Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1879-02-18
Our Nashville Letter.
NASHVILLE, Feb. IA, 1879.

IS the ntteSt man on earth TO be the
leader of modern Democracy, and l
am glad that the party persists in
recognizing this fact, and that the
Tilden movements gaining strength.
Many small papers throughout the
country are wheeling into line in
his support, and I infer that the
"bar'l of money has again been
tapped. Tilden is the great pollti-
cal Barnum. His forte is humbug,
and he is constitutionally fraud.
He gravely steals the livery of
Heaven to serve the devil in and,
in the name and under the banner
of retrenchment and reform, he
make the most lavish expenditures
of money to advance the most gi-
gantic schemes of corruption.
Why should not such a man lead
the Democratic party, which has
long been the synonym of sham,
and is daily becoming the most ia
miliar synonym OF falsity, bad
faith, imbecility and knavery? He
is only an enlarged and improved
edition of the average Ten
nessee Democrat. "Retrenchment
and Reform" are words which
almost daily fall from the lips of
Democratic members of the Legis-
lature, and yet every day that they,
by their stupidity and their dishon-
esty, delay an adjustment of the State
debt, costs the State more money
than they will save by all their bonn
bastic efforts at retrenchment.
While they are, for the sake of
popularity in part, and partly in ODE
dience to the national impulses of
dishonest men, daily wasting $4,000
(in this one item they try TO keep
up the appearance of economy by
little three cent lodges, which they
advertise in long resolurions), they
print no bills, because that would
cost little money.
Legislation goes on pell-mell.
Ever now and then a member has to
confess that he voted under a mis-
apprehension, and oftener still, bills
are required to'be read three or
four times on the last reading, for
the benefit of members who hap
pened to have their attention di,
rected elsewhere at the time.
If a member is called from his
seat a moment, or if friend speaks
to him during the reading, or if
good lady wants to sell HIM book
or picture, or if anything calls his
mind from the dull monotone which
proceeds from the Clerks desk, he
is untitled to vote intelligently on a
bill. Is it any wonder, under such
circumstances, that the statute
books are covered with unwise and
mischieYous laws, and that many
valuable measures are lost a.? What
would happen under similar circum-
stances, even if the majority were
wise and honest?
Only one calendar has thus far
been printed. | hope the members
will be sensible enough now to have
one weekly, for otherwise future
legislation will be in the hands of
the Clerk.
Pursuant to resolution which
passed both houses, a dirty and
tattered rag, which was once an
American flag, now floats over the
Capitol during the sessions. 4
resolution to buy new one called
forth good deal of opposition and
was finally refused. l suspect that
this will be the last of it.
The Superintendent of the Capt.
tol has heen pretty active in declar-
ing that he can not get large flag
up there. If this is really true, the |
old gentleman would do well to get
himself down and out of the place
he occupies, and plenty of men can
be found who can very speedily
1nfurl the flag in the proper place.
[ could do so, and l was not noted
Tor ingenuity or agility even when
young. l am often present when
the sessions of the Legislature open.
Very properly they have prayer.
On several occasions the good
preacher has prayed that these
men mig hit be filled with the spirit
If honesty and of honor, and that
heir proceedings might result in
,reat good to the people. On such
occasions, l find men hanging their
reads a little lower, and looking
Ike felOns accused of guilt. Does
he preacher mean to suggest that
hey are possibly acting dishonesty
bout the State debt? If so, he is
reading on delicate ground. He is
touching on facts" For the
inc being, shame mantles some of
heir cheeks. But how soon they
ill cast it off and hide their bushes |