Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-06-20
THE FEELING OF THE PEOPLE.

THE FEELING OF THE PEOPLE.
Information reaches us day by
day and week by week, that public
sentiment is setting in stronger and
deeper against the outrageous and un-
authorized measure known as the
1908 bill. 1t was 50 unexpected, so
different from what was expected or
had been advocated by state credit
democrats and republicans during the
pnvass, that the people were taken
,Aback, dazed and almost rendered
powerless of expression. They felt
that they had been led into net and
betrayed by professed friends and
trusty leaders, and hardly knew what
to say. They were tauntingly told
that they could not help themselves,
and that their opinions or wishes in
regard to the subject would not have
any bearing in futurc-that the debt
was settled beyond recall for ninety
nine years, and that they might az
well accept the inevitable. Many
were inclined to believe this, or at
least from the habit of following Ger
tain leaders aud influences, seemed to
acquiesce. No immediate effect, good
or bad, was perceptible, and they
were admonished to keep quiet
But while very little has been
said by the people; they are doing
great deal of thinking. The assess
ment blanks left at many mems doors,
and the certainty of paying three or
four times as much taxes as usual this
fall, in order to meet the first install
ment Of interest on the debt on the
first day of next January, have already
opened many peoples eyes and there
are not few who voted, as they
thought, for state credit last fail, who
denounce the 1908 act and its authors
with more vigor than any of the late
supporters of Mr.. Wilson. A great
change is g1ing on, and if it continues
it will sweep everything before it
There will be but one issue of promi-
neDce ID the next state canvass. The
people will pass their verdict upon
The 1908 act and its authors. 1t will
have some defenders, but their ranks
will be thinned. The last election was
carried by subtle devices, by hitching
the state debtquestion on to the pres
idential canvass, by intimidating the
weak, by fattering the ambitious,
promising the corrupt and the lib
eral use of money distributed
systematically, by Juggling in false is
sues and by making solemn pledges
which we're broken and trampled
under foot as soon as the opportunity
occurred. The tax collector does not
20 around with music, flags and gay
professions. These things were laid
aside with the masks and hollow prom
ises made last year. He comes for so
much money, the bulk Of which goes
~ the bondholdfr. whether crops
row and times are prosperous or not.
Under this arrangement the interest
on the debt must be paid first, even If
there is nothing left to run the state
government and support the institu-
tions of refuge for the deaf, dumb,
blind and insane. These things are
coming to be understood in the cool
light Of reason aud common sense, and
the day Of reckoning is at hand. The
people can and will find a way to undo
this pretended settlement, made and
approved by shame'e pledge breakers.
The LEDGER, as a conservative re-
presel tative and organ Of the low tax
clements-of those who demand yet,
and will never be satisfied with any
thing but an equitable adjustment Of
this question, has been quite lonely at
times. 1t is the only democratic
daily in the state that fought persist
emily the funding bill of 1873, and the
still greater outrage on justice and
decency of 1881. Last fall We had the
cooperation of a few very ably-edited
weeklios, published in Middle Ten
nessee. But nov over balf the papers
in the stata are opposed to the So
called settlement, and the effect is
beginning to be felt. The conditions
will be entirely different in the next
canvass, and the defenders OF this
burning shame will be driven to the
wall by an indignant and outraged
people.
ATr,ANTA Ca. has one first -clasl