Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1880-09-19
KNOXVILLE TENN: SUNDAY MORNING, SEPTEMBER 49, 1880


book of time! The war prevailed for four
cruel years. applause
Among the results of the war was an enor-
nous dett. We spent money like water,
feeling that our ell was at stake.
WHEN THE WAR WAS OVER,
as you know, our money affairs were in
great confusion. We had large public
debt. Men told us that we never could pay
it. Then came the question whether we
should pay it in gold and silver, as we had
promised, or whether in greenbacks, and
let the greenbacks take care of themselves
as we'll as they could. After the election
of Gen. Grant such laws were passed that
the credit of the government began to
improve. until now your debt, bearing
four per cent. interest, is SELL
ing at a premium of eight, to ten
and twelve per cent. in the mark cts
of the world, and Congress is considering
whether they shall pay more than 3 per
cent. Think of it, men of Tennessee, when
we never thought of paying less than per
cent. These are things that have been done
through wise, just and honest administra-
tion of government. My friends, this
spectacle Is looked upon with astonishment
by the public men of Europe. The idea
that government should pay such debt
within the lifetime of men who are now
moving upon the stage, is one of the
WONDERS OF PUBLIC FINANCE.
And all this time we have been carrying on
great works for the benefit of the people,
and the time has come within a score of
years when the southern democrats are
struggling to get back into the councils of
the nation more eagerly than they did at
the beginning to get cut.
Well, gentlemen, let me say
WHY AM NOT A DE2IOCRAT.
have never admired that party, its
| doctrines, nor its methods. l have told
| you why, great many times, twenty five
| years ago, and | do not see that the princi-
| pies Of the party have changed particle.
L do not see that their methods have grown
| one whit better. l do not see that they
| have shown asingle feature in their policy
or conduct that should attract TO them a
! single man who did not belong to them
! before. know that there are men, per-
hays not few Of them, possibly as true
union men as any, that think they are
| democrats, and yet somehow, [ can not
persuade myself that they really are.
can not understand heW person who was
a union man in 1881 -2-3-4 can possibly be
a democrat now. These are cases beyond
my comprehension. | can understand why
estly and fought for il bravely, when he
found it q failure, should join himself
to the republican party and help
build up and restore the country. But how
a man, who in
THE HOURS OF OUR TROUBLE,
when calamity was upon US, was found
shoulder to shoulder and side by side with
the union men, should now when success
| oA N,,E frCV NnVoo
us and join with those who tried to destroy
US. I have no argument to address to
men of that way Of thinking.
But, gentlemen, we are called upon tC
decide whether we shall continue the
government in the hands of those who have
administered it as have JUS
described, or whether to the men who have
been opposing, every measure that has beer
most beneficial. So far as candidates go
have nothing to say about them.
I AM HERE To SAY NO UNKIND WORDS
/ concede to every man the same honesty
of purpose that l know have myself
have been aCquair ted with Gen. Garfield
for many years. | have served with him
as your representative. l have seen some
attempt to impugn Gen. Garfield as ar
honest man. Gentlemen, you may maligr
him from now until the election day, and
will no more consider it than l wonld ,
puff of impotent air. Great applause.
There are some things that we feel that w
know. have been with
GEN. GARFIELD
for years. l have agreed with him ant
quarreled with him. l have been witt
him in every and all conditions. l have
discussed with him questions of great i'm
poFtance and questions of little mpOrtance
and I know whether he is
AN HONEST MAN
or not, and l tell you tha
though thousand men should
swear to the contrary. on forty bibles, they
could not persuade me that Gen. Garteli
was not an honest man. (Tremendou
cheerS.) am sorry that political warfar
has raised such question upon such
man, but inasmuch as it has, l take occa
aion to refer to ita a matter. of sheer jus
tce.
Bus there are questions, gentlemen tha
perhaps more nearly concern us here at thi
time. l refer to the
QUESTION OF CUR STATE DEBT.
. After I had been away for some time,
began to hear whispered rumors that tn
, debt should not be paid. l could imagin
, that there would ba men who would tel
us that
WE SHOULD PAY THE DEBT,
but that there should be any other methot
of disposing of it, confess surprised me
: especially that there should be enoug
such men to found political party. GAP
| plause.) Here Mr.. Maynard reviewed tn
, history of the state debt
The question is not whether every par
of it was wisely contracted. That is nc
the question. It was
EVERY DOLLAR c F 1T AN HONEST DEBT
and. gentlemen. it ought to be paid. Stan
up TO the rack, fodder or no fodder:
have never owned dollar of the publ
8 debt, and have no personal interest in
exct pt as one of the Taxpayers of tn
? state, and beg of you gentlemen betor
you decide this question against US to re
, member that it will affect not only our in
terests but those of our children and ou
: children's children that we leave behir
! us; for the loss of our state credit is los
that can never be repaired.
'-GE--