions of
that body. But these deliberative
bodies have met and adjourned with
out any decisive action until the ver-
dict of the masses was sigh of relief
when their session was dissolved.
And yet it lisa patent truth that upon
the people themselves must rest the
burden of the blame that attaches to
such reckless neglect ofvital interests.
1t is an adage true as trite that lin
multitude of counsellors there is wis
dom" if the counsellors be selected
with care and prudence and just ap-
prehension of the issues presented.
1t is for us to seek those counsellors.
Too long have our offices of trust been
suffered to go al random, as it were.
Too long have we allowed the man to
seek the Office. 1t is now surely time
that we should assert our prerogatives
as constituency and let the office seek
the man, the measure of whose char
aeter and capacity meets the demands
which are incident to the position he
is called to fill.
Ifthere be any wisdom in experience,
then we certainly have the lesson-let
us act upon its teachings. Let US pro-
coed at once to lay the hand of public
demand upon such men as will make
competent and reliable advisers and |
co-adjutors of our State officials. Let |
us demand their services and take no
denial. And, going a step farther,
move shoulder to shoulder in an I'M
broken line towards the support of our
financial credit, and the discharge of
our obligations.-KnorUiHe Tribune.