Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1892-06-10
Shall Democrats be Democrats ?


Shall Democrats be Democrats
We published a day or two since
an interview with John III. Nc.
Dowell, taken from the Nashville
Banner. Mr.. Mcdowell, who is the
President of the State Alliance, and
therefore in position to know,
stated to the Banner reporter that
two Alliance lodges in Montgomery
county, one with sixty-one members
and one with forty-one, had declared
their intention to 60 for the Third
party candidate for Governor in case
Mr.. Buchanan was not nominated.
Mr.. Ezell and other Alliance men OF
Montgomery county, the reporter
says, were present and corroborated
McDowell's statement.
Here we have more than bundled
Alliance men in Montgomery county,
who publicly declare they will vote
the Peoples party ticket this year,
unless Mr.. Buchanan Is nominated
by the Democrats for Governor. How
many more Alliance men there are
who have taken this position we
have no means of knowing. These
two lodges seem to have acted in a
body, and they make no secret of the
conclusion which they have reached.
Indeed they publicly announce 1t
through the President OF their order,
in order that the Democrats outside
of the Alliance may understand their
position and govern themselves ac-
cordingly. Governor Buchanan en-
dorses the Ocala or Peoples party de-
mands, and they Will be satisfied
with him. Should Turney, or any
other straight Democrat be nomi-
mated, they Will not support the
ticket, but will affiliate with another
political organization representing
their views.
What then shall the straight Dem
ocrats in Tennessee do? Shall they
surrender to the new Peoples party,
swallow the st. Louis and Ocala de-
mands, and nominate man for gov
ernor who stands on the Peoples
party platform, or shall they nomi-
nate straight Democrat andgo forth
to battle under him, willing 10 suffer
temporary defeat if need be for their
convictions? Shall the Democratic
party in Tennessee live or die, for
that means to be about the alterna-
tive now presented to 1t by Mr.. Nc
Dowell and Others in this State who
follow his leadership?
We by NO means under. rate the
Importance OF this issue here present.
ed. We are not of those who hold
and teach that there is no danger
from a Third party movement in
Tennessee this year. We think there
is danger, and great deal of danger,
and the sooner this fact is understood
and appreciated the better 1t will be
for the Democratic party. Mcdowell
is not reckoning without his host
when he threatens us with defeat
next fall If we do not accept the
Ocala demands and nominate man
Tor governor who favors those de-
mands. The Peoples party is now
an established fact. II has organized
in many counties in this State, and in
one large county at least the dele
gates to the State Peoples party con-
vention have been instructed to vote
for Mr.. Buchanan for governor.
They cannot elect their ticket, but
they may defeat oars and insure the
success of the Republicans.
What then shall the Democrats do?
Shall we nominate Peoples party
man or a Democrat for governor ?
We have no hard words for anybody
In this contest. 1t is free coun.
try and every man may do as he
will politically. But shall men who
advocate enc set OF principles put
forward as their standard bearer in
political fight man who advocates
another and wholly different set of
principles +? Are not Governor Buch-
anan's friends in this State little
inconsistent in asking the straight
Democrats to nominate him for Gov
ernor? 1t is quite true we nominal
ed him two years ago asa Democrat,
but a new party has been born since
then and Governor Buchanan en-
dorses the views of this new party.
We have some excellent gentlemen
in our midst, formerly Democrats, |
who will vote this year for the Pro-
hibition candidate for Governor.
No doubt these gentlemen will stay
in the party and vote with us If we
will nominate Judge East on the 9th
of August. The Republicans will all
be satisfied and will stand by us IL
we support their man. But the
Democratic party has principles of