Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-11-22
MEMPHIS APPEAL
WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER p, 1882


The organs Of the boilers continue 10 fire
an occasional shot which is as melancholy
as the boom Of a single cannon after ter
rife battle. Strangled by the deluge, they
still hold their fingers above the receding
waters in the shape of the traditionary scis-
sors Our respected contemporary OF The
Gibson County Mirror says: "Over 100000
voters in Tennessee decline TO vote. This Is
not surprising. The policies adopted
awaken no real party pride nor patriotism"
These utterances are disIngenuous, because
they suggest what is not true-thst the re-
duced vote in Tennessee was caused by the
disreputable issues made in the canvass. III
our Contemporary will examine the returns OF
the elections OF the thirty-six States that
voted on the 9TH instant, it will discover
that Tennessee polled nearer its usual
vote than any State in the Union. This is
the "of year." and as a consequence the,
vote is greatly diminished. In the presi-
dental election two years ago the States
poIled seventy-three per cent. less than the
voting population as reported by the census.
Tennessee voted in the presidential cleo
tion 10000 less than the voting popula-
ton of the State. In the late election Ar
kansas voted less than half her strength,
and the small reduction in Tennessee is at
tributable to the same causes which in
fuenced the vote in other States. The Mirror
again says: Gas between Bate and Hawkins
we would not have voted at all in the late
election. And az parties must be organized
in future on the debt question, we feel that
81 "a =. Al
Our worthy contemporary will have the priv
ilege Of exercising the prerogative of free
man in the next election, as We can assure
him that the State debt is "settled," and
that "psrties" will not abe organized in the
future on the debt question" In a voice
that cannot be misunderstood, and with a
unanimity that makes that voice potential,
the people have passed upon the debt ques-
ton. and it is virtually settled by
an authority from which there is
no appeal. What il the use of holding
popular election il the behests of the people
are not to be respected? We cannot under
stand why "parties must be organized in the
future on the debt question:" unless the
boilers and the Republicans propose another
issue before the people on the settlement
made in conformity with the platform on
which Bate and a majority of the Legisla-
ture were elected. But we predict that the
State-debt question is finally aud forever
taken out of the politics of Tennessee. The
bondholders will promptly, gladly, accept
the ffty-and three proposition so soon as they
are satisfied that 1t is final settlement and
the interest will be promptly paid. The
people are weary OF the agitation, the strifes
and discord engendered by discussion of
this question, and settlement on the basis
OF 6fty-and-three will be sustained by
them, and woe unto the party organized
TO repeal it. The governor-elect, backed
by the Legislature, will approach this sub
ject with a cool head which has not been
turned by the great victory which gave them
power. Their triunfp h has brought with
1t feeling OF responsibility, a sense of
duty TO the people, a comprehension of
the gravity of the situation, that will
solidifY their purpose in the faithful
discharge of their duty. There may be
the State debt proper, but there can be
none as to the debt on which the people
claim 80 many equities. Encouraged by the
bondholders, who insist that the railroads
are responsible, we predict that by The
middle of March next the State debt
will be settled at fifty -and-three, and that
parties will not "be organized in the future
on the debt question:" but as Democrats
ard Republicans will discuss tariffs, civil
service reform, internal revenue, political
assessments, corruption fluids and centrali-
zation.