The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1880-04-21
As 70 BREAK KING DOWN THE
DEMOCRATYC PARTY.


the Chattanooga Times is out for coalition of
Democratic and Repub lean State-credit men. We
have been 'sout for" nothing of the kind. We have
simply suggested that those who agree that the
creditors Of the State should be treated honestly
regardless of political bias should hold confer
ence and see if they can't join forces and rescue
Tennessee from disgrace The Era whines forth
that "a split in the party is threatened if low-tax
men propose to organize themselves to defeat this
anholy alliance to thwart the win of the people"
This whimper about 'the viii of the people, is the
unmistakable badge Of the public rogue. Suppose
the honest men should poll votes enough to elect
Governor and Legislature, who would settle the
debt? Would the Regulators still deal in their
horrible cant about the will and the rights of the
dear people?
Thus the Chattanooga Times dis.
poses Of the charge of the repudia-
tion organ at McMinnville. We have
a few words on the same subject to
say. occasioned by an editorial in a
late number of the Southern Stand
ard. also published at McMinnville,
but We are glad to say Of quite diff
ferent views as to public honesty to
those promulgated by the Ne,o Era.
The GAZETTE has never said it
was in favor of breaking up" or
breaking down" the Democratic par
ty in Tennessee. We have never
at any time even intimated such
thing or dreamed of any such move.
We have said tine and again that in
our opinion the very existence of the
liberties of the people depended up
on the ultimate success of the Ma
tional Democratic party, and for this
reason we have at all times advOcat-
ed the principles and voted for the
candidates of that great organiza
ton. But so far as Tennessee is
concerned, we have said that an hon.
est settlement of our State debt was
a matter Of far greater Importance
than the election Of any man as
Governor. We have said that this
paper could not and would not, I'M
der any circumstances, support a
Repudiator for that office or for the
| legislature. We have said in our
opinion 1t would take all the State
credit voters of all political parties
to defeat the Regulators, and for the
purpose Of e0ecting a union Of State
credit men we have suggested that
there be a conference of leading men
at Nashville some time this spring
or early in the summer so that some
organized plan might be adopted to
save the noble old State Of Tennes
see from the shame and everlasting
disgrace of attempting to repudiate
a debt which she had pledged her
honor to pay. And we have said if
such a conference was called and
candidate for Governor presented to
us upon straight out State-credit
platform we would support him and
urge his election regardless Of pre-
vious party ties. This is not treason
to the Democratic party. 1t seems
to US to be the only course to save
us from ruin. If the Democratic
party is ever defeated in Tennessee
the result will be brought about by
such men. as Savage and Marks
men who are willing to sacrifice the
good name Of the State that they
may ride into office.
I The GAZETTE is anxious to see the
Democratic party successful not only
in Tennessee but all over the Union.
But we are not willing to follow set
of unscrupulous leaders into repudia-
ton and into diskonor. We must
pay our debts or be disgraced in the
eyes of the world. We think more
of the good name of Tennessee than
we do of the election of any man
Governor. So far as the State cleo
ton is concerned, the one great ques-
ton is the settlement of our public
debt. The Regulators have, on sew
eral occasions, shown themselves so
strong that we feel sure it will take
united vote on the part of those op
posed to reputation to defeat them.
The GAZETTE has warned the honest
people of the State that if we go into
three.handed campaign next fall
we simply land ourselves overheard,
head and foot, to the Savages. That
party is stronger than the Republi-
cans and it can out vote the State
credit Democrats two TO one. We
have warned the people Of the APP
preaching danger and suggested a
remedy. Our duty as a patriotic
journalist is done. If the calamity
comes, the people cannot say the
GAZETTE did not sound the bugle-
note of warning in time. If our
proud State goes under-is dragged
down into the pit-our hands are
clean of the crime.