Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1882-07-22
The Tennesses Reagusters.


The Democracy of Tennessee can
not afford to become the party of
Reputation. Dishonesty is as fatal
to parties as to States. 1t shakes
public confidence in them. 1t des-
troys their credit.
We have been pointing with
pride to the heroic contest waged
by the Democracy of Virginia
against that band of selfish dema-
gogues and adventures who have
| put the first blot upon the escutch-
con Of that proud and historic Com
monWealth, and who have convert
ed one of the noblest names to be
found in the annals of time into a
by-wcrd and reproach. There Is
no difference between the contest in
Virginia and that in Tennessee.
The issue is the same. In both
States we see a small and devoted
band fighting for the fair name OF
their Commonwealth, adhering to
their obligations and striving to
| carry them out to the last syllable
and the last letter. In Virginia
they are led by Halliday and Dan
iel. In Tennessee we find at their
head Bailey and Cheatham.
There is but one banner under
| which Democrats should be found.
| We cannot enter national contest
with the stain OF reputation upon
our hands. Nothing has proved Sc
disastrous to the fortunes OF the par.
ty in each presidential campaign as
the charge that the public honor can
| not be safely committed to our
| keeping. 1t has alarmed capital
and driven from us the support of
many honest men who stood with
us upon every other issue. To JUS
tify this charge upon the eve of an
other national election by open and
dishonorable Reputation in Ten
neSsee, would prove one of those
fatal plumbers which it seems IL is
our fortune to make in every crisis.
The fault in this case, as in others
may be found in the incompetency
or corruptions of our leaders. There
are intrigues and bargains. Selfish
men rush to the front in the hope
that some strong wave of the heed.
less and unthinking masses may
bear them to an elevation they can
1
such upheavals of passion,
"Bad men rise to power"
They think not and care not of the
party, the State or the country, sc
theg crafty their long-baffled and
disappointed pretensions. They
sink everything tor self, burning
the building to roast their egg.
1t is plain that the Democracy can
not long survive such leadership
The pureSt and wisest men of the
party are driven into obscurity, Oh
are found at the head of minority.
| Against Senator Bailey's record in
the Senate malice itself can say
nothing. He is to-day the ablest
and most sterling statesman i'm Ten
nessee. But the popinjay pOliti-
clans i'm the state and out of it can
not brook the presence of SO pure
and noblea character. They swarm
about and assail him like a hive OF
| hornets.
But we shall hope for the better.
| Whatever may be the result in
Tennessee we trust the blot of repu-
diatiOn may not remain upon tho
record OF the Democratic party.
Those who think the present out
burst anything more than a passing
storm, invoked by demagogues and
place-hunters, are short-sighted and
mistaken. Tennessee is amply able
to pay her debt, and If the cOnser-
| yatiVe and more thoughtful Sele-
ments of her people will only re-
main firm, and turn their honest
faces against every temptation to
dishonor, she will pay it.