The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1882-09-20
The collapse of the Bolt.

The Collapse OF the Bull
The grand error of the leaders OF the
18th of July bolt was in the attempt to
exalt question of subordinate and do
nestle policy above every other, and
their willingness to suffer the Democratic
party to be defeated in order to carry
out their special views on that question.
They assumed the position that this
question was one which the Democratic
party was incompetent, either through
inability or dishonesty, to deal with ;
and that in order to have it disposed OF
wisely and justly, it was necessary for
them to organize movement to ratify
an adjustment which seemed good to
them and to the Republican party. In
regard to the debt, the masses of the
Democratic party were to be ignored
and overridden. This important as
sumption has been indignantly resented
by the Democratic party. The bolt has
collapsed in an ignominious failure.
We first heard at GAINESVILLE, from
Messrs. Bailey and jackson, the adjust
ment Of the State debt was a matter
with which political parties had nothing
to do; that it was one of those specially
sacred questions involving faith, credit
and honor, which should not be befouled
in the miro of politics Such sentimen-
tai CANNON was not to have been ex-
pected from men who had filled Senate
rial seats, or, more properly speaking,
had sat in them. The settlement of
a public debt is but a question ofpublic
policy, iegitimately to be determined by
tie citizens of the State in their politi-
cal character. 1t is hedged about by no
political sanctity. Indeed, like all 9th
.er questions, it can only be discussed and
decided by the people in their political
capacity. When it became question,
itwas perfectly proper for the Republi-
can party to announce its position, and
it was equally SO for the Democratic
party. So far from being a matter
with which political organizations should
not NEEDLE, it was eminently high du-
ty of the Democratic party, confessedIy
the responsible political majority in the
State, to take vigorous hold upon it
with the view of settlement The bolt
ing leaders said this should not be done.
The Republican party, with the aid Of
fifteen or twenty Democrats, have set
tied it, said they, and in their AFRO
gance they arose and declared to the
Democratic masses of Tennessee:
+" Hands off, In our supreme wisdom
you are henceforth debarred from dis
cussing or intermeddling with the ques-
ton, and if you attempt to do so we will
SILVER the Democratic party to pieces,
and install the Republicans in control of
the State ("
Xhe more the spirit and object of the
bolt of 1882 is considered, the more
odious it appears and the greater the
condemnation it deserves. We speak
of it as the act of few men, for from
the first the masses of the Democratic
party have had no part or lot in it. IfI
it were not a plain fact, done in the
light of day, it would hardly be credited
that half dozen men could inspire a
following, however small, to spurn the
voice of a majority of their party on
single comparatively unimportant and
purely domestic question, and DELHI
erately set to work TO defeat and over
throw the party. reckless what might
become of the move important principles
and measures which make up the creed
and objects of the party organization.
For the palEy difference of ten cents in
the dollar ip the adjustment of debt,
those men, prating of principle, have
sought to disorganize the Democratic
party; to send Republican to the
United States Senate in place of Dem
ocrat; to place at risk twelve electoral
votes in the choice of the next President
Of the United States; to prolong Re-
publican ascendancy, with its long cata-
iogue of political iniquities, its central
'zing purposes, its encouragement of
monopolies, its prostitution of the civil
service, its sinful extravaganza and its
unblushing corruption. II
And this was professedly done in the
name and interest of the Democratic
party. What conditions of penance and !
what terms of probation should be i'm i
posed on the once trusted leaders who {
will persist in the attempt to elect Gov. :
and Republican Legislature 2 .
First, let them feel the indignation of !,
he Democratic party in an overwhelm- n
ng defeat of their object. After that, c
hagr;n and shame will work a whole y
ONE chastisement of the audacious d
reachery. Il