Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-06-01
The TENNESSEE Democracy.

Stewart county, May 20: The inter.
esLing topic at the present time, how
ever, at the breakfast table and in Of
fee, is the state of political affairs
here. This democratic state seems to
the adherents Of democracy to be
slipping from their grasp. 1t is seem
ing, however, for it will be under the
control of the democracy evermore,
unless, which | hope will never occur,
the honest men of the party are forced
|-pushed-into the republican camp,
to have their principles given vitality.
So long as the democratic party Of this
state is what the national democratic
party is, and the democracy of its sis
ter states is, so long will it have the
unqualified approval Of the majority
of its voters.
The leaders should only consider
this question, and shape their actions
to that end. For it is a great injus-
tice to the people Of Tennessee abroad
to believe that they have subordin-
ated honesty to what seems a present
gain and thrown their honor to the
winds. Without noise, without blus-
ter, if the democracy In convention
assembled will adopt a platform hon
est and positive without ~equivocation
it will be endorsed by a majority of
the people. But one thing is as GER
tain as the existence of political par
ties in the state if they will not do
this, but adopt such another platform
as they did in 1873, those who have
been the steady adherents of democ-
racy through all its vicissitudes, will
abandon it in state affairs; and they
comprise a number sufficient, if not
to elect their own candidate, yet to
elect the republican candidate with
ease. This warning is given now to
the democracy Of tennessee, which,
to its discredit be it said, seems for a
number OF years to have given itself
up to success and not to principle.
Unless they adopt a platform, meet
ing the existing questions in the state
fairly and honestly, without any eva
sion, the republican ticket will be
elected. Judge Hawkins has politi-
cally no great attributes to recommend
him to the people, and if he is, in the
course Of time, the governor of Tenn.
essee, it will be the fault of the de
mocracy. The greatest responsibility
Of the democratic party at this time il
to have their convention adopt
a strong state credit platform, and
place upon it a mar who will recon.
mend himself to all classes and ele.
ments Of the party. And this is moi
an impossibility. If Colonel John f.
House, of this district, present mem.
Der of congress, is given the nomina
ton upon such a platform, neither thu
low tax nominee nor the republican
nominee will have a ghostof a show o
success. But there is possibly no mar
in the state under the same conditions
Of whom this can be said. Per
sonal popularity is one of tn
great elements of Colonel House
character, and no element of GREATNESS
is more needed than this one at tn.
present time. Though neither he j
willing, nor his friends for him, t
accept it, or his name to 60 before tn.
convention, still, there are many dem
ocrats, wishing above all things th
triumph Of the democratic party an.
principle, who are very anxious tina
he should be nominated. This don
the position Of senator would be save
, for his acceptance so soon as ono
more the democratic party could safe
ly go into a campaign with any goo
democrat as its standard bearer, with
out imperiling its success. So stand
the democratic party Of the state tC
To-.