Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1882-11-04
Democracy.
ADDR EsS OF THE CENTRAL COM
MITTEE OF TIE DEMO
CRATIC PARTY Of
TENNESSEE.

Fellow Democrats:
AS the end draws near we are
proud to proclaim that the Democ-
racy of Tennes see is maintaining
with an unwavering column the
frantic assaults of the Readjusters.
While here and there man has
yielded to the domination of the
"bosses," we are gratified to know
that their example has excited no
sentiment but pity, and our ranks
have been constantly strengthened
by the accession of those who are
repealed by the A'rule or ruin" pol
icy of the Readjusters, and that
authentic Interpretation of their
platform by their candidate, who
says IF you elect me Governor of
Tennessee on the Democratic plat
form adopted i'm Nashville in June
last, will fold my arms when the
b0ndhOlder comes and tell him he
must take sos, and il he refuses, i
will let his bonds mould and rot"
Our information proceeding from
reliable sources is that Mr.. Fussell's
strength has steadily increased from
the time of his nomination down to
this good hour, and the causes
which have produced this result
will continue to operate with like
success TO the very end for they
are the principles of truth, justice
and honesty, working upon the
intelligence and conscience of true
men endowed with all the attributes
that fit them. for the patriotic dis
charge OF their high duty as citizens
of sovereign State.
If MeSsrs. Beasley and Russell
had, as the ReaG usters say in their
address, in August only $1,000
votes, and are losing at the rate OF
1000 per month, and if Gen. Bate
can spare 81 900 and yet "be elected
with ease" is it not strange that the
Readjusters are keeping up such a
fusillade OF campaign oratory from
scores. of speakers all over the State
and that their committee makes
such a desperate appeal for "pre-
serving the organization? Their
prediction of the future, based on
the statement that sin the past
without exception, men have raj
lied to the nominee as the election
grew near" is false in an implied
N4Su. odSC 10 bhC
'tnominee" of the Democratic party.
The organization masquerading
under the name of Democracy for
feited the title to that name when
it took on the political iniquity of
Readjusterism, with which true
Democracy cannot co-exist. In the
Cheatham-Johnson contest the
struggle was one between men on
ly, both of whom prOfessed the
same Democratic principles. In
the Wilson-Wright contest the
people did rally to that candidate
who was the nominee of the Demo
cratic party upon Democratic
platform. In the first instance no
party principle was involved and
they stood by the party organiza-
ton. In the second they rallied to
the organization when great
struggle for principle was going on
and the principles OF justice and
true men will support that candi-
date who represents in 1882 the
Democracy which they sustained in
1880. They will not supinely sur
render the triumphs of that victory
won over those who advocated a
policy destructive to the best in
terests of the State. The declara-
ton of the committee that a vote
for Mr.. Russell sis simply thrown
away" is not surprising when COM
ing from a faction which has
reached that stage of political de-
generacy, that -unblushingly and
with self-gratulation, deies the
opinion of the world, and prOclaims
doctrines that are odious to every
disinterested and enlightened man.
They think vote is thrown away
because it is not cast for one or the
other of two candidates whom they
please to say, alone stand any
chance of election. If it were true
that Mr.. Russell had no chance of
election, that would be no reason
for Democrat to sacrifice cOnVic-
tons, which form part of that NOR
ale upon which his self-respect is
founded and help to forge the IN
strument which is to effect results
which are disgraceful in themselves
and are injurious to the prosperity
and honor of his State.
Neither Gen. Bate nor Mr..
Hawkins represent our Democracy
and if Mr.. Hawkins be elected the
responsibility will rest upon those
who seduced by lust for Office and
goaded by an ambition that stifled
their patriotism, by violence, pro-
famed the temple of Democracy,
falsified its oracles and turned their
ancient purity into words of shame
and dishonor, and promulgated doc
trines inimical to the good of the
people. Let every man do his |
duty conscientiously and leave the |
responsibility to those who ought |
to bear it. The recklessness and
arrogance of the Readjusters as
manifested in their political creed
on the pledge TO perpetrate a shame
full wrong.
Their committee says ''The DEM
ocrats of Tennessee-the men who |
made her what she is and gave her |
what she has-are not only the GUS
todians of her honor. but as free
men the final and ultimate judges
of all questions affecting that honor
themselves"
Does the committee seriously as
Sert that those who are the Demo-
Gratis of Tennessee to-day, made her
what she is, and gave her what she
hasP If so, the assertion is too
puerile to attract the attention of
any man, but one whose knowledge
is bounded by the retrospect of one
generation. Does it mean that
Democracy alone has made Tennes-
see what she is, and given her
what she has? AS proud as we
are of the glorious history of our
party, we cannot arrOgate to it the
credit for all the triumphs of the
past, and rob the gallant Wings of
their historic fame. We will not
emulate the Readjusters in that
zeal which would raze
from the roll of those who have
made Tennessee what she is the
names of White, Cannon, Bell,
Campbell, Jones, Gentry, Brown, 1
Heiskell and Henry. -
We deny the assertion that the
of Tennessee are 'sthe
final and ultimate judges of all
questions affecting the honor" of
the State. A dominant party may
have to take the responsibility of
deciding upon measures affecting
the States honor, and having the
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