The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1882-07-12
TIE DUTY OF TRUE DEMOCRATS.

Nashville American.
The Banner works itself up into
high state of excitement over
"voting for the candidate and
scratching the platform. Accord
ing to the Banner, to support the
nominee and dispute the doctrines
of the platform is political sin for
which there is probaly no forgive
ness.
Now, if our neighbor had been
dealing in facts and not sophistry,
the difficulty would have vanished.
The truth is the editor of the Ban
ner is given as much as any man in
the State to doing tais very thing.
In 1873 Marks was nominated for
Governor on the celebrated sub
mission platform. The editor of
the Banner was loud and long in his
support. Now did the editor of the
Banner scratch the platform ? Did
he not urge all his readers to sup
port the nominee, and did he not
withhold his support from the
platform :?
Again, in 1880, was not Wright
nominated on a platform which
denied the right to secure the
creditor by making coupons receiv-
able for taxes? Now, if the editor
approved this platform, when did
he change? for surely he advised
the violation of it when the ques-
ton came before the Legislature,
the every Legislature elected upon
this platform.
But upon principle, why may one
not support the candidate and
scratch the platform -? Who ever
gets platform made by conven-
ton that suits him in every particu
lar ? Nobody but the unthinlIing
mantle man who throws up his
hat but lets somebody else do his
thinking. Men who think rarely
find a platform made in the excite
ment and hurrah Of a convention
which pleases them; and to say that
a man should never support the can
didate until he can approve the
platform, would be to say that only
the hurrah boys should vote.
But suppose we look further into
this doctrine and see what the phil
osophy of it is.
Take the case before us. What
ought Democrat to do, who thinks
the convention did wrong in not
approving the 60-3-4-5-6 bill OF
who believes that no settlement un-
der the platform as made can be
had or who believes there is nc
difference in the character of the
debt, and that to pay some in full
and some only half the princit a
and half the interest is wrong
What ought such Democrats to do
Vote for Hawkins and aid in dis
rupting the Democratic party? Ger
tainly not, looking at the Republi
can party as some of us do, as being
willing in Virginia to support re
pudiation, and in Tennessee, State
credit, just as party exigencies may
require, and believing, as most of u
do, that no permanent settlement 0
the debt will ever be made by th'
Republican party, or by that party
and few dissatisfied Democrats.
If q DemocratSwill not, under th
circumstances, support the Repub
Iican candidate, can he afford t
support another Democratic can
didate when he knows it will onl.
aid in the election of Haw kins?
Why not support Gen. Bate A
a candidate he is unobjectionable-
his honesty is not doubted, his fidel
ity to his party is not questioned
his devotion to the interests of hi
people is known. The State debt
only one of many questions. Upo
all the great questions between tn
two parties the Democrat agree
with Bate and not with Hawkin
now what shall he do-go for til
Republicans candidate, or aid ia h
: election, because the platform 0
the State debt is not right? Thi
it seems to us, would be unwise.
When analysed it is this and notl
ing more / did not get all
wanted; / did not get it my wa,
and not getting the best in q
! things, / will choose the very wors
The logic is about this: In OF
case, / like the candidate, but don
{ like the platform. In the other,
n neither like the candidate or Il
K platform, and as / don't like eithc
| will take both.