Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-04-28
MEMPHIS APPEAL
FRIDAY, APRIL IS. 1852
AN ExPENsIvE FARCE.

Inc Legislature OF Tennessee was convened
IN extraordinary session yesterday by the
proclamation Of Governor Hawkins, to con-
slider the proposition of the bondholders to
settle the State debt at 6O.4, ;, 6. This call
of the Legislature, and attempt to settle the
State debt on the proposed basis, is nothing
but strategic movement inspired by
Governor Hawkins and the Republican
party, with the hope of again dividing the
Democratic party. A few weeks since the
Republicans of Tennessee and their Demo
cratic allies sswore by everything sacred
and profane that they intended to
make the sissae on the 1908 bill; that
any compromise less than dollar for
dollar, would be fragrant, downright re-
pudistioa; but now, all Of a sudden, they
propose to scale the debt forty cents on the
dollar, and still twaddle about pl GIFTED faith,
State honor and the infamy of reputation.
This new proposition, made at this late day,
Is intended as a frebrand to divide the
Democratic party. With the history of the
1908 iniquity before them, the people have
no confidence in the present Legislature
1t is true Barrett has ceased to be
meuber, but the impression obtains that
still other Barretts remain, and any
settlement it may make will not be worth
the paper upon which it is written. The
Republicans and the State-credit Democrats
have come down TO sixty cents; the low
takers have gone up TO fifty cents. So it
seems that all are regulators, and that there
Is a difference Of only ten cents as to the
amount TO be repudiated. We understand
that the roll has been called, and that by
actual count it has been discovered that the
new proposition which the Legislature hiss
been called together to consider can be carried
even without the aid of Barrett, and that
the measure will be hastily rushed through
both houses. What a farce to be en-
acted at the expense of the taxpaying
people 1t will no doubt be a sublime spec
tscle to see the members of the Legislature |
marching up the hill then marching down
again; but $4,000 or $4,000 ia big price |
to pay for such luxury The 1908 iniquity !
has cost the people $4,000, and it seems |
still more is to be wasted for the purpose of |
aiding in the election of Republican gov
ernor. A portion of the bondholders have |
agreed to accept sixty cents on the dollar, |
but three years ago portion accepted the |
50-4 proposition and spent money to secure
Its adoption by the people. The advice OF |
the APREAI.sis to wait, for in a short time |
there wiltnot be sign of division in the Dem
ocraiic1anks, and the party will move for
ward from darkness to light. The new
proposition which the people are taxed to
consi Ter is firebrand thrown into the Dem
ocratic party with the view of creating new I
divisiunzaud perpetuating Republican rule |
in Tennessee, and the man who cannot see |
this is ohstinately blind to all that is going |
on around him. Hawkins knows that his |
only hope of a reelection is a disunited |
Democratic party. On this he is relying, |
and hence he eonyenes the legislature in |
extra session at the expense of the |
Democratic party, which pays most of |
the taxes that supports the State gov
eminent. The Democracy of Tennessee is
surely too shrewd to walk into the parlor
which this Republican spider has invited |
them. If there was ever time in the his
tory of the Democrats of Tennessee when it |
behooves them to set aside all divisions, to |
ignore all differences, and to stand solid as a |
rock, that time is now at hand. They can /
not afford TO divide their strength. They
must stand firm as the everlasting hills; be
ready TO move as an army with banners flying
after the next State convention. Divided, the
Democracy of Tennessee is sure of defeat;
united, it is as certain of success. By en-
couraging reputation in Virginia, the Re
publicans have secured a majority in the
United States Senate, and with the hope of
slactins 4 governor and United States sena-
tor they make nov proposition to the Ten
nessee Legislature repudiating forty cents
on the dollar of the State debt, and would
propose to Espudiate the whole debt to Sc
cure power. The probabilities are that the
Democrats will see the Republican PROPOSE
tion to repudiate forty cents OF the State debt
and go ten cents more, and as the Democrats
pay most of the State taxes by which the
debt is to be paid, they ought to have con-
trolling voice as to the amount to be paid.