Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1882-09-02
NO. 2,43S.
"Tbe Platform.

Under the above heading we clip
the following from the Upper Cum
beFland, published ut Gainesboro,
Jackson county:
sin hoisting the name of General
Bate to our mast head for Governor,
we reserve the right TO criticise the
platform on which he stands. We
have been taken to task for this by
some of our friends and challenged
to show its unsoundness. This is
an easy task and we propose to fear
lessly perform it.
sin the first place, passing over
the rather egOtistical assumptions
found in the first section, said sec
ton concludes with the declaration
in regard to the debt of the State,
"it is equally their duty to settle It's
Indebtedness" This is inconsistent
with that part of the third section
which proposes to repudia,e the in
terest on the State debt proper accu-
mulated during the war. 1t can
hardly be claimed that the duty"
assumed by the party in the first
section of SETTLING the debt" is met
by this proposition in the third, TO
strike out the interest upon that
part of the debt (which has never
been disputed by any portion of our
party" and which ave consider a
valid and sacred obligation of the
State" The plain English of il is
to repudiate the war interest on this
sacred debt. We say this is not
only inconsistent with the above
quoted declaration in the first sec
ton, but that it is not true Democ.
racy and is not right. The innocent
holders of these bonds that built our
capitol and paid for the home of
Jackson, had nothing to do with
the war or its results. They are en-
titled to their interest during that
period the same as any part of their
debt.
''We further object to the third
section because il places the twen-
ty-nine bonds held by the widow of
President Polk and those held by
literary and charitable institutions
upon a higher plane than even the
sacred debt, proposing TO pay them
in full without even the deduction
of war interest. We do not object
to this proposed payment, but to
the injustice of the principle an
uounced. We reverence and honor
the venerable relict of Tennessee's
noble President, and believe in
cherishing institutions of learning
and encouraging the good work of
charity in our land, but we must be
Just before we are generous. i.
"Our Constitution forbids class
legislation. In this land of liberty
all men are born free and equal,
privileges under the law. The hold
ers of the bonds issued to build our
proud Capitol have as much right
to war interest us Mrs. Polk or Mrs.
else. The poor who have
their all invested in a State bond, if
there be any such, have as much
right to "pay in FULL" interest and
all, as this good, old lady who lives
IN luxury and draws pension of
So, 900 year from the General Gov
ernment.
"We have other objections to the
platform which we reserve the right
to point out in the future if we see
proper. But these Will suffice for
the present. We offer them in no
spirit of captiousness, but as our
solemn convictions, with an earnest
desire to aid in preserving true De-
mocracy in Tennessee. False is he,
not only to party, but to country,
who fails to raise his wraning voice
against unsound principles Of gov
ernment, no difference from what
source they come"