Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1882-08-26
GEN BATr DECLINES J0mT DISCUSSION


Senator Jackson in his great speech
here on the 9th of August, declared
that the positions OF the Readjuster
party as contained in their platform
of June 10Th, were 80 weak and so
indefensible when brought to, the
test of Joint debate before intelli-
gent audiences, that he WAS satisfied
and would there predict that Gen.
Bate would under some preteXt de-
cline to engage in joint discussion.
This prediction was made here in
the face of an audience of fully
eight hundred people, and fully ten
days before the issue Of the CORES
pondence between the chairmen of
the respective State committees was
known, and indeed before the final
refusal had occurred, by which Gen.
Bate III fulfillmcnt OF this predic-
ton, declined the proposition for Al
Joint debate. Those who heard this
bold prediction cannot have forgot
ten it, for it made a decided impres
sion upon all who heard it. Many
who knew of Gen. Bates sad fate
injoint debate, when i'll 1876 he
met Mr.. pettibOne and Gov. Foote
as an Cluctor for the State at large,
were prepared to expect that Gen.
Bate would at least desire eXemp-
tion from the severe test Of debate,
but knowing the high claims for
chivalry advanced for him, even
they were not prepared to see him
squarely decline the contest. The
petty quibbling OF Mr.. Ncrtrees,
and his abOrtive. attempts ut sar-
casm and wit by 10 means cover
the retreat of his candidate. His
efforts ut word play and his n.y.
per-critica criticism of the letters
of Gen. Jackson, and Col. Brown
low inviting the contest, were only
worthy of one who emulates the
fame tu be gained in assaults upon
the "fly speck points" of an indict-
mcnt. Doubtless Mr.. Ncrtrecs gave
pleasure TO few ,feeble-minded
thick and thin supporters, bat his
whole correspondence was unworthy
of the position he fills and the high
issues involved.
The Rcadjuster organs have been
at loss To know how to defend this
action. When Bate declined to
meet his three competitors for the
office he seeks, they with one voice
adopted the feeble excuse of Mr..
Ncrtrces, and said there was not
time for four candidates to be heard.
This excuse was no sooner urged
than its feeble efficacy was destroy
cd by the challenge of Mr.. Russell
to meet Mr.. Bate alone. There was
time enough for two 70 be heard,
and now new reason must be dis
covered. This case was met by the
announcement that Gen. Bate
would meet no one but Mr.. Haw-
kins. They well knew that Mr..
Hawkins recognized that he had
three competitors, al d that each
of them stood for separate and dis
tinct ideas and platforms, and that
his position required him To meet
and antagOnize each of them. They
knew also that he had proposed To
each of his competitors joint dis
cuSSion, and that ut least two of
these competitors had confidence
enough in the principles they repre-
scented TO dare the issue of debate,
and that they had accepted Il propo-
Sitiun for Il conference of the chair
men OF their respective State COM
mittccS TO arrange such joint discus
sion. knowing this, Mr.. Nertrecs
could well afford To propose de
bate between Gov. Hawkins and
Gen. Bate, for he we'll knew that it
could not be accepted. Now ii is
said by the hurdy-gurdy organs
that Gen. Bate cannot afford To meet
Mr. Fllssell because he is bolter."
Two wears ago Mr.. Wilson was II
hotter and the mass Of the men now
aunporting Gen. Bale were boilers
Con John ". Wright was the reg
Mar nominee, but he made no such
excases and met Mr.. Wilson in de-
bate.
Trnth need never fear debate.
r,,ora were then and there are now
- difTarences between the two
zines of the party. Both cannot
"ie ~ tbc State Credit Dem