Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1881-04-02
4 I.ost Opportunity.

| Brother Baskette, of the MUIR
ffeest5ro News, writing ofthe state
deJt, aud depioring the want oi
nlEtty in the democratia party ia
the state, gives utterance to the fol-
lowing unpalitable truths:
/ Ifa settlement Of the state debt Is
! effected, which will be entirely sat
isfactory to the creditors, and which
will be justified III the eyes of the
world, the republicans will claim,
and will be accorded, the chief
credit for its c0nsummation. The
democratic party has, time and
again, thrown away its best Oppor-
tunities. Instead of crushing out
the spirit Of reputation in its i'm
ception, it toyed with the danger
Gus heresy, and by all sorts OF silly
Establishments and concessions, en-
deayored to postpone an Inevitable
catastrophe, and lull itself into de-
lusive security. Instead of destroy
ing the reptile when it could easily
have been dispatched, the organized
democracy hugged the viper to its
breast, until warmed into a vigof-
Gus life il threatened the very exist
ence of the party. For years. which
were pregnant with direful possibil-
tiles, the majority of the quandam
party leaders, were, either through
fear or indifference. as mum as
mummies, and not until the poison
had permeated the body-politic did
they come to the front TO render ac-
tive support to the state-credit press
which had so long been battling for
correct principles. Only doubtful
victory was achieved. The real
contest had been too long delayed,
and to-day the party representatives
in the legislature stand hopelessly
divided, one wing advocating an
honorable compromise and the
other clamoring for absolute repudi-
alton. Yet, slow as many of their
leaders were in coming to the front,
the state-credit democrats deserve
the highest need of praise for max
ing settlement possible. But the
democratic party, as an Organiza-
ton, which includes, ostensibly, all
who oppose the payment of any of
the railroad bonds will not get the
credit for settiament nor reap a
proper share of the political benefits
which will follow. The republican
party, though undeservedly, will
get the chief honor, and gain a
corresponding advantage. We say
it Is not entitled to the credit. That
party became champion of state
credit chiefly out of its antagOnism
to the democratic party, which, by
its objectionable shilly-shallying,
fostered spirit of Reputation. |
Many republicans were, and are to-
day outright repudiationists, and a
very large majority of republican
voters in the state know nothing
about the debt, and care not con-
tinental whether it is ever settled or |
not. Nevertheless, as we have be- |
fore said the republican party will
claim the honor of a settlement, if !
and the world, which takes !
no trouble to investigate, but is con-
tent TO look at the surface of things,
will accord it. To democrats these |
may be unpalitable words. Yet it |
is our business to deal in facts,
whether they be pleasant or un-
pleasant.
Finally, assuming this view to be
correct, it affords no excuse for dila-
toriness on the part of the demo-
Gratis in the legislature. To longer |
defer a settlement will only make
it the worse for democracy.