Year: 1878

We cut the following from the
leading Republican paper at Knox
vile, the Knoxville Chronicle, as
containing matters highly import.
ant for Democrats to consider. We
wish to impress upon our friends
the necessity Of organization and
concert of action if we would not
lose the preponderance in the State
which it took us so many years OF
weary labor to attain. The Repub-
lican party, which once held an iron
grasp upon the State by conspiring
with its enemies to disfranchise hall
its citizens, which desires to run the
State in the interest of Northern
spectators rather than its own in
terest-the Republican party is al
ways organized, always watchful,
always ready to take advantage of
blunders and divisions in the Dem
Ocratic party. Can the Democrats
afford to come into the field with a
divided allegiance and distracted
counsels while the Republicans are
united? Can we afford to meet
them as a mob meets an army? or
shall we form an unbroken front
and again drive them ignOminiously
from the field? The time for organ
ization is close at hand, and we
must not be behindhand.


The Republicans claim, as it ap-
pears from this manifesto, to be the
one party organization which is
sound on the subject of State credit.
Never was such an unfOunded
claim. We undertake to show that,
instead of being sound, they are
rotten to the core on this very sub
ject. Reputation would never
have had a foot-hold in this county
if it had not been for the treacher-
Gus, doublefaced policy of the Rad
zeal party on this very matter two
years ago. The Democratic party
was sound, with the exception of
small body of deserters who raised
the repudiating flag with the de-
ceptive inscription of low tax. This
band was joined by the whole body
of Radicals, and under their infiu-
ence the heresy of reputation has
been thoroughly inculcated into the
body of our colored population till
nine-tenths of them are erepudIatorS;
and, with this black stain on their
escutcheOn, the Radicals go to Nash
vile and claim an unspotted shield
of pure silver with estate Credit"
inscribed upon it in golden letters.
Shame on such hypocrisy. Let the
thin wash of silver be secured from
that shield, and beneath it, exposed
to the contempt and Indignation of
all men, the damning record of the
coalition of 1876.


The Republicans of Tennessee
have responsibility resting upon
them greater, we fear, than they
appreciate. Upon them devolves
the task of defending the credit Of
the State, and bringing about such
a reform in the administration Of
the State Government as is abso-
lutely needed. We have arrived at
a point where, if the brakes are not
put on with firm hand, the State
is ruined. Abuses have prevailed
in the Democratic administration of
State affairs which, if not corrected,
will end in disgrace and ruin. The
Republican party is the only party
in Tennessee that stands squarely
against the infamous policy of repu-
diation. 1t is the only party that is
squarely opposed to the cruel policy
of turning honest laborers out Of
employment and putting peniten-
tiary cOnvicts in their place. 1t is
the only party in Tennessee that
can break up the bond ring. The
rings in this State are so closely in
terWOven with the Democratic
party that it is impossible to sepa-
rate them.


This is part of a task with which
Tennessee Republicans are charged
this summer, and to effect anything
they must haVean organization. 1t
is time now that they are at work.
We ought to make our first on
Slaught upon the Democratic ranks
in the county and judicial elections.
Give the Democracy an advantage
in that, and it takes harder work to
regain our position. If we defeat
them then, decentralization will fol-
low in their ranks and we will have
easier work in November. These
things ought to be taken into con-
sideratiOn now and acted upon.


Let the Republicans in every
county organize at once and prepare
for the campaign. Let them select
their strongest men for the various
positions and unite upon them. We
presume they have done this already
for the county offices. The candi-
dates for the Legislature must be
looked to specially. Let men be
selected who command the respect
of their communities, and who,
when elected, will represent the
wishes of their constituents.


The people of Tennessee will not
always remain blinded by party
prejudice. They do not intend to
follow the Democratic party to the
verge of political perdition. They
are not mere wooden men to act by
machinery in the hands of the drill
sergeants of Democracy. They are
not deaf to the voice Of reason. Let
the facts be presented to them in
their true light, and let the Repub-
licans deserve public confidence by
standing true to principle and select
ing brave and true standard-bearers,
and victory will be ours. If it is
worth striving for, let us strive for
it 4; if it is nos, then we may ground
our arms and turn the State over to
its worst enemies without strug-
gle. Avoid internal dissensions.
Let not the aspirations of ambitious
but unworthy men scatter discord
in our ranks. Let us be animated
by nothing else than pure devotion
to the principles of the Republican
party, and organize for work to that
end, and all will be well.