Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1878-06-08
COL. HOUSE ON THE PAST SEES
SION.

We already speak of the present
session of Congress in the past tense,
though it has not adjourned or fixed
a day for its adjournment. We
may find ourselves happily disap-
pointed, and some items of legisla-
ton promised in the early part of |
the session may be realized in the |
of its close, but to all |
our faculties of conjecture the session
of 1878 seems to be practically COM
pleted so also our Representative,
Col. House, seems to think, judging
by his short speech which we pub
fish in another column. So identi-
cal are his views with our own as
expressed last week, that it would
have sufficed to print the speech
without note or comment, were it
not for one point in which we feel
compelled to differ with him. 1t
saying a great deal for harmony in
the views entertained between the
Colonel and ourselves that since we
have edited the CHRONICLE this is
the first time we have found it out
of our power to agree with him.
We will now do, as we are satisfied
our friend would desire, state simply
our points of difference with him
and the reasons for il.
In one paragraph, speaking with
Just Indignation of the cruel depres-
sion of business established and daily
aggravated by the persistent obsti-
macy with which the purpose of
resumption on a Gay arbitrarily
fixed is pursued, he proposes that as
we cannot repeal the resumption
act within the present session, we
shall at least arrest the process of
contraction by prohibition of the
further retirement of greenbacks:
it is proposed to attach legislation
of this character to some important
appropriation bill in order to force
its passage: this is the point where
we cannot go with him. Going all
lengths with him in deprecating
and denouncing the policy of forced
resumption and of contraction,
which is its inseparable companion,
we cannot assent to the remedy
proposed. We know of only one
thing from which we fear more dis
asters to the business of the country
than from forced resumption, and
that is the failure of resumption if
attempted. This would be national
bankruptcy, carrying with it a
sweeping desOlatiOn throughout our
commercial system. There is strong
reason to believe that resumption
will fail when attempted, but this
would ensure its failure, and the
responsibility would no longer rest
where it is now due; it would fall
upon the Democratic party. We
firmly believe that, if this method
of dealing with the question is
adopted, the Republicans will act
as they have acted on other Occa-
siOns-Openly oppose it, but man.
puvre so as to let it pass. Then it
will be competent for Secretary
Sherman to say, "Ah, yes would
have carried through my resump-
ton policy but for the intermeddling
of the Democratic party, but they
interposed their initiation policy, and
behold the result" No! if resump-
ton cannot be postponed, let the
authors of it follow their own meth
DDS in carrying it out and take all
the responsibility of its blighting
effect on public and private business.
To leave the act unrepealed and at
the same time interpOSe such Obsta-
Giles as are proposed will not prevent
disaster, but transfer the response
bility for it from the Republican to
the Democratic party. We under
stand and sympathize with the true
Democrats in the House who recOg-
nize the evils of forced resumption,
but we cannot approve their method
Of averting them; we trust it will
be abandoned, and, as we cannot di-
vert the course of evil legislation, we
will at least leave it to its authors
to carry out in their own way and
to take the responsibility.
But we must provide against be-
ing misunderstood before we quit
the subject. Let no one suppose
that because for once we differ with
Om able Representative, and frankly
state our difference, we are in
the slightest degree shaken in our
support of him as Representative
from this district as long as he has
strength and health to represent it.
BY Col. House himself we do not
fear being misunderstood; his is a
nature capable of approaching the
discriminating approval of one who
reasons while he praises at higher
rate than the prOmiscuous adulatiOn
which unthinking adherents lay on
as with a trowel; but there are
those who desire to step into his
shoes who may take courage from
criticism like this and think we
may be disposed to further their
aspirations. Don't deceive your
selves, gentlemen. Spite of this one
difference of opinion, we place Col.
House first among the Tennessee
delegates in Congress and second to
very few in its whole body, and
comparing him with anyone outside
of Congress whom we haveyet heard
of as Il possible competitor-well,
we don't compare them at all.
\ SECOND SHOT AT THE EMPE-
ROB WILLIAM.
\ second attempt has been made