Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-12-08
TENNESSEE TALK.
The Political Situation as Seen
by O. o. Steady.
Special to the oourisr-Iourn.ll

Special to the Courier-Journal.l
NASHVILLE, Tenn, December o.
Talk about party Generalization you
don't know what It is until you strike
Tennessee. Any one would naturally
suppose that the state of jackson
would, a tleast, have left representative
men enough in the democratic party
to control wisely her destinies, but, to
a stranger, they are all gone, or nearly
so. Here and there it is possible that
a democrat can be found who has
within him a sufficient amount Of
JacksOnian democracy to do that
which is right, but they are few and
so far between that they cannot be got
together for the public good.
Now why is it hat the republicans
OF the north are claiming that Hor-
ace Maynard, a republican. will be
the choice of the Tennessee legislature
for a seat in the United States senate?
And why is it that many democrats
are on the eve of %conceeding that
Maynard will be elected Is it be-
cause the republicans have a majority
on joint ballot in the next general as
sembly? No. Is it because several
democratic members of the legislature
have announced their intention of
voting for Maynard No. Then what
is the reason2 l will tell you. The
democrats of Tennessee are, %unfortu-
nately, in about the same fix as the
democrats of the union-they have no
head; they have too many leaders who
are not leaders; too many big, iussy
men who are not able, astute men
What the democrats of Tennessee
want-and, as for that matter, the
democrats Of the country want-are
a few able and courageous men to lead
them, organize them and see that they
observe party discipline and toe the
party lines.
Suppose for a second that the repub-
licans of Tennessee had four majority
in the legislature, instead of the dem
ocrats having that number. Would
there even be as much as a thought
that the republicans would not elect
their senator? The democrats would
have given up the s~enatorship imme-
diately. Why? Because the republi-
cans are organized, quick to form their
schemes and bold enough to execute
them,
"Do you really think the democrats
will lose the United States senator
from this state?" | asked of a promi-
nent democrat to-day.
hope not; but | am a little
afraid"
What makes you afraid2"
why, u side il all split up, and
the republicans are organized and
have money"
Why don't your side organize; is
there nobody to take the lead2"
1T seems not"
Have YOU any democratic members
OF the legislature that will sellY'i
Yes, | am afraid we have
DO you know them?"
mot personally"
How do you know they will sell,
thenY'
Il don't know it. | have only
heard that there were five or SIX
democratic members that might be
bought to vote for Maynard, if enough
money was put up"
Then, sir, you really believe that
the senatorship is a matter Of dollars
and cents, do your"
something is not done before the
legislature conyenes, it has that ap-
peaianpe to me-
How can | obtain the names Of
those democratic members Of the leg
islature who, it is thought, can be
bought {"
What You don't intend to pub
lish them, do your"
Oh, no; at least not Just now. That
would not be good policy, and might
lead to the shotgun policy. | only
desired the names for my own infor
mantion. [ want to look up their
pedigrees, that's all. Who can give
me their names2"
Il can't to-day, but | may Monday.
See Mr.. Bell, Of the Banner. Re
might help you OUT
1t is not surprising that Hawkins,
republican, was elected governor over
the democratic candidate. The only
surprising thing is that Wright and
Wilson received as many votes as they
did. Their party was all torn up and
divided upon state affairs, and the
masses had no one to lead them out Of
the wilderness.