The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1879-03-20
RINGS.
Another Proof Of the Adage that the
Cry Of Stop Thief" Frequently
Marks the Scoundrel.
He Leads the Pursuit This Time.

The following editorial of the
jackson Tribune aud Sun is en-
dorsed and adopted by the CITIZEN:
The report OF the COMMITTEE on
Rings" is an exceedingly interest
ing document just at this juncture
in our political affairs. IL has been
the custom of certain class OF
newspapers and politicians in this
State to make the broad charge OF
bribery and corruption against ali
newspapers and politicians who Ia
vored any adjustment of the State
debt upon terms proposed by the
bondholders That these charges
of "rings." "bribery'aand "corrup
tion'' so frequently, SO persiste ntly,
and 50 recklessly made, should have
gained some degree of credence, is
not astonishing. The integrity OF
some of the purest and best public
men in the State was impeached.
and the attempt made to smirch
their reputation. Members OF the
Legislature were elected for their
ability in making baseless and reck
less charges of general and indefi-
mite character. and tor the express
purpose of investigating and expos
ing corruption In all its multiplied
forms. The pure Legislature has
met, appointed its committees, ana
their report is before the country.
With all their anxiety to make good
their charges and justify their cleo
ton, they are forced to admit that
all the rings consisted in the old
story OF the Memphis Appeals bar
gain to depress bonds, and tie sale
of the editorial of the Nashville
Banner for $3.50. There are two
very significant facts developed IN
the testimony. One is that the eft
fort made by the Appeal was not to
benefit but to injure the creditors,
and the arguments used against the
creditors interests were the same
used by the politicians and news
papers who were the loudest and
most reckless in charging that there
were rings and corruption all over
the State.
The other fact to which we would
call attention is the boomer lng
which struck the Nashville Banner.
That paper has been the central or
gan, the mouthpiece and indicator
tor the pure and good part of the
press, and people who have so freely
thrown slime and dirt at every man
and newspaper who dared to eX.
press the opinion that there was
any such thing as State honor aRd
individual integrity. 1t was full of
charges and insinuations against all
who advocated az honest settlement
of the debt, and it did not hesitate
to express its opinion that the press
of the State had been subsidized by
the bondholders. Like the prosti-
tute, destitute of virtue, it was
ready to believe and maintain that
there was no such thing as public
virtue. Now it appears from the
report of the committee that the ed
itOr of the Banner sold its edito
rails md prostituted the profession
for the Insignificant sum of Sl7.5O.
This is the ring the Banner has
been hunting for and trying to bring
to Eght,and this Is specimen OF The
honesty it has sought to inculcdte.
The $l7.50 was paid for its innu
encIng The settlement of the State
debt at fifty cents In the dollar, and
yet the Banner has been the peo
pies only friend at the capital. The
facts in this Investigation show that
the only reason why the Banner was
not seduced oftener by tue bond |
holders-under its then manage |
ment- was because it was either
not the policy of the bondholders to
buy newspapers, or the Banner was
not worth buying 1t is but just TO
the proprietors of the Banner u
say that this investigation cost the
editor of the Banner-who demand |
ed this position, and placed IN
his stead a gentleman who has ma
terially changed the tone and char
acter OF the paper for the better.
1t will be observed that the course
of the Banner and certain poiiti
clans in making reckless charges OF
rings" "bribery" and corruption"
in the administration of State at
fairs has brought about an investi
CATION which has cost the State
large amount of money, and that ali
the new information the people get,
is that the editor OF the Banner sold |
it's editorial influence for $l7.0O, |
and that it would have been bia-
tant State credit journal all this
time if the bondholders had been
willing to pay for it. We say new
information" because I'll e $1,000 re-
ceipt of the Appeal lor arguing |
against the payment of the State
debt was published years ago, and
the facts were well known To the |
reading public.
We mean no special unkindness |
to any one in saying what we have !!
long believed, and in this find that
belief verified, that the cry of stop |
thief frequently marks the scoun-
drel. We may justly say further,
that the newspaper or politician
who affects to believe that those
VINO ulAeT Will IutLu aiC mO'SN ~ |
pecuniary considerations, could |
adopt no palmer badge of their own
venality, corruption and dishonesty.
Now that we have had an investiga-
ton by the purest men of the pres
ent Legislature, and the question OF
rings is settled, we hope argument |
will take the place of abuse, and !
confidence the place Of suspicion |
and distrust.
We hope the time has arrived |
when an honest man can honestly /
express his opinion in regard to
public matters without subjecting |
himself to the charge of venalIty
and corruption.