New-York tribune., 1881-12-08
ADIsHEARTENED DEMOCRAT.
a TALK WITH REPRESENTATIVE ATKINS, OF TRNNks
sEE-A nINInEn PARTY DOOMED TO DEEEAT-

TALK WITH REPRESENTATIVE ATKINS, OF TRNNEs-
sEE-A DIVIDED PARTY DOOMED TO DEFEAT
COMMENTS ON THE MESSAGE.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSE.l
WASHINGTON Dec 7.-"What do you think of
President Arthurs first messagei" asked TRIBUNE
CORRESPONDENT of Representative Atkins of Tennes-
see to-day.
"I have not read the whole of it, but as far as
have read have found it a lucid, modest, states
manlike document. was greatly pleased to find
that Grant had not been able to give it bloody
shirt cast as had feared he would do. | begin to
think that Arthur means to be President himself
and of the whole country"
"What do you think of his recommendations re-
specting the tariff and finances I"
"Oh of course do not agree with him there.
am for tariff for revenue only and cutting down
the duty on every article until the blood is drawn.
No protection is my motto. Then am for the
unlimited coinage of silver and the abolition OF the
National Banking system"
"What about the question of polygamyH"
81 think | am with the President there, at least
so far as making polygamous wife competent
witness against her polygamous husband is con-
cerned That is all Congress can do, and | am in
favor of il. | am also greatly pleased with the
Presidents position respecting the improvement of
the Mississippi River. We ought to make the
most of all our waterways. | regret TO hnd,"
continued Mr.. Atkins, that the President did not
take bold high ground against railroad monopoies
and in favor Of regulating transportation rates by
law
"What will or ought to be, in your opinion, the
policy of the Democrats in Congress this session 7"
asked the correspondent
1--WE ought to land hope we will 90 in for a
modification of the tariff in the direction l before
suggested; for the abolition of the National banks
ond no unliuitpd of silver liberal
proyement and against monOpolies of every sort
do not know whether il will make any difference
what we do. however" continued the
Tennessee statesman somewhat plaintively !;
"for no matter what attempt, we
seem fore-ordained to defeat We ought to stop
our foolishness and stand by principles, which
are the eternal principles of truth and Justice
politically speaking"
"You do not appear to agree with Senator Voor-
hees in regard to what some of them are say the
tariff for example 7" suggested the correspondent.
"Of course do not with Randall either.
did not give him my vote for the Speakershp. !
am not the same kind of a Democrat that he and
some others are"
"What is the political outlook in Tennessee 2"
asked the correspondent.
1Gloomy gloomy for u.s." was the sad reply.
"Will there be an effort to repeal the law passed
last winter for the settlement of the State debtY
Undoubtedly there viii. The success OF the Re-
ndiuster movement in Virginia has sadly demOral-
lied the Democratic party In Tennessee. Thousands
of State credit Democrats now in favor of
reputation of scaling the debt. have hitherto
stood for maintaining the faith ami credit of the
State and paying every dollar she owes, but
fess that / am now inclined to support measure
which will be proposed TO scale the debt down to
one half the princp pal and twothirds Of the inter
est [; in other words, proposition TO pay 90 per
cent of the principal, and instead of per cent
that
. How does the Republican party in Tennessee re-
gard that proposition" 49,
"Oh they are opposed TO H. III VIII De the main
issue In our State election next year.
itp
''No, great many of them will undoubtedly vote
with the Republicans TO preserve and execute the
law passed last winter"
(Which party win be likely TO win ~
"Oh, suppose that, as usual, we shall be beaten.
The Democratic party, j said before, seems
doomed TO defeat no matter what it attempts"