Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-11-22
WHAT WILL THE Low TAX DEMO-
Gratis DO?


The Clarksyille Chronicle, an ex.
treme high credit paper, after specu-
lating upon what the high tax repub-
licans and democrats will do in regard
to a settlement of the state debt pro-
ceeds as follows;
Lastly, what will the so-called low
tax democrats do about it? Will
they respect the overwhelming ma
iority by which the state has declared
against their position, or will they
make it their purpose to embarrass
and, ifpossible, defeat the action of
those who are aiming at settlement 2
Small as their numbers are 1--WE be-
lieve they number about l8 or 2O),
they can do great deal towards this
policy, especially if there should be
any differel yes as to terms OF settle
ment 'betwt the republican and
democratic bond-paying members. Or
it has been suggested that they viii
preserve a position of inactivity dur
ing the session of the assembly, and
then, whatever settlement may be
agreed upon by the rest of the legisla
ture, attack itin the campaign of 1882
We are reluctant to anticipate either
ofthese courses, for we fail to see what
party advantage they could achieve
by it. The result of the last election
must convince them that they have
nothing to gain by keeping the party
divided. They have a good pretext
for retiring from a contest in which
the majority has pronounced 20 decis.
lively against them, and they cannot
fail to see that with their opposing the
state credit democracy is compelled to
stand with the republicans, at least
on the debt question, and that this
must necessarily keep the state per
manently under republican rule. We
believe and hope that they are patri-
otto enough to refrain from policy
which must end in this, without giving
them any incidental benefit.
We have no authority to speak for
single member in the next legisla-
ture, but can advise, and suggest that
thoss who belong to the low tax wing
should not throw any obstacles in the
way of a reasonable aud equitable
settlement. The LEDGER assented to
and supported the 80 and 4 measure
in a spirit of compromise, last year.
IF the legislature will settle at this
figure, we will agree to it, and use any
influence that we may have
to render it acceptable to the people
But as a matter of principle, honesty
and consistency, we will favor'no wild
or extreme measure; and if anything
of this kind is passed, we give fair
warning in advance that determined
and well organized effort will be made
two years hence to break it up, the
SAME as happened after the passage OF
the fnnding bill of 1873. We hope
that the low tax members will be ac'
tuated BY no captious spirit, but
that they win recognize the
logic of events a0d stand ready not
only to take care Of themselves, but
to agree to any fair and practical com
promise. There is no material dif'
terence between the position OF the
republicans and the state credit dem
ocrats, except that the latter are com
mitted against making coupons re-
ceiyable for taxes. At frst glance
therefore, It would seem immaterial
what course the eighteen or twenty
low tax democrats might pursue in
the face Of about eighty rock-ribbed,
iron-bound, high credit members Of
both parties. All we can do is to put
the latter upon their good behavior
and wait to see what they will do
The hopeless minority can look OF
With christian complacency to SCI
what will happen.