Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1879-02-12
WEDNESDAY, FEB. IL. 1879.
wANTED-HoNEsr LEADERS.

If there ever has been a time in
the history of Tennessee which call
ed for honest, earnest, patient, pa
triotic reflection, now is that time.
If honest, manly, courageous action
was ever required of a people, it is
required of the people of Tennessee
now. We stand face to face with a
problem that must find speedy So
luton, or We are forever disgraced,
and ruined for years to come. The
State has large debt that must be
provided for, and we have been
taught by certain class of political
pigmies that to do so is impossible.
Such teaching is false, and such
teachers the worst enemies of the
Commonwealth. We do not lightly
estimate the burden of this heavy
debt, far from it. But is it possible
that our people have SO degenerated
that they will not make sacrifices to
be honest?
We had no sympathy for the late
rebellion, but our opposition to
bad cause never prevented US from
admiring the heroism and devotion
to principle of the Confederate SOL
der. Thousands of Tennesseeans
who fought for the lost cause, faced
death at the lannon's mouth, and
endured untold hardships and pri-
vations. They lived for weeks and
months on scanty rations, some
times only meal and water; made
long marches over rough roads in
inclement weather, bareofooted and
scantily clad; they forsook com
Portable homes, where they had
lived in luxury, all to show their.
devotion to a Southern Confederacy,
which if they had gained would
proven curse. Is it possible that
these same men, who made such
great sacrifices then, can not now
submit to a reasonable tax to pay
an honest debt, rather than place
the stamp of infamy on their State,
or leave to their posterity a her
itage of reproach, shame and dis
grace? The men who wore the
blue; who made a record for cour-
age and patriotism that must
forever form bright page
ia their country's history, are
they willing to appear before the
werld as dastards and robbers? We
have too much confidence in both
those who wore the blue and those
who wore the grey, to believe for
moment that they are not willing to
make some sacrifices to sustain the
honor and credit of their State. If
they can only be encouraged to a
moments sober reflection, we deny
that the people of Tennessee, any
considerable number of them, are
repudiationists.
What we need now, above all
things else, is few honest, efficient
leaders men of brains inspired by
a moral sentiment. If we have
proper aims, means will be found
within our reach, to carry US safely
through all the difficulties which bad |
management, corruption and cow
ardice have brought upon our grand |
old State. Where are our great
men? Must we look for them alone
to the grave-yards? OF those con- |
trolling our affairs to-day, where can
we look for a Jackson, a Grundy, a |
Polk, Brown, Bell or John
son? They are all gone and their
places are filed by small dema-
gogues, cringing towards and
political poltroons, who are willing
to sacrifice principle to expedience
and turn their backs upon plain
duty in order to gain little brief
popularity. They are not leaders
in any creditable sense. Instead of
and educating the peo-