Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-07-11
REPUBLICANS CHARGING DEMS
CHATS WITH REPUTATION.

Mr.. Frank T. Reid, OF Nashville, 8
Iesdiug Republican, in an open letter TO
Hon. a. A. Freeman, Of Brownsville,
another leader OF that party, which the
Nashville Bulletin says is able and ex-
hsustive, ssys that the reputation SEN
timent in Tennessee is gotten up by the
Democratic leaders; that they are in fa-
vCr Of q reputation Of the national anG
State debts. This same charge was
made not long since by II. V. Redfeld,
the southern correspondent OF the Gin
ciauai Commercial. Ia letter written
by William Il. Moore, Of this place, an
other active and conspicuous Republic
can, and published in the Cincinnati
Commercial, he makes the same charge.
These things are done to injure the
Democratic party In the northern States.
They sre either ignorant or willful mis-.
representations, and are exactly the Op.
p1site Of the truth. In 1874 the only
two men in Tennessee that openly ad-
vocsted reputation were Isaac r.
Hawkins, OF West Tennessee, and
William B. Stokes, of MiGdleg
Tennessee, both of whom were Repub-
Iicans. Emerson EtheTidge, now 2 sup
porter Of Hayes and Wheeler, then adj
vocatcd 3 twenty cent tax, which
meant reputation. VIM. NJ. Randolph,
VIM. NJ. Smith and NJ. L. Williamson,
of this city, now active supporters CT
Hayes and Wheeler, ran for the legisla-
tuFo, As advocates Of a twenty cent tax,
on the same ticket with Emerson Ethe-
lidze. The only paper in Memphis that
opposes the Democratic party hes been,
aad is now, an advocate of reducing the
Siae tax, when even the present rate is
rot sufficient TO pay the interest on the
debt. Dorsey B. Thomas is an hide.
pendent candidate for governor, upon
what he calls Iow-tsx platform, which
means repudiation; and he expects to
gel The supporter the Republican party.
The fact is, all the population senti.
ment that hiss manifested itself in West
Tennessee hiss been engendered by the
opponents of the Democratic party.
Some Democrats msy have gone into
the net prepared for them by these enc
mics Of Democracy, but they will es-
cape from If. These chronic haters of
the Democratic party wish TO get Demo-
Gratis TO fall into the ditch they have
dug for them, and then their object is to
cry that the Democrats are advocates Of
reputation in order 70 injuTe them in
the national contest. This Reputation
movement in Tennessee appears to be
Rsdics! trick TO irjure the Democratic
party, and Democrats whopermit them
selves 10 be inveigled into it are uncon-
scio1siy aiding the Radical party. The
prominent advocates of national and
stale credit in Tennessee have all been
Democrats, and the men with whom
they have had to contend are Republic
cans or qIaSj-Repubiicsns. We now
predict that the Independent candidates
in Tennessee who are advocates OF what
thsy call low tax platform, or more
properly speaking Of reputation, will
rely upon the support of the Republic
cans, especially in West Tennessee. We
will, however, do the CREST body Of the
Republicans the justice to say that we
DO not believe they will cOuntenance
reputation either in their own men or
in the sO-called Independents any more
han they will in Democrats. We give
extracts from Mr.. Reid's letter, and we
hope their papers will 90 the Democrat
ic party the justice OF republishing this
article, in order that it may be seen who
are responsible in Tennessee for the adj
vocacy OF reputation:
Now, my dear sir, the Democratic
leaders here have poisoned the minds
and hearts Of the people Of this State;
have brought them to that condition
and temper OF mind that they are ready
10 repuGlsts honest obligations, national
a. well az State. And they have effect
I'd this result for this purpose, snd in
this way. Tiny have seen that the peo-
pie were terribly piBched by hard times,
and that if they could make them be.
lieve that these hard tim ss were brought
about by the action Of the Republican
party in insisting upon q return to spe-
Gle payments, they would cause the pee
pie to he deeply prejudiCed against that
psrty, and thereby secure its downfall,
and their Owl nstalment into power.
And so they raised the cry Of Wall
street and money power; contraction is
IuiUing the business prosperity of the
country. To advance the marketable
value Of her bonds, the State
hiss net only, n every way possible,
pnghted her sacred honor for their pay
ment, but has even authorized 'qbdTdi-
ans and all others hGOiRg money Of trust |
IA their hands" 10 invest the same in
bonds. The Hermitage" the home and
burial plsce Of her great hero, was
bought with bonds. To Tepudiate now
any part Cf this Indebtedness land to
force a compromise upon her creditors ia !
the same ihiDg) would not only bv,ng |
present shame and disgrace, bu. would |
IS well entail upon ourselves and cur |
children the disastrous punitoTy cO1se- |
quences Of al Outraged moral law. Even
handed justice, sooner or later, would /
inevitably "commeuG the ingredients