Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-07-07
GOVERNOR X
Opens the GubernatOrial CAM
paign at Huntington.

Governor Marks addressed the citi-
zens of Carroll county at Huntingdon
on the 9th inst. The following synop-
sis of his remarks appears in the
Nashville Banner:
The governor discussed the state
debt at some length, and in substance
said: For five years the republican
party had control of our state govern
ment. We know its methods and its
principles. By fraud and accident it
seized control of the state government.
Distrusting the peopleit disfranchised
them, and declared that the will of.
the people ought not to rule the gov
eminent. 1t now demands that it
shall again be placed in power. Again
it declares the people are not to be
trusted, and it boldly proclaims its
purpose to surrender their sovereignty
to the federal courts. 1t presents
the issue directly and sharply. 1t
cannot be escaped. Upon this great
issue the democracy of Tennessee is
compelled by its traditions and prin-
ciples to be of one mind and to stand
first, last, and all the time by the
principle that the right of the people
to govern themselves in their own
way is supreme, and that its surren
der to any power degrades them from
freemen to slaves.
The republican party knows that
the great body of the people of the
state are ~unalterably opposed to its
return to power, but encouraged by
supposed divisions in the democratic
party, and tempted by its vaulting am
bition, it is again reaching out its
hand to grasp power against the will
of the people, and proposes when it
acquires the power TO again disfran-
chise the people for all time upon the
subject of the state debt, a question Of
supreme concern to them.
This question must be settled by
the democratic party or by the repub-
lican party. The democratic party
comprehends the great body of the
people of the state. Democrats pay
nine-tenths of the taxes. Therefore
it is right, Just and proper that the
democratic party shall settle the ques-
ton.
In 1878 the democratic party decid-
ed that among democrats there exist
ed a difference in opinion. The same
differences exist now. Theymust and
will be recognized, tolerated and rec
ognized.
The preservation of public faith
and the supremacy Of the sovereign
will of the people were the two great
principles upon which the democratic
party planted its feet. Whether the
debt be settled now or hereafter, un.
less the people are bound hand aud
foot, and transferred to the federal
courts, no settlement will stand which
is not founded upon these princi-
pies.
Louisiana owed a debt it could not
pay. The subject of its debt was at.
tended with the same difficulties and
embarrassment which surrounds the
question in Tennessee. The differ
ences between the democrats of Lou
isiana upon the subject were as great
as the differences between the demo
Gratis of Tennessee. When a constitu-
tional convention was called in Louis
lana, all the democratic members of
that convention were present at a
meeting called for the purpose of con-
ference and agreement upon a basis
of settlement. After an earnest. pat
riotic effort, and by mutual conces-
slons, they reached an agreement.
The basis agreed upon was submitted
to a separate vote of the people,
and the democracy of Louisiana, ami,
mated by the same spirit of concession
and compromise, ratified the settle
ment submitted by a majority of 10
%OOO.votes, and the question was thus
forever settled in Louisiana.
The example of the democracy OF
Louisiana is rich in suggestion to the
democracy Of Tennessee. The lesson
it teaches is that the essential condi-
tiOns of harmony are that the opin.
ions Of all democrats must be treated
with respect; that mutual confidence
must exist between democrats, that
while all have the right of individual
opinion, yet where the voice of a
majority speaks it must be respected.
and lastly, above all, it teaches that
the democratic party ought to settle
all OF its differences within the party
lines, and rigidly exclude republicans
from all control Of its policy. The
first object of the republican party Is
TO destroy democracy, and Whenever
they come to us bearing gifts VIC must
beware of them, or sooner or later
our democratic Troy Troy will fall.
Democracy is the hope Of the coun-
try. We democrats Of Tennessee can
not divide without betraying the sa.
cred trust committed to their charge.
This they will never do, The eyes Of
the democracy Of the union are upon
them. They will rise above the ma
larial region Of discord and d~issension,
and standing upon the broad rock Of
democratic harmony, and inspired by
the glorious cause for which thew
fight, they will retain control of the
state government, and will present Ia
the democracy Of the union an un-
broken electoral vote and an unbroken
delegation to congress.
Love That GIOriGes the Hum.
bIest Man.