Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1876-05-13

than impeachment before the Senate,
viii probably be the measures on
which viii be concentrated the efforts
of those who are in earnest for the
promotion of administrative reforma-
ton and,,it is specially incumbent on the
Democratic party to effect this reform,
for 1--WE say it with shame being an old
Democrat ourselves) it was in the flush
days of Democracy and within its
ranks that originated the cardinal
heresy which has been so fruitful a
source of corruption-the Jacksonian
maxim To the..victors.beloagsthe spoil" "
Without further details on this head
we proceed to take up our position in
reference to the State politics of Ten
nessee.
Here the antagonists we have to
deal with are those who propose that
the State itself should commit the
same crime as we are denouncing in in
dividual politicians in Washington-it
is 2 posed that the State should COM
NIT shameless, wholesale robbery
upon the capitalists whose money has
built her railroads, &c. Our war then
is with reputation. This is the
question which will evidently rank
all others in our coming State cleo
tons. tits humiliating and Notifying
to one who takes pride in the honor of
his State that this should be the all
absorbing controversy, that there
should be any controversy about it.
And there would not be if there were
no regulators but those who plainly
and shamelessly avow their purpose.
But there are plenty Of regulators
who refuse to show their hand, some
even who vigorously deny the imputa-
ton and even denounce reputation.
So far as at present discernible, these
regulators of diverse character may
be resolved into three classes which
we propose now to defne-mOre than
definition we cannot at present accord
them.
First comes the repudiator pure and
simple, unblushing and avowed. Him
we do not tpresent consider dangerous,
he has not yet become sufficiently re-
spectacle, we therefore drop him for
the present; the others are busy in
preparing the way for him.
Next comes he whom valued con-
tributor has labelled the bond scraper.
In private business transactions he is
represented by the man who shaves
his own notes, and is rather in disre-
pute with those with whom he has
dealings for it is a necessity of his
way of doing business that he must
first run down his own credit, and then
traffic in his own discredit: after max
ing out to his creditor that he is
very bad pay, he waits awhile and then
asks him how much less than his due
he will take rather than lose the whole
debt. In public business the repre-
sentative of this honest gentleman is
now engaged in the first part of this
process-he is running down to the
best of his ability the credit of the
State, and meantime processes to be
waiting for the bondholder to propose
a compromise and talks with an
air of injured innocence because he
does not come forward quicker. He
differs from the first sort in proposing
to steal a part only instead of the
whole-or at least part at time /;
even if the bondholders could be ex-
pected to propose an abatement they
would still be told to wait, and further
and further abatement looked for till
all was gone.
Lastly comes the man who is wait
ing for something to turn up-for bet
ter times-he is no repudiator, oh no
He scorns the imputation, but the |
times are very hard and we can't stand |
any more taxes, and-well it is true
The interest is accumulating-but give
some more bonds to pay it with, and
so he would have us go on getting
deeper and deeper in debt until the
wolf cry becomes true and the State is
n truth bankrupt and reputation is
really inevitable.
Against all these are to be fought
he battle of the States credit, but
against the last because it is
he most insidious, the most danger
JUS of all.
1t only remains for us to solicit the
ndulgent consideration of our efforts
We pledge ourselves to the most careful
tudy of the subjects we shall discuss,
We entreat that the results of it may
De examined with csndor and serious
bought, for, right or wrong, the decis-
on of these questions is of vital mo-
nent to the welfare of the State and
o that of every citizen in it. Especi-
lily we appeal to our confreres of the
'ress; we entreat from them a share
f that courtesy and respectful con-
Iteration which we promise to render
D all cases both to those who agree
nth us and to those who dispute our
pinions.
As regards our GAINESVILLE contem-
orary we have no misgivings, we have
DO long known and appreciated both
S editor and friend the able conduc-
,r of the Tobacco Leaf, todoubt that
ur intercourse as editors will be, as it
as been in social lite, attended with (
ritual esteem and forbearance and
18th those amenities which character {
e in all cases the Intercourse of gen. !
emen who respect themselves and I
ne another.
DANIEL +. WRIGHT. f
The above had been written before /
e read the very fattering congratula- +
ons of the Tobacco Leaf; they are q
UGH more than compliments, they t
'e the offspring of a generous and 9
hole-souled friendship, and we {
,ize them, we hope, with a feeling
UGH higher than that of pratiied c