New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-08-26
SELECTIONS FROM THE MAIL.
THE TROUBL IN TENNESSEE.
Az INCOMPETENT AND SHoaT-S.GHTED DEMO
CRATIC GOVERNMENT HAS CAUSED 1T.

40 INCOMPETENT AND sHoRT-s.GHTED DEMO.
CRATIC GOVERNMENT HAS CAUSED 1T.
TO the Editor Of the TT 10 Il G
Sr: The deplorablc state Of affairs Just now eA-
i.,ipg in Tennessee is mainly due to IN" Ihcom-
ne,ency of those who have been guiding Our state
Government for the last ten years. Governor Bu
cbauan was known to be incompetent when he was
.,ected Robert Taylor possessed but one or Two
Qualifications for Governor, and the chief OF these
WAS that he could tell good yarn VINO "ouiu
have thought OF putting Bob Taylor In the Gov
crnors chair on account Of his business capacity :
suppose a more woful failure, from business point
a, view could not have been found In Tennessee,
nd yet no was elected and reelected Governor of
arr great state The writer has no disposition to 90
Injustice to either Buchanan Taylor but simply
wants to tell the unvarnised trutl. Ihey are DUN
honest men, far he knows
The necessity of regulating the convict lease - vs.
ten in some way has been apparent and urgent ior
the last ten years. The recent troubles could nave
boon averted BY attending to this question at the
rroner time Promises and pledges have been madc
ard broken from year to year. The system mas oceh
condemned by both political parties IN 'h1f Ph'
forms by their public speakers on the stump ana
by the press generally; but our Legislatures nave
assembled every two years, and sometimes oftencr'
and no step of any Kind has been taken to regulate
this unfortunate lease sy stem. The expenditures OF
the State government have been more than doubled III
the last ten yearstaxes have been increased on all
tho lines and banks and moncyed corporations Oh every
kind have been hunted down by the tax assessors ana
tax Catherers until who have money are literally
deferred from investing 1t in such enterprise Nearly
the whole time OF the last two three Legislatures
has been consumed In enacing such election laws as
would enable the Democrats TO keep the state gov
ernment from passing into the hands OF the Kepup-
leans If the Democrats had manifested one hall the
real in correcting the evils OF the pentenary lease
system which they have displayed In enacunc tlcse
unjust election laws they might have avoided all ths
recent trouble and saved to Tennessee not less than
$500 600 all the recent destruction OF life ana prop
ery and especially they might have saved our state
the burning disgrace that to-day rests upon her'
These are sad reflections but they are nevertheless
true.
Is our beloved Tennessee to be forever crippled by
such unfortunate management? Is 1t not high tine
that the conservative business men OF our state should
rise in their might and correct these things They
can do II. They ought to do ii. They must do IT.
or Tennessee is ruined state Tennessee has every
thing TO make her Il great state. She has splendid
soil a most healthy climate, unsurpassed wafer
power, endless quantities of fine timber The hnest
marble the continent and untold mineral resources,
all Of which combine TO make her the greatest STATE
in the south. All OH earth she lacks Il TO re freed
from the grasp OF corrupt incompelent, bourbon
Democracy. EASl ItsNNE>SEEAN'
GIecnevle, Tenn, Aug. %, 1892.