Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1882-09-07
THE GUBERNATORIAL CANVASS.
Governor Hawkins, Capt. j. Ill. FusseIl
and Hon. j. Il. Beasley
Address, the Citizens of Knoxville, at the
Opera-House.
y Large and Respectful Attendance and
Faithful Hearing.

\ Large and Respectful Attendance and
Faithful Hearing.
Three of Tennessee's candidates for Gov
ernor, Hon. Alvin Hawkins, Republican,
Capt. Joe H. Russell, State credit
Democrat, and Hon. j. r. Beasley,
low tax Greenbacker, addressed
the people at Staub's Opera-house Tues
day. Governor Hawkins was met with
a carriage at his hotel, the Hattie House, by
Mr.. j. II. Swan, chairman of the county
executive committee, Judge George An
drews and Hon. o. p. Temple, and escort
ed to the Opera-house, preceded by the new
eornet band, discoursing music. Captain
Fussen was escorted by his friends from his
hotel the Lamar House. About l
o'clock large crowd of
voters was gathered in the Opera
house, and after music by the band, Gov
ernor Hawkins appeared and addressed the
people in substance as follows:
FELLOW CITIZENS OF THE COUNTY OF KNOX:
1t affords me a great deal of pleasure to
meet with so large portion of the people,
and having an opportunity of discussing
some of the questions which are agitatlng
| the public mind. He was happy In believing
that this Is free country, where
every citizen, white or black rich or poor,
Is the peer of every other man; the same
government protects alike all of US. He
came before them d free man, to address
them as such, appealing to their intelligence,
patriotism and good sense. He came for
the purpose of presenting the principles
advocated by the Republican party. He
appealed to them to L, ason together we
have common interest, common destiny,
and must hive or die together
rise or fall together lie dld
/ not address them as men wearing collars
about their necks, or followers of any par
tlsan boss and master. Since he had en-
/ tered tins canvass great issues have sprung
/ up. Ii matters not to the masses VINO Is
/ Governor; what we want Is good govern
ment, that viii protect the peoples inter
estS He had heard all along the line OF the
! canvass of d studied. wllful and deliberate
/ effort to keep the people away from the
Speaking, but 1t had tailed lie found
hand buis distributed at Newport, advising
/ Democrats to give the Candidates the cold
shoulder. He produced and read one of the
| bills.
tie had been Governor of the State for
| nearly two years, and comes before the peo-
| pie To give AN account of his ste wardshIp.
| by way of explanation, he said ms commit
tee had met the other committees and ar
ranged a list Of appointments, but General
| bate, through his committee, refused TO en-
ter the joint discussion, and now, since that,
| he had mace list of appointments
/ himself, and advertised all over
the country, inviting hlm (the speaker to
meet him, try1ng to make capital out OF It.
But the people are Intelligent, Will not be
deceived, and will do the right when they
know ii. The speaker is willing that they
shall hear all sides. Who's afraid to be
heard Those whose deeds are evil
His competitors with MIN, he said, are in
the habit of denouncing the Republican
party III unmeasured terms, saying 1t is un-
! worthy OF confidence, and has outllVed Its
Usefulness. lie desired to call attention
briefly TO the history of that grand old
party, how ii came INTO power III st rmy
and perilous times, but was content to pur-
sue The even tenor of Its way, looking for
ward to the accomplishment of It's grand
ends, and now, after nearly a quarter of a
century, it has made its record-the princi-
pal points of which were briefly recounted
by the speaker-and upon this record the
party proposes to submit its claims TO the suf
trages OF the people.
Ihe speaker Is charged by one of his
competitors with being run in the interest
OF the bOudholders. He never owned d bond
IL his life, IS only an humble taxpayer, and
a small one at that. He takes 1t that these
are thinking and intelligent people. He
desired TO return thanks for the hIgn hon
ors conferred by the people upon him in
the past, and was here to
say that he has faithfully re-
deemed every promise made to the
people; ready TO vindicate every act. At
TINS juncture there was some slight inter
ruptop and 'hurrahing for Bate" in the
back part of the audience. The speaker
said Just let them alone; if there are any
here who wear the collars of those who
think they are masters and bosses, let them
have their way.
Various questions, he said are thrown into
this canvass. He was surprised that the
State debt question is involved, as that
has been settled but it confronts US. The
speaker, however, relies on the Intelligence,
integrity and honesty of the people. He
admits and recognizes that the masses are
honest and will do the right when they see
II. On the debt question, he called atten-
ton TO the platforms of Wright and Wilson
in 1850, when it was discussed ON every
stump aud by every tiresde He had ex-
amined the records and finds that
more than 1900 citizens of Knox Coun
ty voted for Judge Wright on
the State credit platform. He iirst wished
to call att ntion to the Republican platform
of 1880, on which he stood, and the doc
trines of which he advocated and was elect
ed, receiving, in round numbers, l03 0O0
votes, cast by the free men of Tennessee.
He also read from Judge Wrights platform,
assei tlng opposition to Reputation, and
acknowledging the validity of the debt. He
asked if the Democrats of Knox
County stand ON the same plat
form now. The platform which the
stands now is substantially the same OF
1880, and 1t was substantially the same as
was endorsed by about $4,000 Democrats,
leaving only about 90, 900 votes altogether,
opposed to it at that time. He briefly stated
the facts about the 1908 settlement aud
subsequent defeat by the Supreme Court;
the submission of the 606 proposition by
the bondholders, and the conference with
them of a Legislative committee of Demo
Gratis and Republicans, when 1t was modified
to 3, 4, 5 and 6;..was then passed bya ma
jority of the Legislature. Thus the bonded
debt of the State was settled, and he was
surprised to have to meet 1t again.
His friend Beasley, he said, will show
what he calls railroad bond, but there is
no evidence of that fact. It, regularity AZ
a State bond could be pointed out in every
: particular, but Beasley would say that's
{ ''mere FORM The bond was issued undel
authority and sanction of law, and the
, honor, faith and credit of the State are
\ pledged to meet its payment
Z, But they call the proposition to settle the
t debt your offer" Neither The Republican
: party nor the State credit Democracy mad,
, any offer. The creditors made the propo
sition, and 1t was accepted and adopted b,
D the Legislature, and we must accept it, O.
repudiate the debt. He appealed to tn,
honor of all Tennesseeans, who have neve
shirked a duty, wheresoever called
and never will do it. The settlemen
a was made on proposition that saved owe
twelve million dollars. Now will the peopl
! of Tennessee repudiate that settlement
We have heard good about the 50-4 meas