The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1882-10-11
Mr. Beaeiey, creenbackism
and Low-taxisn.

<
ciples. that vote for the so-callec
Greenback candidate for Governor II
this election is merely vote thrown
away 1t is not necessary to set forth
refutution- of thsst 6nanciaF theory II
prove that proposition. However tru
it may be, it is now everywhere an alb
straction only, and is supported by nj
/ organization in any State sufficient il
numbers to give the iaintest hope i
can prevail practically. ehave mucl
respect for the mass of the individual
who entertain that view, but it must b
obvious to them that an organization t.
propagate it is only maintained by I
few selfseeking leaders in a number O
States to enable them 10 hang on thu
tanks of the two great parties here ane
there, and secure occasionally seat IL
Congress. In the nature of things, they
ought to be able to see indeed that po
litical party potential enough to effect
anything cannot be formed on single
idea, however plausible or sound it may
be; and that, in the present generally
prosperous condition of the country, a
complete revolution in the financial sys-
tenn is utterly impracticable.
Mr.. Beasley is not candidate with
any expectation or intention of aiding
in any degree the adoption of such
principles. The fact is, four or five
years ago, when discussion of change
in the currency system was practical,
no one ever heard of him as an advo-
cate of the Greenback theory. Not I'M
til this spring did any one know he was
SO attached to that doctrine. He is
about the newest member of the party,
if it may be SO described, we know of.
His conversion was as sudden as SauPs
in the journey to Damascus, but it was
not at all miraculous. 1t was simply
wrought by the prospect of being nomi-
mated in formal way as a candidate
for Governor. He never expected to
be elected, and probably does pot care
to be. 1t is enough for Mr., Beasley to
enjoy the privilege and dignity of hay
ing an audience to hear him in the robes
of a candidate. A vote for him by a
sincere believer in Greenback views is a.
farce.
Mr.. Beasley poses, however, on anoth-
or issue, which, in the present attitude
of the State debt question, is as devoid
of anything practical as his solicitation
of support as a Greenbacker. He has,
it is true, been consistent to some extent
as an opponent of high-tax views on
that subject, but his candidacy pow is
directly IN the interest of such views.
He processes to be an opponent of the
60-3-4-5-6 adjustment, but every Demo
cratic vote that may be thoughtlessly
cast for him will, to that extent, be a
support of that measure. The great OBJ
ject of every Democrat who is in SYM
patty. with the position occupied by
Mr.. Wilson two years ago, who was then
supported by Mr.. Beasley, is the defeat
of the present adjustment. Mr.. Wilson
himself is making a campaign over the
State advising his former followers to
support the regular Democratic candi-
date-General Bate-in order to accom-
plish that object. Whatever position
Mr. Beasley may claim to hold now as
to the railroad ingredient of the public
debt, and consistent as he may boast
himself to be in regard to it, the tenden-
cy and object of his candidacy and the
certain effect of it, if there was any pos
sibility of his getting votes enough,
would be to settle the railroad debt at
sixty cents in the dollar. Noone knows
that better than Mr.. John r. Beasley
himself.
The gist of the whole matter as to his
candidacy is simply this Every vote
cast for him as Greenbacker is abso-
lutely thrown away. 1t does not even
amount to an appeal in behalf of the
truth of that theory. Every vote cast
for him as low-tax Democrat is half a
vote for high-tax Republican. mi
fact, vote for him on any ground will
be thoroughly wasted. He will not OBJ
tain votes enough to save Greenbackism
from being made ridiculous by his pitt
full weakness, or do any material dam
age to Democracy, or be of any-service
TO Republicanism, His candidacy is
certainly the most stupid, unmitigated
and universal fraud ever exhibited in al
political contest.
Judge r. l. Caruthers died at. his
in Lebanon, on the I'd inst,
lged 50 years. He was lately professor
# law in the Cumberland University i