New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-01-08
THE. PLOT AGAINST EVANS
REVOLT OF THE CONSCIENCE DEMO
Gratis OF TENNESSEE.


OPINION AS DISTINCTLY REVOLUTIONARY.
FEoK STAFF CORRESPONDENT or THE TRIBUNE
Chattanooga. Tenn, Jan. 4-This is the eve Of
a great political battle In Tennessee and intense
excitement prevails throughout the State Both
parties have issued their manifestoes to-day, and
the Legislature meeting on Monday will decide
whether Republican Governor whose election
is shown by the returns in the possession Of the
Speaker OF the Senate is to be inaugurated or to
be prevented by revolutionary processes from
taking the oath of office The State Demo-
cratic Committee, after a prolonged confer.
ence has demanded a legislative nvestiga-
ton of its charges Of flagrant violations Of tha
poll-tax law in twenty-six eastern counties, and
declared that the Republicans cannot have any
thing the face of the returns which is not
theirs rightfully and legally The machine lead
ers are now bringing the pressure Of the caucus
TO bear upon the Democratic members of the
Legislature to force them not only to order q
thorough investigation Of the election but also
TO obstruct the declaration of the returns by the
Speaker Of the Senate and to cheat the Republi-
can Governor out Of his Office by allowing the de-
feated candidate Governor Turney. to hold over.
The General Assembly contains 80 Democrats. a
Republicans and 10 Populists. There is major.
ity Of % available for counting out Mr.. Evans. II
so Democrats be depended upon to override
the Constitution and violate the mandatory law
which declares that the candidate having the
highest number Of votes shall be Governor"
The moral force OF public opinion alone pre-
vent revolutionary proceedings subversive Of all
law and precedent.
The Republican position Is admirably stated In
an address to the Legislature signed by Newell
Sanders, chairman Of the State Executive Com
mttee. The Constitution is quoted as follows:
The returns of every election for Governor shall
be sealed up and transmitted to the seat Of gov
eminent by the returning officers directed to the
Speaker Of the Senate. who shall open and pub
lish them in the presence Of a majority OF the
members OF each house Of the General Assembly,
The person having the highest number of votes
shall be Governor; but II two or more shall be
equal. and highest in votes, one of them shall be
chosen Governor by Joint votes Of both houses Of
the General Assembly. Contested elections for
Governor shall be determined by both houses In
such manner shall be prescribed by law" The
only Interpretation OF this clause which is logical
makes the duty of the Speaker purely ministerial
He is not to decide who has been elected. but to
make known who has received the highest num-
Der OF votes; and the members Of the Legislature
are not present as a judicial body, but merely as
witnesses Of the publication Of the returns. II
no tie vote appears the face Of the returns the
functions Of the Speaker and OF the General AS
sembly are at an end. The person having the
highest number Of votes is. pso facto Governor
and mi ST be sworn In. When the office has been
filed and not till then contest may take place.
The Constitution provides that such a contest
shall be determined by both houses Of the Gem
eral Assembly in such manner as shall be pre-
scribed by law. No contest law has ever been
enacted. The passage Of such law by the Leg
islature must precede any contest over the cleo
ton OF Governor This is the Republican argu-
ment. 1t Is as solid as cube. The Republicans
do not object to an investigation OF the election
and they have very strong case against the
Democracy but they insist that the Constitution
must be followed, Mr.. Evans declared to be Gov
ernor and law enacted by which Ex-Governor
Turney may contest the election.
Instead Of repeating ex parte Republican arsu-
rnens prefer to state the as it is presented
BY twenty-one independent Democratic papers,
daily and weekly, which supported Gov
ernor Turney and now contending
that Mr. Evans was elected and can
only be kept out OF Office by revolution
airy processes and violations Of law. These jour-
nails unquestionably represent the best elements
vi the Democratic party. and their attitude IN
this crisis Is not only honorable TO their high
minded editors but IL is an unerring sign that
the time has passed in Tennessee when the
masses Of the Democratic party are prepared to
acouiesce in partisan trickery and election OUT
RACES at the dctation OF unscrupulous bosses.
A. r. Pickett is the editor Of The Memphis
Scimetar" very ably conducted Democrauo
journal. which has been denouncing IN every
issue the foul tactics and abominable conspira-
cies Of the party managers He is the son or q
Confederate soldier, has always been a consistent
Democrat but is weary OF bossism ring
politics and criminal intrigues. THE men In
charge OF the Democratic machine he said to
me. are oldtimers and hacks whose usefulness
has ended. They will not release their grip.
We must have new men, new ideas, progress
and honesty in the party. | take the ground that
the leaders were defeated In November. ana
ought to swallow their medicine like men, They
lost the State by acknowledgement OF the can
vass. and are now bent upon disgracing tho
party. There were 1000 Democrats who stayed
away from the polls. owing to apathy dissatis-
faction with Democratic policies disgust over
the management of the canvass and various
causes Mr. Evans unquestionably carried the
Stale and ought tC be inaugurated Governor.
He cannot be kept out OF Office without hagrant
violation of the Constitution and the laws There
were Irregularities in the payment or poll-taxes
on both sides and the returns should be accepted
as they stand, especially as there Is no law on
the statute books regulating contest IL the
election were to occur tomorrow Mr.. Evans
would be elected by 10000 majority. disguised
are all honest Democrats with the trickery Of the
ma chine managers. NJ. paper Is heartily sup
ported by The Memphis Avalanche and by
great majority of the reputable Democrats OF
the State. Governor Turney has always been an
honest Democrat. but he is now completely under
ring influence The time has passed when such
an outrage as the unseating OF a Governor un-
questionably elected by the people can be tol.
Grated in Tennessee"