Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1882-08-26
The SETTLEMENT.

visions of the 60-3- 4-5-6 act provid- |
ing for a settlement of the debt. |
Already eight and one-half millions
of bonds have been issued, and
the exchange is going on 1T the rate
OF near million "a week. Before
the election shall come off in No.
vesnber, quite twothirtls of the
bonds will be refunded, for the cred
itors do not seem to have the slight
est uneasiness as to the result, and
in good faith are carrying out the
terms of the acknowledged upon.
The fact of funding puts at rest
and forever, the doubts that some OF
our people have expressed, that the
creditors have not agreed to accept
1 the States offer; it puts at rest,
moreover, the question whether
they will accept the tender made by
the convention. on the 10th of June.
Everybody knows that they will
not. No man of ordinary good
sense believes that they will. We
go farther and say that no man OF
common sense can be found who be-
lieves that the question will ever be
removed from our politics other
| wise than by acquiescence III the
settlement as actually made. Poll
ticians may declaim against those
who declare their fixed purpose TO
treat this as business question, to
be disposed of IN a business way
they may denounce the measure as
a Republican trick they may de-
mand that Democracy, because OF
greater numbers, shall be the right
full guardians Of the States honor
and interests; they may appeal to
preiudices and endeavor to fan
| into white heat the Smouldering
passions of partizan strife; they
may ACCUSE all who differ from
them of ignOble purposes and sordid
ambition, but at last the settlement
made will stand. The people have
some sense left, they know that
SIS, 900, 900 of money is too large Il
sum to be yielded without d strug-
gle; they know that tho continued
agitation OF the question the efforts
made to unsettle what is already
settled will cause democracy to lose
its strength, and bring reprOach not
only to the Commonwealth, but to
the party itself. They know that
there is IA public opinion in America
aud throughout ChristendOm that
will in the end force Il recognition
of the just rights of our creditors.
Knowing this, the people Will, rs
they should, require their public
men to cease this agitation and ad-
dress themselves to other matters
of public interest. When will they
make this demand? 1t Is being
made now. Every day brings its
changes. Every day adds strength
to the protest of the State Credit
/ party, and brings support to their
cause. Russell is now five thousand
votes stronger than he was three
weeks ago. He will be five thous-
and votes stronger on the 1st OF Sep
TENDER than he is to-day, and all be-
cause the sober Second-thOught has
taken control OF the minds OF
thinking, rejecting men every
where. They are beginning to pom
der and ask why the most prOmi-
nent men in publiclife are abandon
ing what they have SO often advO-
Gated ? Why they are disregarding
the advice SO earnestly offered IN
the past to put IL quietus to the
vexed question by paying 6O-6?
They wish TO know why the policy
of two years ago and the policy Of
four years ago is not the policy OF
to-day? Are the facts the same?
Are the men the samef Were they |
wrong in advising the settlement
proposed by the Coe committee ?
Were they wrong when they |
urged "a settlement upon the basis
of 1908? If so why snail they OPP |
pose the G0-3-4,j-G?
The answer that this measure does |
not "mect the views OF the people"
will not satisfy the craving desire
of the people themselves to do what
is right and to have peace. Such
an answer may account for the |
action Of politicians, and be accept /,
ed as an explanation of their efforts !
before the June convention t0 lead !
an opposition to their well known |
convictions, and stir the voters to |
such a pitch OF paltizan zeal rs to |
blind them to the consequences of
the abandonment of principles.
But after all the great body OF
thinking men wish to know why
if Il settlement upon the basis OF 500 |
in 1877, upon the basis of 1908 III |
1881 was desirable, and would re-
dOund to the prosperity of theState,
settlement in 1882 upon the basis |
of G0-3-4-5-G, is not tqually desirable, |
They are not content with the ans
swer that Democratic harmony is |
to be promoted. Harmony indeed.
lave they not the sense to sec that
harmony has not resulted from the |
action of the 20th.of June" Do they |
not see that discord has been the !
only product OF that attempt to de-
bauch the State credit men? Do |
they not see that the platform is
everywhere ignored or cOntenptu |
ously kicked aside? DO they not
see that the once proud State Credit /
Democracy is being led gradually /
but surely to become readjustcr
party, and depart from every
principle upon the subject Of public
credit that has ever been announced
by the State and National Democ-
~. q hat \, l,tl