Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-04-03
LYNCHBURG, Tenn,
March - 1890

&-N &E1RH
DEAR SIR. If l am not mistaken,
your course and mine in relation to
the subject of our state debt has been
very much the same. | know we CO.
operated fully, in every instance, in
our efforts to get the question settled
at the extra session of the Fortieth
general assembly, at a rate we thought
the people could stand and would en-
dorse. My understanding was that
you supported the 50-4 proposition
submitted to the people at the late
August election. You are perhaps
aware that | did. 1t is in relation to
that subject l write this. What
course shall those Of US pursue who
supported that proposition, now that
it has been rejected by the people at
the ballot box? What course shall
the democratic party Of the state pur-
u in the premises, now that the peo-
pie have taken action on the subject?
! have my views on the subject, in
deed have already promulgated them
In several instances in this section of
the state. And it is with a view of
procuring your cooperation in
your section of the state
in the work of harmonizing the
democratic party of the state, that |
now lay my programme before you.
/ hold it is the duty of the demo-
cratic party to respect the will of the
people in every instance where an au-
thoritative expression of their will
can be had. This is democracy itself.
the very essence of democracy. In
deed it might be held that the indi-
cation Of the peoples will, as suggest
ed by the reason of the ease short of
an authoritative expression, should
be accepted as the governing law of
the ease. AT any rate, if there has
been an expression ON any subject of
the peoples will, it certainly should
be accepted as the supreme law of the
case. On the subject of our state debt,
we have had an expression of the peo-
pie. Not a final disposition, as | am
frank to admit, but an expression to
the effect that under surrounding cir
cumstances, and with existing condi-
tions, they are unwilling to pay as
much as 50-4 Of the debt. With these
circumstances aud conditions altered.
they might be willing TO pay more.
The controlling circumstance and con.
dition that led to the rejection
Of the 5O-4 proposition, were
the inability Of the people
to meet that much of the debt as they
regard it, and the fact that the valid
ity of most OF the debt was
and is now pending litigation in the
federal courts. The permanence of
the present business boom will re.
move the first of those conditions and
circumstances, the termination Of the
litigation concerning the railroad
bonds will decide the other.
The people of Tennessee are as far
from the reputation of q just and
honorable obligation as any people on
the globe. They are, however, brave
enough to look all questions Of Their
right on the one hand, and their obi
cations on the other squarely in the
face. And this is the simple meaning
Of their vote on the 5O-4I proposition
at the late August election. The
democratic party itself had fixed the
standard of their ability to pay at a
forty cents a~dvalorem tax. TIE bust
ness boom had scarcely set in, and
with the assessments still on the de.
cline, it was natural for them to be
appreheusiye and sensitive on the
question Of ability to pay. 1t was
but natural for them not to rush int
the court and assume an obligation
the validity Of which was and is the
subject of litigation, litigation insti
tuted by the creditors themselves.
With these conditions obtaining, the
people certainly meant no reputation
IN rejecting the 5O-4 proposition
Then why should not the verdict OF
the people be accepted as the law
of the case, so long as these conditions
obtain? With these conditions al
tered, the action of the people would
IL. ...A..I.. l. -.-I.N.I