Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1882-07-01
THE CHRONICLE AND READJUsr,SG.


THE CHRONICLE AND READJUSTIEG.
The CHRONICLE has from the very
beginning, maintained but one view
concerning the public debt of Ten
nessee, and that view as time and
time stated, was and is, that the
State was legally and morally bound
to pay every dollar Of our bonded
debt. We have at ali times insist
ed that she was entirely able to re-
sumo and continue the payment of
interest upon our debt, and that the
good name as well as the true ma
terial interests of the State pointed
out such payment as not only the
honest, but the wisest course.
We have constantly maintained
that inasmuch as the friends of the
credit of the State, were in no wise
responsible for the condition of at
fairs which had forced our creditors
to see that they could not induce
the full payment of their demands,
and to propose an abatement and
compromise; that it was altogether
right and just to endeavOr to aid in
securing the acceptance of any prop
OsitiOn coming from them. But
we have also steadily maintained
that the State could not consist
emily with her dignity, power
and credit chafer with, or dictate
terms to them. If a creditor be
batfled by his debtor and payment
of his demand unjustly refused, the
creditor may propose terms of set
Element in order that he may at
least obtain part of that which is
justly due. Insuch case the friends
of the debtor who have before eX-
hausted their influence to induce
him TO pay all of the demand they
deemed just, may now hOnOrably
say, "we cannot approve your con-
duct in having trifled with your
honor, your credit and your best in
terests, by the unjust refusal to pay
that which all enlightened and just
men thought due from you, but in
asmuch as you have taken this
course, and the creditor is without
any legal remedy, we now advise
you to accept the terms offered you
by your creditor, inasmuch as they
cOncede every possible equity that
the most partial friend could sug-
gest, and while such settlement will
not fully reinstate your credit and
integrity, yet by accepting the lib
eral terms offered, you will have an
end to this lodging of cOnstables
and at least partially re-instate
yourself"
Such is the course of Tennessee
and her creditors and such has been
the advice of the CHRONICLE to this
debtor State. We are now urged
to change the tone of advice and
say to the debtor: "You have been
able to beat the creditor out of 40
per cent. of his claims by the course
you have pursued, now, although
we believe you have acted the ras-
cal in this whole matter, and that
you not only owed all your creditor
claimed, but were able to pay it,
yet we advise you to reject the
proposition made you, although it
is liberal and fair, and offer him
another 50 harsh that you may be
sure he won't take it, and when he
docs reject it you can then say /:
well you can't make anything out
of me and if you don't take what i
have offered, you can just go to the
DEVIL"
This is our Interpretation of the
action of the late Readjusting Con-
vcntion. We cannot as a matter of
conscience and consistent dealing,
change the course we have before
advocated and in effect give our
readers the advice we deem to be
contained in the platform of that
Convention.
Consistency of conduct and opin-
ion in matters involving principle,
is always expected in men of hon
or. To see n man crawling from
one position to another, following
the crowd, when the change OF base
involves questions of principle, is
by all regarded as contemplate.
This paper has always, and will
continue, to respect the honest opin-
ions of its readers, and will endeav-
or not to wound opinions so held,
although they may differ from
those advocated IN these columns.
We do not doubt but that many of
our readers may find it consistent
with their ideas of right and of par
Is policy to abandon opinions they
have once held about this debt ques-
ton and support the forced read
iustment proposed by the late Con-
yentiOn. If they can do so without
scruples of conscience, we shall
make no quarrel with them, but on
the other hand, we beg the indul-
gence of our patrons if we shall
stand by the old lines so forcibly sci
out in former Democratic platforms,
that taught the honest lesson that
the creditors of the State had rights
and that his rights ought not to be
effected without at least, giving
him a hearing. Upon these grouhd>
and many Others, CHIEF among
which is the self-ecideit and dd"'a
ted fact, that that class OF our cred
itors with whom a settlements ~