The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1882-09-07
The Convention

a
nomination. 1t ought to have made
one, but we do not think it was pos
sible for it do so. The delegates
were so firmly fixed in their opin-
ions and prejudices neither side
would yield an inch lest the other
side would gain an advantage. No
outside person could have been
chosen, because each side declared
that the other should not be nomi-
mated and they were afraid to loos-
en- their hold. Whitthorne and
Cox were almost evenly divided
and there was no power that could
shake the determination of either
faction or call them to the support
of any outside man. These gentle
men themselves have been severely
criticized for not yielding to the in
evitahle and retiring so that a nom
nation could be made. They had
right to stand as firmly as they did,
but the party had right to ignore
men. The party is not dependent
upon any one man or any dozen
men. and when they stand in the
way of its progress or disturb its
harmony it should pass them by
and go on with its work. Gen.
Whitthorne and Col. Cox are both
good democrats and worthy the
high Office they covet, but demo
cratic harmony is more to desired
than any mans preferment. 1t is
our opinion that the factions have
become so embittered that they can
never agree as between these two
gentlemen. We do not write this as
opposing either or both, bat simply
to state fact so that the party may
be prepared for it. If Giles coun-
ty could have united upon either
one of her citizens a nomination
might have ensued. Giles ought
to unite one time in her history.
The convention will reassemble in
Pulaski on Tuesday, Sep. n, with
new delegates appointed under the
new order of things, and the
chances are that the deadlock will
be broken. The proceedings of the
Columbia convention show the eff
forts that were made for harmony
and the action of the candidates
themselves, and the reader may draw
his. own differences as to who was to
blame, if any one was, and from
this he may form an opinion as to
what it is best to do next time. We
shall not condemn any one, but as a
democrat and journalist, assum-
| ing in limited way to care for the
interests of the party and assist in
suggesting ways and means for its
success, we demand of the coming
convention a nominee. If nomi-
nation is prevented and either or
both these gentlemen run for the
office, there is a strong probability
that some other person who might
be easily named will be elected.
We call upon democrats to forego
prejudice and be ready to relinquish
preferences if the occasion demands
it. On Saturday, Sep. %, the pri-
maries are to be held, and every
democrat in Giles county should at
tend and let his wishes be known,
1t is duty especially pressing at
this critical juncture.
A pamphlet on the estate debt
proper and the railroad debt re
Gently published by the democratic
state executive committee, is a lu-
cid history and classification OF
Tennessee's bonded Indebtedness,
and, with its comparative statement
- 49, $4,000 GO no paid according
to the different platforms, will prove
an effective instrument in exposing
the fallacy of the figures of Russell
and Hawkins and their hackers
Among q variety of instructive read
ing the pamphlet presents the fig
ures cited below To accept both
the majority and minority reports
of the Wilson, lapp Legislative
committee in 1S79--the amount o.
the bonds issued by the state to the
Bank of Tennessee, the Union
Bank, turnpike companies, the agri
cultural bureau, the Tennessee &
Georgia, Hiawasse and Memphis
& LAGRANGE railroad companie:
and the capitol and Hermitage
bonds-or, in other words, the orig
inal amount OF the state debt proper
lis 5000, 416.66. OF this 81, OO4
266.66 have been cancelled, leaving
a balance of 1915, $50. The lat
ter sum is, then, the real amount o.
the state debt proper. of which Sc
many conflicting estimates have
been made and which, with its in
terest and the bonds held by Mrs
Jas. K. Polk and by charitable anC
educational institutions-in al
| SO, 573, 416.81-the Bate platform
proposes to pay in full. Deduct
from this the war interest on the
state debt proper 1915, 60S.17, anC
then add $12,7S0,S 7S.71, 80 PEE
cent. of the railroad debt with in
terest, and you have 1888, 6S7, 81
which amount the democratic plat
form recommends shall be funded a
3 per cent. The amount now paya
BILE under the 60-3-4-5-6 act is $17
72S,704.55. In thirty years the
Bate platform would pay $32,479,
967.33 and the Fussen-Hawkins
platform, that is the COG, $4S,61S,
1877. The difference, $16,13S,
1854, in favor of the democratic
platform is equal to an annual av-
erage of $537, 92S.S6. What say
the taxpayers of Tennessee to
this2