Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1882-06-17
wHAT WILL THE DEMOCRATIC coRvEE
TON DO?


Nashville. We speak of a repre-
sentative body and for the reason
that the Democratic party is COM
posed of the intelligent taxpayers
of every profession and of every oc-
cupation. In East Tennessee, the
white people are fairly divided. A
majority of them are probably Re-
publican. But in Middle and West
Tennessee where more than three
fourths of our people live, everybody
knows that the population, among
whom are to be found our farmers,
mechanics, artizans of every kind,
our merchants, lawyers, physicians,
divines, are almost without exception
Democrats. 1t is true that some
estimable gentlemen, who have the
confidence of the communities in
which they live, whose integrity
and patriotism cannot be ques-
toned, belong to the Republican
party, but they will concede
without hesitation that the great,
the overwhelming majority of
taxpayers and of useful men are
Democrats.
This fact makes the position and
the future action of the Democrats
of greater significance, and imposes
upon the party to which they be-
long the gravest responsibilities.
We are confronted with the ques-
tion: What shall be done with re-
gard to our State debt? For years
this question has been the subject of
angry discussion, aud in 1880 our
disputes resulted in an organized
opposition to the regular Democrat
ic candidates. The result was the
election of a Republican for Gov
ernor and had nearly succeeded in
bringing i'm a Republican Legisla-
ture.
This fact seems to have brought
the Democracy to consider its posi-
ton, and a laudable effort has been
made to bring about harmOni-
Gus action among them. But
what has melted them to settle
their differences ? Nothing but the
apprehension of a complete Repub-
lican triumph, and the wrestling of
the State of Tennessee from the
Democratic party. In view of the
vast importance of establishing the
doctrines of local self-government
and breaking down the tendency
towards the Capitalization of Fed
eraI power, the alarm felt by our
people is natural-nay more it is
proper.
But can the desired object be ac-
complished in the way proposed by
some of our impatient friends? Can
Democracy succeed if it shall throw
off every restraint and set itself up
in opposition TO law, to regular or
der and to the sentiments of the age
in which we live? Can il succeed
by acts of positive injustice, by acts
that will not find defenders in any
part of the civilized world? Can il
succeed by undertaking to do what
is now suggested, viz, by repudiat
ing obligations that every sensible
well-infOrmed man knows rest up
on us? Suppose that in the coming
canvass the effort to readjust wha
is now settled shall secure the APP
approval of majority of the voters
does not every man know that the
question will come up again two
years hence, and indeed in every
future election for twenty years t.
come to harass and veX us. Blu
will the effort succeed? ? we say un
hesitatingly, no. There is mora
sense among our people that cannO
be ignored. Politicians and place
men may imagine that they can de
as they will, and venture upon any
experiments in the interests of par
ty, they may, and no doubt do, be
lieve that the sturdy, strong men o
Tennessee, remembering the excess
es, and arbitrary conduct of tn,
Republicans i'm The days OF recon
structiOn, will sacrifice any an'
every principle of government ant
take every risk in order to proven
the election of a Republican Gov
ernor and Legislature. But tn,
times have changed, and we hav,
changed with them. The peopl
have become accustomed to Repub
lican rule. 1t has continued with
out a single break in National al
fairs since 1865. The people hav
lived under it, many of them hav
prospered, many have been ruine'
by its policies. They believe tina
their true interests demand chang
and many for that reason wish f
align the Democracy of Tennessee
with the Democracy of the Union
and thereby secure the hearty sup
port of the thousands in the North
where the bulk of the population
found, and capture the very citade
of Republican strength.
Many other good Democrats tn
best among us, the mainstay il
fact of the party, the men VIII
in every department of bushes
and social life uphold and main
) tain law and order. and are tn
handspring of every enterprise
believe that there should be n
tampering with the good name
character and credit of the State
They believe that we have los
thousands of population, million
) of wealth, and in Il hundred othe
ways have suffered by the unwis
quetioning of the obligations of tn
State. They believe that In
growth of the State has been retard
ed by the foolish declarations c
public men to the effect that we ar
too poor to pay our debts. They re
: gard with satisfaction the effoI
an