Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-03-30
gAsT TnxaksaEE,
C6nseftative Views OF state
Credit Democrats.
Cor. ohattanOOsa Times.l

Cor. Chattanooga Iimee.l
KNOXVILLE, March 2l.-If Major
0'Conner is correct in the opinion he
gives of the ultimatum of the bond,
holders, will it not put new phase
upon the adjustment of the State debt
He says, if the papers report him
properly, that they will demand 100. 3
and perhaps 1905. Allowing that he
is not mistaken, what then? Will il
not weaken the position of the Stat,
credit men, at least many OF them
and cause them to lower the standard
of settlement? Such result, in the
opinion ofyour correspondent, may b.
regarded as a fixed fact. The bond
holders cannot afford to be too arbi-
trary and exaeting with this class o.
our fellow. citizens. who have, in these
years, stood in the breach aud fought
their battles. They should not for.
get this. Let them see to it that they
do not drive of hundreds, perhaps
thousands, of their best friends BY
their unyielding demands, If the low
and high tax factions should strike
hands, as events now indicate they
will, it will be impossible to reach any.
thing like 1908 or 100 6 in the settle.
'ment OF the debt. The Republicans
and a few ultra State credit Democrats
may combine to effect such settle.
ment, but will be powerless in the face
of the other combination to consum.
mate it. Itwers we'll to talk plainly
on this vexed question.
You are aware that Knoxville and
East Tennessee have always been re
garded as the stronghold of State
credit. Our people have stood firm
and demanded fair and honorable
settlement with the bondholders.
They have never doged an inch nor
flickered the least in the hour of
battle. There is now a reaction set
ting in-the current is changing and |
should not be surprised, especially if
Major O'Conner is correct, if there is
a sudden reversion OF public sentiment
touching the matter.
Straws show which way the wind
blows. Every day this old adage is
illustrated in my intercourse with GER
tain men. No longer than yesterday
| had an interview with Thomas i.
Williams, Esq, on this subject, a
prominent Democrat of this city, and
who ran against Houk for seat in
Congress she last race. He had no
reluctance in averring that he was
first for uniting and sOlidifying the
Democratic party at all hazards, that
the safety and success of this great par
ty depended upon the cohesion Of the
shattered elements, working together
as one man. He could not and would
not tolerate the idea Of uniting with
the Republican party and thus con.
tinue it in power The Democratic
party, he thought, was competent and
honest enough to manage the debt
question, and that all the gush of the
Republican party on the subject was a
piece Of hypocricy-a palpable dis
guise through which it hoped toretain
its hold upon the State.
Mr.. Williams further said that he
was now unalterably in favor of 80 4
and would never consent to make
higher concession. He had not thought
much about the so 3 proposition put
forth recently by the Memphis meet.
ing, but gave your correspondent TO
understand, if | understood him cor
rectly, that il the Democratic party
could be united upon it he would IA
vor it. His views, boiled down, we're
to the idea already sug
gested, that the Democratic party
must come together and let the debt
question take care Of itself. This. Mr..
Editor, is the feeling of nine-tenths of
the Democrats of Knoxville. They
spurn the idea Of going over to the
Republicans in any shape or form and
when they 90 into the Democratic
Convention soon to assemble in Nash
vile. they will sacrifice all personal
considerations in order to keep the
Democratic party intact
ALoNzo DANTE.