Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1879-10-25


Wepublfsh elsewhere a letter from |
a gentleman whose name would
carry weight, were it known, amt
whose expressed opinions are sound.
It isa plea for Democratic haFnaony,
but such harmony a. CAN be obtain
ed by adherence to sound doctrine.
1t il useless 70 disguise the fact that
the Democracy IS now in a position
where, for the fret time, It can make
a square fight for sound principles.
We do not say that such fight
ought not to have been made before.
We do say that practically the Der
mocraey has followed the course as
uaI 20 parties and to all parties.
There is not an exception in AneTi-
can history, not TO go beyond our
own country, to the rule that par
tiess evade such questions ~ that
which is now pressing upon Us for
settlement, and apparently pass by
the best time for taking a sound
stand, and finally are compelled by
an apparently desperate state Of af-
/ fairs to do that which might SEEM
/ fngfy have been better done before.
| There are several good reasons for
this, one of which is that the sound
and Fight-thinking men of party,
/ being prudent and conservative,
4 slow to act, stand great deal from
/ the wrOng-thinking and seek by
/ many ways to reach harmony and
carry others with them, when, in
+ fact, they are themselves being led
or driven. So it has been in Tenhes-
see. We do not offer this as any ex-
\ cuse for the past, but simply state it
az a fact and offer to show that, hav-
ing run the usual course down bill,
we have reached the point where a
| bold and determined stand must be
made for sound principles
/ 1t has been demonstrated by each
year that the Reputation element
cannot deal with she State debt so
as to afford relief. They have had
/ their full swing at it. 1t is still up
on Us, still pressing, still weighing
US down, still preventing prosperity.
Their late success was not settle
ment, and it is clear that, short OF
Reputation, they can suggest no
means Of settlement. 1t isaIso equal
4 ~ clear that all they could accom-
I pIIsh towards Reputation would not
restore prosperity but prevent it,
while it would not even be q settle
rlent of the debt question, for II
would still be an outstanding sub
sisting obligation as binding as If il
were not repudiated, and to stand
there forever clamoring for pay
ment.
Then it Is clear what is the duty
Of the Democracy. 1T is also clear
that the State credit Democrats have
gone Just as far a. they viii 60 to Sc
cure a harmony that is deiusive
Compromise only results in furthel
demand. Such harmony only car
ries us each time further from set
Element, and further from sounC
doctrine, and further from the Ma
ti0naI Democracy of which we claim
to be part.
The state credit Democracy have
the plain duty before them Of stand
ing in line with the Democratic par
ty of the nation, Of being in harnO
, ny with that party and those whf
are standing will have the easy
duty Of aligning themselves on (;
sound State credit platform in har
m0ny with the National DemOcra
cy, or Of abandoning the Democrat
. ic party. Democracy Is anti-repu
diation. 1t is State and Nati0na
credit, and if it were anything els'
it would be doomed to speedy de
feat. There are no two ways of look
ing at this question.