Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1882-08-19
AZ ABANDONED WAR-cRK.

What has become of the old war
cry of the repudiator-''poverty, in
ability to pay. no money, no crops p
1t is now, thank heaven, no longer
heard in the land. BOunteous ma
ture, it seems, has kindly come in
and generously lent her aid to the
cause of public faith and honor in
Tennessee.
There was never even at that
time any just and sufficient ground
for such plea, as the ready and
easy payment OF IA two years tax, III
a year Of most extraordinary drouth
and financial depression, fOrcibly
demonstrated, If then the alleged
poverty stricken and tax ridden
people of Tennessee could in the
year ISSI-a year of unprecedented
poor crops and consequent scarcity
of money-pay two years taxes
with comparative ease and no actu-
al suffering, what might they not
do in such At year as this. Look at
the situation then and now. Then
fearful drOuth throughout the
State and country at large. For
weeks and months there had been
no rains nor even the prospect OF
rain. Crops and every kind of veg
citation had absolutely burned up
the smaller streams and watering
places had dried up and stock of
all kinds were actually suffering for
food and water, gardens were des-
olate and the very trees dry and
crisp. 1t was indeed dismal out
look and the drouth continued far
into the Autumn.
Farmers saw their stock suffering,
their crops partially ruined and if
they had given up hope and refused
to pay taxes they could not have
been greatly blamed. All mcrcan-
tile and industrial pursuits suffered
accordingly and the situation
brought dark fOreboding for the
future. And what came? The sill
yer lining that borders every cloud.
We passed over that frightful peri
od of drouth, uneXampled in the
history of the country, and that too
while paying, as we have said be
fore, double taxes. Prices of food
were perhaps high, but absolute dis
trcss was rare. Our people showed
of what stuff they are made, brave
and industrious, they bore the bur-
den silently and without murmur-
ing, like heroes. They braved the
storm which they knew could not
last,
And now another year has come,
with luXurinnt, abundant crops and
full harVcsts, Il fitting reward for
patience, industry and patriotism.
Low prices of food are an assured
fact and money plentiful. Politics
aside, the State is prosperous and
peaceful. Such is the promise now,
VIC SlSiioNH llpIillSe III tOillpllI lSOn
with tine gloomy outlook of il year
ago.
Under such circumstances even
the conScicnccless readjustcr, with
all his sublime cheek, has ceased to
offer as an argument against the
honest payment of the States indebt-
edncIS, poverty and inability to
pay. He, prompted 10y demagogues
and place hunters, now finds other
feeble reasons for the faith that is
in him. He has grown smart and
knows the old war cry won't serve
him this time. 1t never had any
real foundation in truth. 1t was
effectively used last year to brighten
timid Legislators and the uniform
ed masses. II won't do now. They
will have To use other sophistrics
during this campaign. The State
now has Il fair and honorable set
Element with her creditors, which
she is abundantly able to meet and
she ought to do it.