Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-09-24
JACKSON'S CRUSADE
Against the Democratic Party and its
Platform, and Against Senator
Harris in the Interest OF
the BOndhOlder, and
In Aid Of the Republican Party-The
GIaring Inconsistencies OF the Young
Statesman OH the State Debt
Question.

Statesman Oh the State Debt
Question.
To the Editors of the Appeal:
To many of his truest and most thought
full friends, the course OF the "risiDg young
statesm an OF West Tennessee" is inexplcable
upon any ground thai assumes the existence
of good faith to his party, sound statesman
ship or chivalrous comfy 10 colleague
whom he confesses on every stump to be
every inch a man. He is a man OF admitted
ability, and his argument elsewhere on ma
tional politics is universally admitted az not
only able but mastery. His argument upor
the State debt, however, is illogical, specious,
unsatisfactory. 1t left his cause without
sound reason, his course without sound ex
Use, and his political status subject for IN
pleasant speculation and distrust. he knows
perfectly well that the effect of his conduct
is 10 elect HAWKING, and 10 eject an anti
Harris Legislature, and, at last, to leave the
debt "muddle" more "muddled" than ever
before. In eating about to account Tor his
course, men will naturally look back upon
the brief record he has made in public life,
and put this and that together. His election
to the United States Senate was, confessedly,
no less a surprise to the public than II was 10
himself. The people wilt not soon forget the
conditions that brought it about. The arch
schemer Of the Republican party in Tennes-
see is Roderick Random Butler. OF all the
animal, the vegetable and the mineral king
doms, his favorite aversion Ii lsham u dar-
ris. At
THE BoNDHoLDERs' BANQUET AT DELMoSICo's,
IN 1879,
this 9sthefic political pink, to d the bopdhold-
era tn at ifty-and-four was a fair settlement OF
the debt, and about all they would ever get.
Two years later, after s., 900, 900 Of accrued
interest had been added 10 the debt, he saw
chance to distract the Democracy by put
ting through the celebrated one-hundred and
three stratagem. Mr.. Jackson was his cosd
tutor in this business. The latter was
West Tennessean. This was Buffers golden
opportunity TO begin the work OF sapping
and mining Mr., Harris out OF the Senate,
and, peradventure, TO open the way TO himself.
The hereditary geographical jealousy would
do the senatorial job. Through Buffers IN
! strumentality, Jackson bounded into the Sen
ate, and now Jsckson is Butler's ABIDE camp
on the debt question. Thus far the thing
does not look well; but let US wait for the
sequel before we allow doubt 10 settle into
conviction. We would be charitable and
Just TO Mr.. Jackson, He il, personally, an
excellent gentleman. He is good lawyer
ard young statesman of admitted promise.
What is it that has warped the usual direct
ness OF the man in this zigzag fashion? 1t
would not lie respectful or just to say that
his private and professional interests have
put a bias upon his judgment, and that he
ouly wants 10 get all he can for his clients.
This cannot be, for always until now he has
been n"upcompromising compromise man."
He was
PRONOUNCED FIPTY-AED FOUR MAN IN
He is the very man who caused fifty and
four proposition to be urged upon the Con-
yentiou Of the 20lh of June. He is the very
man who wrote 10 our Low-tsx governor,
Marks, spplauding 10 tbe echo the governors
views upon the debt question. Your Gd
mirable address," said he, sis by far the abLeSt
exposition Of The true nature and character Of our
State indebtedness hare ever seen or heard from
any source. You are nloUing IN the right direc-
t,o, in seeking TO hare these liabilities classified,
and IN making proper Discrimination bettUsen
,shat IS just vatid, and ghot IS unjust poid OF
uoida6ie." Mark ths strong language, and
contrast it with his present position, that
the State owes every dollar OF the debt.
When and where was the "uDjust, the void
or voidable" part of the debt ever eliminated?
No, it would not be Just 10 charge Mr.. Jack
sons sudden change OF heart TO sense of
duty TO his cientage, az some have un-
~
problem to assume that Mr.. Jackson is
feathering his nest to become his own sue
cessor, by pushing Mr.. Harris out of the
way. For we credit him with the good sense
10 know that when he retires from the Sem
ate his political-at least until repentance
shall entitle him to new baptism-career
is closed. II will not do either to extenuate
Mr. Jackson's conduct upon the ground of
gratitude TO his political godfather, Roder-
lex Random Rptler. Gratitude is, indeed, a
very pretty thing, bat gratitude just here
involves treason to the Democracy, We will
call him q mutineer, but not q traitor, for
that is an ugly word. Then what is it?
Well, we confess we do not know, and we
leave the reason OF
Mr.. JACKsoN'S MUTINY
Just where we found it, an mex plicable thing.
The Barnum, OF blessed memory, once had
an animal in his museum of which zoology
gave no account. 1t WAS without a name,
and Barnum named it, What is its and the
question stande for an answer 10 this day.
And SO we refer this inquiry 10 some new
system of hermeneutics, for we confess that
we have tackled it in vain. We only know
that the effect oil Mr.. ] sckson's course lie 10
elect Hawkins; 10 elect an anti-Harris Leg
islature, and 10 leave the debt muddle more
muddled than ever, but Why ne would do
this unholy thing we confess we do not know.
was IL NOS Flrg,l VINO e1cialmeh' IN
like dilemma, HAPPY is the man that
knoWeth the reasons OF things" But We
have said that Mr., Jackson's arguments
attempting 10 justify the unfortunate step
he has taken are specious and plausi-
be, but unsatisfactory. With what a grace
less grace the utterance falls from him that
"ths sixty-and-six proposition is a settle
ment, and when the creditors fund under il,
by operation of law, it becomes contract,
and that the right thus vested is protected
under the inviolabilily clause of the Federal
constitution" Has he forgotten th at there
was an Ubiquitous funding done under the
acts of 1856. 1868 and 1878. at one-bupdred-
and six, and did he not violate this "sacred
CONTRACT" by which millions of the suspected
debt was hurried through the funding mill,
wnen ne favored announcer tunotng at one
nupuleu-"hu- 'hiee anu siA'Y anu-siA'
WHAT HAS BECOME OF THAT VESTED RIGHT,
and who is responsible Tor unsettling the
settleme at at ne-hundTed-and-six? Does ne
not remember how deity the Legislature of
1875 emascuiated this bastard bantling of
1873 by repeating the appropriation clause,
and that the bondhoiders themselves acqui-
esced IL the Just restriction! The writer oil
this article mas no aualhenlaS Tor those who