Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-12-02
Tennessee PnIilica-

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Tennessee Politics.
Nashville Corr. Courier-Journal.J
THE SENATORIAL QUESTION.
The legislature meets in January.
and it will have two important duties
to perform; it will have first 10 elect a
United States senator, and then ar
range a settlement Of the state debt
What the policy of either party will
be in regard to the latter question can
not be determined until the legislature
meets. The creditors of the state two
years ago proposed to accept as a com
promise sixty per cent of their indebt.
edness In bonds bearing six per cent
interest, and it is supposed the same
arrangement would be acceptable to
them at this time. Ifso there would
be little difficulty in securing its ac-
ceptanee by a large majority of the
new legislature.
1t is feared that the matter cannot
be so easily adjusted. The republican
party has been greatly benefited by
the disturbance created by the debt
question, and it may not be so willing
to have it disappear from state politics
1t Is possible they may insist on 100
per cent in bonds bearing four or five
per cent, and if so it may be the
creditors will net propose to take less.
In that case it would be very difficult
to bring enough state credit democrats
to the support OF such a proposition
aud the legislature may again adjourn,
leaving it still am open question. This
would undoubtedly be unwise state
policy, but it may prove the best
thing for the republican party in Ten
nessee.
The control of the United States
senate will depend on the senatorial
election in this state, and the balance
OF power here is In the hands Of two
or three men. The democratic ma
jority on joint ballot in the Tennessee
legislature is either four or five. Or
dinarily this would make the election
0fa democratic senator positively Ger.
tain but the party has been divided,
and has Just passed through a cam
paign as bitter as any in the history Of
the state. BY this division the repub-
lican candidate for governor was elect
ed, and, if this division is not healed.
a republican senator will also be
elected. The most prominent repub-
lican candidate is
HORACE MAYNARD.
Though he has for several years
6eea absent from the state, Horace
Maynard's influence, especially in his
own party, is very strong. Besides
that, tho old whig clement among the
democrats has a warm feeling for Hor-
900 MAYNARD, and he is without ques
ton the most inauentlaI man IN - nc
party. Governor elect Hawkins de-
sires the position, and he will make a
contest in the party for it. He stands
well among all classes, and is consid
cred a man of ability and integrity.
His friends assert that if party ser
vices give any man a claim for the
place, Hawkins is certainly entitled
to the honor. Maynard has been
cared for by the president. and has
been well rewarded. Hawkins has
been the leader in the great conflict
which has brought about a revolution
in the state, and he will be pressed
with a vigor that Few now realize.
AMONG THE DEMOCRATS.
The problem with the democrats is
to unite the party and 50 prevent a
few stragglers from entering the camp
OF the republicans. 1t is supposed
that the republican party will use all
the means in its power to seduce three
or four from their allegiance to the
democrats, and party ties have been
50 greatly weakened during the past
few months that there is considerable
uneasiness evident. One very effective
argument which will be used is thai
by giving the republicans a majority
in the senate the most vindiotive
schemes Of the stalwarts can be carried
out without fail. These schemes. az
explained by Senator Boutwell, in a
recent article in the North American
Review, will certainly have a very
solidifying effect on the Tennessee
democracy. If Senator BoutweIIs
article could be widely circulated in
this state it would dispose Of Horace
Maynard chance to a seat in the
senate. In an interview ex-G Governor
Porter said most emphatically that
he had no doubt of the
election Of democratic senator from
Tennessee. The party had united on
the democratic electors, and he felt
certain Of the same thing being done
when a senator is TO be elected. There
are divisions and hard feelings, but A
caucus will be held and public senti-
ment will compel every man claiming
TO be a democrat to abide by that de-.
cision "and / do not believe" said
Governor Porter, that republican
money can be so used as to prevent the
election Of a democrat"
Senator Bailey is the most nromi-
nent candidate, and he will have by
far the largest vote on the first ballot.
He is a great hyorite with the state
credit democrats and with the bust.
ness community generally. He has
been very earnest and very outspoken
IN his opposition to any form ofrepu.
diation. Two years ago he made a
canvass of the state, and in bis speech
es urged upon the people the Justice
ofthe debt and the wisdom Of paying
IT, He has many bitter opponents
among the boilers, aud it is doubted i'll
ne can secure the united democratic
vote, even If he gains the nomination
in caucus