Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1880-11-20
THE COMING. LEGIsLArURE.
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Will it settle the debt? That is
the one question that has been asked
and will be asked at the assembling
of every state legislature in Tennes-
see until the debt is finally settled.
In the case of the present legisla-
ture, if we are guided by the profess
sions madesby members before they
were elected, there ought to be no
doubt that so far as one Legislature
can effect: it, the question will be
finally disposed of. But will the
professions of members made during
the canvass be carried out in legis-
lation? 1t must be admitted that
this does not always follow, and in
order to conjecture how far it will
follow, we must consider separately
the positions of three different classes
OF legislators in reference to the
vexed question.
First, then, what will republican
Legislators do? Metropolitan party
has the highest responsibility in this
matter, because it is in majority
not in a majority of the whole
assembly, but in a majority of those
who acknowledge the debt as due.
The initiative therefore fairly be-
longs to them, and it will be the
duty of the regular democracy to
sustain any bona tide measure they
may introduce looking to a settle
ment of the question. But the en-
quiry occurs to us, will the republic
cans act in good faith +? will they
really promote a final settlement?
1t is certain that they have prohted
largely so Ear by helping to keep 1t
unsettled; it is certain that they
would never have attained to the
election of a governor for Tennessee
and of nearly half of the legislature
but for the divisions of the GSmoc-
racy. We can see that there will be
a strong temptation to them to put
forward some impracticable scheme
which they will publicly support
but secretly thwart, so as to leave
the question still unsettled as
wedge to enlarge the division of the
democracy. The intricacies OF par
liamentary tactics give large oppor-
tunities for such an indirect policy.
We believe, however, that there is
a considerable number of republi-
cans elected to the legislature who
sincerely desire the settlement of
the question, and that the cO-Opera-
ton of the state-credit democracy
with these may secure a settlement.
The regular democracy are bound
both by principle and interest to
promote the settlement. Their pub
lie pledges demand it and the very
existence of their organization de-
ponds upon it. Further speculation
therefore is needless as far as they
are concerned.
Lastly, what will the so-called
low-tax democrats do about it?
Will they respect the overwhelm-
ing majority by which the state has
declared against their position, or
will they make it their purpose to
embarrass and, if possible, defeat
the action of those who are aiming
at a settlement? Small as their
numbers are 1--WE believe they num-
Der about IS or 2O), they can do a
great deal towards this policy, espe-
cialIy if there should be any differ
ence as to terms of settlement be-
tween the republican and demo-
cratic bond-paying members. Or it
has been suggested that they will
preserve a position of inactivity
during the session Of the assembly,
and then, whatever settlement may
be agreed upon by the rest of the
legislature, attack it in the cam
paign of 1882. We are reluctant to
anticipate either of these courses,
for we fail to see what party adj
vantage they could achieve by it.
The result of the last election must
convince them that they have moth
ing to gain by keeping the party
divided. They have good pretext
for retiring from contest in which
the majority has pronounced so de-
cisIVely against them, and they
cannot fail to see that with the
opposing the settlement the state
credit democracy is compelled to
stand with the republicans, at least
on the debt question, and that this
must necessarily keep the state per-
manently under republican rule.
We believe and hope that they are
patriotic enough to refrain from
a policy which must end in this
without giving them any incidental
benefit.
The above speculationsa are thrown
out by us without conference with
any of the leaders on any side, and
are only dictated by the apparent
possibilities of the future. We look
forward with confidence to a favor
able issue and to the reunion of the
democratic party.