Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1880-11-13
TWO METHODS.


political management adopted dur
ing the late canvass in two import
ant districts; namely, in the Clarks-
vile senatorial district and in that
of which Memphis is the metropo-
lis. A strongly marked contrast is
observed between the strategic prin-
ciples adopted in the two, and a
contrast equally strong in the re-
suits.
Principle was the method adopted
in GAINESVILLE, expediency was that
Intended in Memphis, but expedi-
ency miserably miscalculated.
1t is we'll understood now that the
convention which determined the
program of the recent campaign de-
cided that a definite position must
be assumed by the democratic party
in reference to the state debt, the
validity of which must be affirmed
and the purpose of settling it main
tanned, whateverthe sacrifices which
might be involved in that decision.
To this program the democracy of
GAINESVILLE faithfully adhered. They
fought it out on that line, bringing
into the contest the best available
ability and devoting themselves to
its support with single-minded de-
votion unparalleled in our political
history. Every man contended for
what he deemed the right, as if the
result depended upon his exertiOns
alone.
Not so in Memphis. We give the
description of the contest from the
columns of the MemphisAvalanche
of Nov. 4:
in Shelby county was due to the demorali-
cation incident TO a radical difference of
opinion respecting the payment of the state
debt A very large number of democrats
are firm supporters of Wilson's repudiating
policy. Strange as it now seems, the demo-
cratic managers believed that democratic
legislative ticket could be elected, without
the candidates taking sides ON so important
a question as the election of a State-credlt
governor or repudiating governor. A
mixed ticket was therefore put in the field,
some of the candidates known to be Wilson
men, and Others as Wright men. After
their nomination these candidates carefully
abstained from any violent expressions of
opinions as to their preferences for governor.
And they were also reticent as to the pay
ment of the state debt, the chief issue in the
state canvass. What little expression they
INDUCED in was in the direction of repudia-
ting the state democratic platform. The
consequences of canvass conducted under
these auspices might have been foreSeen 10
be those of defeat 1t was Impossible TO
arouse party enthusiasm for ticket that
repudiated the democratic platform. Gen
eTal apathy not only prevailed In demo-
cratic circles but general disgust also, to so
great an extent that large numbers eff dem
Ocrats voted for the republican candidates.
This universal apathy and disgust not only
aided in the defeat of the legislative ticket,
but it proved "a potent influence in the de-
feat of the democratic candidate for con-
greSs in the county. He too preserved a
dignified silence on the state debt question,
which lost him some votes of staunch state
credit men.
The causes which ensured defeat
of the democracy are summarized
as follows:
First-A strong element of reputation in
the democratic party.
Second-The reputation of the democrat
ic platforms both by the newspaper organs
democratic county executive committee.
Third-rhe nomination of legislative can
didates who utterly failed to meet the chief
issue in the canvass (the state debt in a
straightforward fashiAn.
Our contemporary then proceeds
with the following contemptuOus
comment on the method of pseudo
expediency thus adopted:
The consequence Of the shilly-shalIy poll
cy of the democratic managers was that the
men of brains in the party stood aloOf. The
speakers who would have given character
and force to the democratic canvass We're
not on the stump, who would discuss prin-
cipleS. The SagaciOuS democratic managers
didn't want an important question of state
politics discussed. They expected the peO-
pie to come up and vote just as the mana
gers told them to vote. The managers said,
in effect, that I'VE have kicked over the
democratic platform, but dash the princi-
pies, this is the democratic party, anyhow,
so vote the ticket" 1t is possible that the
managers are now prepared to admit that
there are some men in the democratic party
who cannot be led by party label, with the
principles Topped OF.
Such was the method adopted in
Memphis, and its results are known
to all men; ten republicans sent to
the state legislature, the democratic
candidate for congress beaten by
republican competitor and large
majority for the republican candi-
date for governor. Could a mode of
action be more pointedIy con-
demned by its results.
Such was not the method adopted
in GAINESVILLE. We are now writ
ing for the instruction of our Mem
phis friends. AS soon as the state
democratic convention of last Au
gust had closed its sittings, our
democratic managers here came to
the conclusion that they had a bat
tie of principle to fight and determ-
ined to fight it out on principle.
Indeed they were prepared before
August for this course, for the pro-
ceedings in the convention were in
a large degree shaped and influenced
by men from this district. So they
at once formed their line of battle
accordingly. Ting cardinal maxim
of the council was that the great
principle at issue must everywhere
be defined and argued out and con-
tended for without compromise,
whatever might come of it. To
show how this was done we have
to enter into some details.
This senatorial district consists of
three counties, Montgomery, Rob
ertson and Stewart. OF these Mont
gOmery, the central and most pOpu-
lous, has always, by considerable
counted state-credit at cleo
tons, but it has four districts south
of the Cumberland which were thor
Oughly indoctrinated with the opin-
ion that the state debt is not Justly
due and ought not to be paid. 1t
was believed at the commencement
of the canvass that Montgomery
could be carried for the regular NOM
inees by about 500 or 600 majority.
Stewart, the least in population,
but generally sound on the debt
question, would, 1t was hoped, give
a majority of 800 for the regular
but in some districts there
was a growing laxity as regards the
debt question, which gave anxiety
to our managers.