Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-09-21


RIPLEY, Sept 10, 1880.
EDITOR LEDGER-0n last Satur-
day the democratic candidates for
governor addressed a large aud enthu-
siastic audience in the courthouse at
this place. The crowd was composed
with but very few exoeptions,o of demo
Gratis. Judge Wright opened the dis
cussion by an attack upon Judge
Hawkins and his party, and claimed
he had only boilers to contend with.
He labored at some length to prove
that the bonded Indebtedness of the
state was just, legal and right, and
ought to be paid. He said let us get
by negotiation the best terms possible
from our creditors, honorable to Ten
nessee and satisfactory to the holders
of the bonds, settle the debt and get
it out Of politics. IF we can't pay
all, pay all we can, aud at least &C
knowledge the honesty Of the debt
You see he places the terms Of set
Element entirely in the hands
of the merciless bondholder,
and the poor taxpayer has no
voice in the matter. What a glorious
compromise that would be2 But he
stands squarely on his platform. He
then labored hard TO prove that Ten
nessee was fully able to pay the
bonded indebtedness and in no wise
Cypress the people. His speech was
an unbroken line of sophistry and
stale anecdotes. The Hon. s. f..
Wilson then replied in an eloquent,
able and argumentative speech, pre-
senling the issues in a clear and un-
vanished light; appealed to the iudg-
ments and not the passions Of men,
showing the Entertainments made by
monied mOnopolies and railroad rings
upon the rights of the people; dwelt
at some length upon the state debt,
showing some of the fraud that had
been practiced upon the people, and
asked Judge Wright if he should be
elected governor, and the bondholder,
aetuated by his (the Judge's) state
ment of the wealth and unbounded
resources of the state, should demand
dollar for dollar, what would
he do? standing upon the plat
form requiring the next legisla-
ture to settle; but the judge
failed to reply. During the discussion,
a democrat in the audience wrote
Judge Wright the following questions
and asked an emphatic answer; Are
you in favor of a settlement by the
legislature Of the bonded indebted
ness of the state on the best terms
that can be had from the bond hold
ers, even though those terms should
exceed what is known as the 5O-4
compromise? 2. What is the great
est compromise you would be willing
to accept on the part of the state, pro-
vided no better could be Obtained?'
The judge merely replied that he did
not want to hamper or cramp himself.
Then it was that eight or ten demo-
Gratis who had before intended to sup
port Wright, declared for Wilson,
whose cause is fast gaining ground in
this county.
But | will not write more about the
discussion, but will send you a copy
of a resolution that was offered before
the county Wright convention,
which ASSEMBLED here last Monday.
If there are any doubling Thomas it
ought to satisfy them that Wright and
his party are strictly a high tax party.
| will just state here that there were
no Wilson men in this convention, it
was strictly a close communion con-
vention, made so not by the Wilson
men, but by the call made by two out
offve Of the executive committee, re-
fusing to allow any but Wright demo-
Gratis in the convention. Here is the
resolution as offered and tabled as soon
as possible: "That owing to the i'm
mense losses entailed upon the state
by the war, ETC., we do not believe
that the people of Tennessee should
be required to pay, and we declare.
that we will not agree to a settlement
oftle states lawful Indebtedness at a
greater rate than fifty cents on the
dollar and four per cent interest"
There was another resolution offered
which 1 could not get hold of, but
the substance is as follows; THAT
the platform adopted at Nashville, on
which Judge Wright now stands, does
not compel the next legislature to &C.
cept a greater compromise than 80 and
f." 1t met the same fate as the other
was tabled Immediately. Now, can
any reasonable mind doubt for one
moment that the Wright party is very
high tax? But | must close, perhaps
| may write again after the low tax
convention, which meets next Satur-
day a week.
OLD FASHION Low TAX DEMOCRAT.
Appointments for the Electors
at AaTge.