Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1879-08-09
SATURDAY, AUGUST 8, 1879.
AT the moment in which we write

AT the moment in which we write
this, it appears that the 5O-4 COM
promise has been rejected. A few
hundred persons voted against it
from honest motives-motiVes
which we admire and commend.
Thousands refrained from voting at
all from the same motives. From
our standpoint, we believe they
have made mistake, though we
have no quarrel with them about It,
Between our sentiments and theirs,
there is very little difference, II
any at all. But reasoning from the
same premises, We have reached
different conclusions. Now the
crisis has past, and we will prob
ably all agree in taking the same
strong ground in sustaining the
credit of the State against the
formidable and dangerous attacks
coming from the Reputation mob
which now appears to con-
troll sfairs in Tennessee. 1t
will take the combined efforts of all
State credit men in the State to save
the Commonwealth from the dis
grace, the dishonor which now ap-
pears almost inevitable.
A large majority, forty-nine out
of every fifty, who voted "Reec-
ton" on Thursday, are men who
follow the teachings of Savage,
Wilson and others, who insist that
all the bonds issued to railroads in
the State were issued without au-
thority, and ought to be repudiated.
These are dishonest, and believe il
no crime to refuse to pay just
debt, or are too ignorant and stupid
to intelligently exercise the privi~
leges of free American citizens.
The men who pay the taxes, and
who are interested in sustaining the
credit of the State are in favor OF
paying the debt. They are willing tc
make whatever sacrifice is required
to accomplish this. 1t is the
unreasonable, the irrational
the stupid, the faithless, the
knaVish, the deceitful, the
treacherous, the false-hearted, the
irresponsible, the unpatriotie, who
under the pernicious teachings o:
Marks, Savage, Wilson, ct I'd ommt
genus are committed to the de
structive, fatal, ruinous policy o
reputation.
We confess that, under all thu
circumstances, we feel respondent
The failure is illumined with but
faint ray of hope. 1t is not to-
late to save the State, but if it i
done there must be an aRakenin.
on the subject which will at one
bring about energetic action on tn
part of State credit men. If tn,
5O-4 proposition has been accepted
the majority is so small. as to carry
with it no moral weight, and tn
question is left just where it was be
fore-by the Legislature.
In that body we have no conf
dence. If it had been composed o
wise, patriotic men, men possessed
of sufficient wisdom and courage t.
discharge their duty, this election
would never have been held. Blu
a majority of the members of ou
present Legislature are mora
towards, ignorant dolts or dishones
demagogues. Too cowardly to d
what they ought to have done, wha
their constituents elected them t
do, what under the Constitution the
were bound to do, they shifted tn
responsibility upon the people a
the ballot
For this, Governor Marks and til
men who nominated and electe
him is responsible. He drew th
platform upon which he was nom
mated and elected. Among th
many deceitful and mischievous u
terances of that wicked and PEI
nicious platform, was a resolution I
the effect that no settlemer