The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1879-12-25
Our Position.

jackson Tribune and Sun: While
the Tribune and Sun is willing that
the Bayard resolution may pass, it
is not in favor of restricting the
present volume of the currency.
We regard the Bayard resolution as
merely assertive of a constitutional
principle, that is, that the Govern
ment under the constitution can
only coin money, and that it will not
affect either the quality or quantity
of the greenback Further, that
it is a peace offering, designed to
heal the financial differences be
tween the Eastern and Western
Democracy. 1t is for these rea
sons that we are not inclined to op
pose its passage. We recognize
the fact that the strength of the
Democratic party in the North lies
in the Eastern States of New York,
Now Jersey and Connecticut, and
that the sole hope of the party tor
success in 1880 is based upon car
rying these States. This fact must
he squarely looked in the face.
Nor do we regard the financial
question as q leading Issue now, or
one upon which the party should
in any event split. We deem the
great question of local self govern
ment vs.. centralized military power
as the real and vital issues before
the country. Before them all other
10
places. The Republican party
must be overthrow, or the coasti
tution is lost, the States will degen-
crate into provinces and the rule Of
bayOnets will succeed to the rule OF
the ballot. The South especially is
deeply and vitality concerned in the
issue of these ideas, tor another de
cade Of the sectional and oppressive
rule of the Republican party would
blight the South. And the whole
country is more deeply concerned
in the result of these great princi
pies than in any other.
Hence, we are willing to tolerate
the Bayard resolution, as q means
of Uniting the Democratic party, OF
securing the electOra, vote of New
York, New jersey and Connecticut
in 1880, and thereby accomplishing
the triumph of the Democracy, the
safety of the Republic under the
constitution and the preservation OF
local self government, which is the
sole hope of intelligent, friendly
and prosperous government in the
South.
So far as our financial views are
concerned, we favor the free and
unlimited coinage of both gold and
silver, the substitution of green
backs for national bank currency
and making greenbacks receivable
| for all dues to the Government, eX-
cept duties on imports. But we
hold that the surest way to carry
out this line of policy, in the pres
ent situation of parties, and issues,
is to make these questions local in
the election of Congressman. In
deed, there is no other possible way
of carrying them out, for if they
are made issues in the national con
test, they will defeat the party OF
the constitution, the party of lOca
self government, the party thai
would preserve the equality OF the
States, the party that would keep
the bayonets OF the military from
throats of the Southern people; anC
at the same time defeat themselves
forever by renewing the rule of the
party of the money power, the party
of sectional hates and military usur
! pations.
We hold that the overthrow o
the Republican party, which repre-
sents the idea of force, of centrali
cation and of military domination
as a condition precedent to all pos
sibility of sound financial reform
and permanent prosperity.
So holding, we urge the policy
we do, and appeal to all men who
think as we think, to rally around
the Democratic banner, saws tn,
| Government of the constitution
first and pursue desired politics at
forwards.