Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1880-03-27
HERR lRE THIN DOCUMENTS 7
OLD DOCUMENTS ARE DANGEROUS
THINGS. r.. I...
The Era's Record Brought to Light.
The Avalanche Has Fallen and the Era
is Crushed and Along with it, its
Ex Parte Committee.

The Avalanche Has Fallen and the Era
is Crushed and Along with it, its
Ex Parte Committee.
Let Every Candid Man Read This.
We have repeatedly charged that the
Era advocated "the 50,4 measure" in
the spring and summer of 1879. We
did this from memory, not having cop
les of that paper before us. But on
last Tuesday, March 16, 1880, one of
our friends living in the country
brought us full file of the Era cover
ing that date, and weynow hy the Pms
editorials before the public that they
may see just what that paper did say.
1t is said that you can tell whether a
horse will enter stable by the way he
approaches the door. Let us see how
the Era approaches the door to "the
50-4 measure"
We now quote from the editorial of
that paper March 20, 1879. Speaking
of the Alabama State debt only nine
days before the passage of the 5O-4
bill the Era says:
Tennessee will willingly accept a
compromise at 33B cents on the dollar"
Here is one step towards the door.
In the issue of March 27, 1879, sew
en- days later, the Era makes one more
step towards the door and says this:
"soME HOPE OF A CONCLUSION"
"The Senate last Friday by vote
of 13 to u passed a bill for the settle.
ment of the State debt at 40 cents on
the dollar and 4 per cent. interest. The
House set Tuesday for the considera-
ton of the bill, and sce hope they ecal
pass It! We believe the people would
ratify a settlement at that figure and
rate of interest and we believe it is the
very best they will do"
"For the sake of removing this dis
turbing element, and believing the
proposition equitable and liberal, act
hope to see the people allO1ced by the Leg
isiat,re to qiue expression to their vie,U,
upon the biH"
The horse has two feet in now, anC
very few ever pull back after going ii
that far, and when they do they inva
riably get hurt. 3
Move up, kind readers, just seveI
days, to the Sd of April, 1879, whei
the Era comes out at its mast head ant
says; 6
"sETTLEMENT OF THE STATE DEBT.
"The Legislature has finally passet
"a bill for the settlement of the Stat
debt at fifty cents on the dollar, bear
ing 4 per cent interest. Last week, a
will be remembered, the Senate passeC
a bill, which we published, proposin,
to settle at 40 cents on the dollar, ant
the bill was sent to the House, tina
body amended the Senate bill by strik
ing out 40 cents and inserting 80 cents
returned the bill to the Senate for ii
concurrence. The Senate concure'
in the amendment and passed the bil
on its last reading last Saturday. Til
bill! provides that the proposition shaI
be first submitted to the bondholdeI
for their approval, and if approved }
them then to the people for their ratif
cation. There is little doubt but tbs
the bondholder will accept the offer 6
that figure, and we think as little ths
the people will ratify the settlement o
that basis"
Now, look at the two preceding a
{ ticles above quoted. -.
1 tennessee ~iH ecilling7y accept
| compromise at 335 cents on the dollar"
, 2" eve hope they ,ciH pass it,"i. e. tt
E 40-4 bill.
: 3 Now comes the third endorseme:
at only little higher figure, and it
this: "There is lite doubt but Il
bondholder will accept the offer at th
S figure 500, and we think as lit
: that the people will ratify the settl
] ment on that basis"
: Now the editor either advocated til
v or did not, and we ask every hone
: reader to say which he did. We 81
t he did advocate the 504 in the abov
# and the charge is sustained, But |
e tie more proof on this yet.
:. We now propose to kill tive bir
G with one rock. We have also sa
that the Era claimed that the Legisl
ture and party had come to Col. Sa
ages doctrine in passing the 5O-4 bi
and that it claimed the 50-4 measu
as victory for Col. Savage. In dol
this the Era advocates the bill just
we have charged. The Era Ap
8, 1879, says:
7 "When Col Savage came to the front
behalf of the people they had no champi'
tb ll... 10, a hfs