Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-08-24

What constitutes Republication? Ae-
cording to the dictionaries it means
one who repudiates or refuses to pay a
debt. Therefore to be a repudiatoI
one must refuse to pay anything
whatever. Our fellow citizens sup
porting MI. Wilson deny the impeaeh-
meut. They say they wish TO pay
those debts in full, that they believe
Just and honest, but will not agree to
pay fraudulent debts. Without in
During into the class of debts they
believe honest, we must admit that
they have the precedent of several
other southern states in adopting this
course.
Louisiana made a forced settlement
other indebtedness with her creditors,
and the settlement has been Satisfac-
tory, or at least it has been accepted.
Georgia set aside-repudiated a large
class of her debts on the ground Of
fraud and settled the balance in full.
Georgia's credit is at par and she can
20 into the market now and borrow as
much money as she may need. There
fore our friends and fellow-eitizens
who support Wilson r not strictly
speaking regulators, but oompromis-
ers. This habit of the speakers on the
state debt side in anathemizing the
opposition as regulators is not calcu-
lated to strengthen their side, but
rather exc,tes a sympathy that gives
them strength.
The American gives the boilers no
other title than regulators. 1t seems
careless in its manner of addressing a
large number of democrats. Possibly
it thinks if it calls them by such oppro
brious terms they will feel ashamed
and come up begging pardon and lay
down their arms.
If the Banner could be influenced by
the words of any one man it might at
the manner in which General Camp
bell treats the case. We believed the
party could be kept intact for this
year Of all others by p~ostponing the
settlement, and so contended. In so
doing we we're sustained by the assist
ance of some of the very best demo-
Gratis of the state-men whose loyalty
to state credit was unimpeachable.
Our principles have been 10 well
known it is scarcely necessary to state
them. While we had the good faith
and credit of the state at heart as
much as any who pursued a different
and, as we thought, reckless course,
we yet wished the credit Of the state
ultimately sustained at whatever cost.
Still, we believed then and yet believe
the democrats ought to have conceded
to the people the confirmation Of the
settlement at the ballot box. How.
ever, we were overruled by a majority
of the convention, and yielded as good
democrats should always do. But for
this concession we are called repudi-
ators by General Campbell and the
American. Still, that does not make
us such.
y Moth
ing but defeat can follow such a
course, aud we warn our party friends
from the ruinous consequences OF
such folly. To denominate q man
who honestly differs with us in opin-
ion as a scoundrel and a villain is say
ing but little for our own intellect.
Should defeat follow this course, as it
almost inevitably will, the country
may, and will, know to whom it may
be attributed. While we differ from
Mr.. Wilson and his adherents, we do
SO honestly, but concede the same
honesty ofpurpose to them, ard we are
very sure if we cannot gain them over
to us by arguments and the lights OF
reason we cannot do it by abuse.
Knowing Mr.. Wilson to be a high
toned gentleman, and knowing some
Of his followers to be heightened gem
tlemen, we cannot but concede to
them that consideration due gentle-
men and we respectfully, but firmly,
protest against the ruinous policy Of
consigning them all to the devil with
out benefit Of clergy.