Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-01-09

his own pock etc"
TENNESSEE MAY WELL HANG HER HEAD
IN SHAME.
The New York Tribune says editorially: "Ten-
nessee may well hang her head in shame. The doc
trine and practice of repudiating honest debts
which OF late have found such favor within her
borders. have at length borne their legitimate
fruit. The treasurer the state. M. J.. ilk, a
few days ago coolly announced that he should not
pay the interest on the bonds due January LIST,
in Difference to the will OF the people as shown
last November in electing repudiation ticket"
more in State funds. The downward course from
public dishonesty to private embezzlement was
the dollar with the States creditors wss
satsfac!S to the Republicans ,Sa and the
State could not be forced to pay any
thing, why, should il consider that settle
funding act of last May contained the assertion
that for the punctual payment of the principal
and interest Of ssid bonds. the faith. credit and
To rep1diators. who had no regard tor such a
natural enough What did it matter that he was
a sworn officer of the State acting under law
that had not been repealed. AND, being matter OF
parently The moral sense of a majority of the
citizens seemed so blunted that Mr.. Folks action
uons will be sharpened now that they are out of
pocket to the amount Of nearly nall a million IN
know how 1t is to be robbed"
THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION ON THE GRIM
HUMOR OF IT.
The Atlanta Constitution says: "Tennessees
treasurer must have a grim sort of humor Only
a few days ago ne gravely gave notice that he
would not pay the January interest o 1 the State
reasons calculated to r. fleet great credit on his
sense of justice and devotion to duty. 1t now ap-
pears that he had another reason for not paying
the interest. He is defaulter for half a million
OF so, and perhaps more. The grievous point of
the matter is that his bond was only for 81 OOO
and he could easily make good his bond and get
off without hurting his friends an odd incident.
is the disappearance from the desk of the clerk of
tne n fT ssst sassn ans bc
shows that the treasurer was then aware that he
was then behindhand in his account. 1t is un-
fortunate for Tennessee that this default has
taken place since her debt question has caused
SO much heated discussion"
SMALL CONSOLATION.
The Knoxville Tribune says: sit is a source of
Democrat. He was one Of the 4622 SKY Blues
who voted to keep the State of Tennessee under
Republics rule. He was one of the super honest
| kind, whe intrigued with Roderick Random But
| hands OF the bondho ders. He wanted to pay
thea sixty. .and-six because 1t would be dishonest
| TO offer fifty three"
| RODERICK RANDOM BUTLER THE GREATER
| VILLAIN OF THE TWO.
| The Knoxville Tribune says: ITO say nothing Of
the financial loss to the State, the recent deaca-
ton of state Treasurer n. T. Polk, Is source OF
modification to every citizen of Tennessee. Nor
tidcation not only that the State has been robbed
and disgraced by one of her own sons, but hat a
| noble name. oIe that Tennesseans delighted to
1 honor has been added to the roll of infamy 1t
/ is enough to make the departed President smes
the asprsee thst IN Is broIeht upou his honored
name by his own nephew.
| Though the CRIME is enormous the people OF
| Tennessee will feel more sorrow and mort fcation
| than anger for the act of this unworthy son whom
they have trusted Many will say that Marsh
Polk never meant to steal that money and that ne
has little nowio show for IT, except the notes of q
few friends to whom he has loaned it. Many will
say that his only intention was TO speculate on
the States money, make himself rich and then pay
back to Tennessee every dollar borrowed as other
him hys done 81 sis But these Pleas 40 mo-
old soldier standing penitent before our people
will not wipe out our shame even though Que o.
his legs was buried on the field of Shiloh.
But al the blame should not now be heapet
upon Marsh 7. Polk, even though he was Sky
blue, and voted and schemed and worked agains
the interests of the Democratic party last c m
| paign. Tne Repu bican administration which il
Just closing and the Republican Legislator,
of the infamy. That Legisl ture, notwithstandini
the efforts of the Democrats, paved the way TO
| the state treasurer The ringleaderin this tchem
was Roderick Random Butler, the Republican
| scoundrel and villain th an poor Marshall Polk"
HOWL OF DESPAIR.
, The Knoxville Tribune, ''in a state OF mind,
says: "Polk's defalcation is heavy blow to on
ing resolution Of our legislature, it will We fesI
| cast shadow upon TeDnessees credit abroad s
dark that even good conduct Will require mucl
time to remove it. But the effect at home will b
greater than that abroad. Our people, their mind
already filed with clamors ABOUT fraud and col
ruption, will be slow to pay taxes that they fea
may be stolen before they reach their destination
The reputation demagcgues will howl in thei
rage like the heathen of old, and will imagin
5 many a vain thing. The cry VIII go forth that il
: these days notman can be trusted.
: lighting to retain the shield Of honor, Mounde
| grievously, but not yet without hope; betraye
9 by those who should be her friends, in the yer
4 av1Qr rhovr
5 his d. gger and drive 1t into her bosom. 'Et
e BruteF she cries did the imperial Cesar whe
l mems souls. 1t is easy now to swell the currer
\ of deSpsir. Thousands are ready to give up th
ghost Of further effort to pay % our debt: a & stor,
! | from town to country. all ever Tennessee. IN
5 tickle and faint-heerted will be swept before
! heroes-the true-hearted, strong-spirited, brav
; souled men, who love Tennessee and who 10y
her honor"
: HAWKINS AND RoDERICK RANDOM BUTLEl
+ The point we make against Hawkins and Blu
4 ler SAYS the Nashville World, is very plain on
& 1t is this: They knew that Polk had no bond
J. cover the increasing thousands OF the people
!. money in his hands. Instead of helping Them
= son, Coulter, Bsgweil, Cox and others in 4
d House, and Alexander, sr1allmsn, Bibb, MccI
D Tough, Daniels and Ragiand and others in u
g Senate, TO enact 8 law compelling Polk to give
bond IN suthcie1t AMOUNT % cover the pub
and solvent men TO make II safe, they By all sol
of devices and By brute force. prevented it bell
% aOQe- Iuts QiQ III OtOtI 70 P4ense L1o DUN'
= bolders and to shelter defAulter. who was pla
l., ing his hand in their interest, from the pittlf
T the door OF the State treasury. The
publican party is wholly responsible for this Il
. mendous loss TO the people Of Tennessee. Ha
kiBs refused to hold up on the people in payi
{ their taxes. snd thereby thousands were pour
D. iRto the Golfers Of the State for whose safe kes
? ing no bond vas IN existence. and where tn
were sura 10 ne squsndered.
:, Hawkins knew of Folks defaleation and to
no step to prevent q further waste of public fun
Butler knew that Polk was q defaulter and
took the janizaries of the one-hundred-and-thl
4 and strod guard over him and allowed him to gol
u himself and eonfederates with the loot. But
u can offer no excuse for this unpstriotic conduc
- HENRY wATTERsoN, POLK AND THE BON
# HOLDERS.
n Henry Watterson, in speaking of the Polk def
$ cation. says that the holders of the bonds of
le state Of Tennessee are an unfortunate lot OF !
10 lows and entitled to great sympathy. The gil
X adopted son OF KENTUCKY" says the Nsxhvi