Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-09-20
THE DEMOCRATIC TICKET.
Marks and Jackson.

State debt question, and to make a
special plea in behalf Of the COG act,
which was the pet measure, if not the
progeny, Of his friend, ROderick Ran
dom Butler. The majority of the
reading, thinking, grown-up people OF
Memphis knew more about this ques-
ton five years ago than he seems to
know now. 1t is light in a new
light, which fell at the feet of
this modern Saul Of Tausus since the
June Convention when he was in
favor of tenderingth bondholder5O-4
The jackson Tribune and Sun OF the
18th publishes his letter to Governor
Marks, endorsing his inaugural ad-
dress, and makes the subjoined COM
ments, which will be found apropos to
the occasion, and as Horace Greeley
once said, mighty interesting reading;
The readers OF newspapers will
remember that when Governor Marks
published his first message that the
hoOd.gates of denunciation and abuse
were lifted up, and all the political
filth at the command of the railroads
and their attorneys all over the State,
was poured out upon him. For the
publication Of this message he was
prescribed, o~stracised and finally
bounded out of the ~gubernatorial sue
cession and into private life For the
publication Of this message the Demo
cratic party was thought to be a cheap
sacrifice BY the railroad attorneys and
political bosses when the alternative
of its destruction or Marks renomi-
nation was presented. The newspaper
press, and the party machinery, backed
by the unlimited use of free railroad
passes were brought to bear to break
up the Democratic party and beat
Marks because he wrote this message.
The men who sought to drive Marks
from the Democratic party took up
Hon. Howell Il jackson and put him
In the United States Senate. When
he returned to pay the debt of graft
tuds he owed the Democracy by lead
ing a bolt based upon the idea of Cd.
position 70 discrimination and classih-
cation, this letter comes to light, and
behold the grand spectacle presented
by ths champion and exclusive guard
ian o. fall the honor, all the principle and
all the political consistency in Tennes
see. This letter is admirably writ.
ten.- Observe the elegant diction, the
smootk flowing periods, and the clear
and distinct meaning Nothing doubt.
ful, nothing equivocal, nothing short
Of Endorsement in the s~uperlatiye de-
gree. Your admirable address, which
is by far the ablest exposition of the
true nature and character of our State
Indebtedness that / have either seen
or heard from any source" That
sentence made Marks an inch taller in
his own estimation, at least. You
are moving in the right direction in
seeking TO have these liabilities CLASH
ned and In making a proper discrimi-
nation between what is just or valid
and what is unjust, void or voida-
ble."
When Marks read that far he could
scarcely stand the suspense-could
scarcely read to the bottom to find the
signature of such a wise statesman
and profound lawyer. When he read
a little further and learned that his
message pointed out the only legal
and moral method of dealing with the
question. he mentally resolved that
should a vacancy occur on the Su-
preme Bench Of the State he would
have in his minds eye the very man
to fill it, and whether a vacancy should
occur or not he was satisfied that a
a supreme court Of arbitration would
be established as recommended in his
message, and he already had the name
Of one man for West Tennessee. OF
course no such thought ever occurred
to Senator Jackson. He was no poll.
tician then. He was only an innocent.
unsophisticated lawyer who knew
nothing of ways that are dark and
tricks that are vain" for which the
honest politician is peculiar. If he
had been a mere politician he would
have had an eye to the appointments
or contingent appointments which
flashed through the Governors mind
when he read that letter, but not
being q politician, and only an honest,
innocent aud unsuspecting lawyer, he
never thought for one moment wheth.
er that message would kill the man
who swallowed It or not.
When the railroads slaughtered
Marks, jackson never said a word
about having swallowed the message,
or they would have Drained him on
the spot. The moral of this is that il
pays In politics to be silent when
your friend is being beheaded. be
cause you may get bis place. But he
continues: Il am sure that with eli
fair minded men your clear presenta-
ton OF the subject will not only yindi-
cate the honor of the State, but fully
justify the Investigation and discrimi.
nation you suggest" What an opinion
he must have had of the fair minded
men OF Tennessee when he saw them
rend the Democratic party to pre.
vent the discrimination suggested
Then discrimination vindicated the
honor OF the State, and now dis
elimination is reputation an;
disgrace in the ethics Of the Senator
but we must excuse him because h
was an innocenC lawyer then and he i
an honest politician now. He has
tened to express his cordial approve
and tender his congratulations. IAN,
TO express the hope that your admin
istration may have the honor an,
distinction Of settling this vexe,
question upon the only true and ius
principles on which it can or eve
should be adjusted fair an,
equitable discrimination betwee
the just and unjust liabilities.
Aud then comes the signature
an Endorsement as unequivoca
as hearty and as ~deliberatel
made as ever Endorsement wa
penned. 1t was strong and earnel
and honest, but then it came from a
innocent lawyer. To-day the Demo
cratic party is assailed in Tennessc
from Its own camp, with its ow
weapons, and by its own member
because it is dishonest forsoeth
discriminate, and the Hon. Howell
jackson, who has become an hone