Year: 1878

AAO4N1AG


In u brief article on the result In


Tennessee, the Knoxville Chronicle


holds the following language:


During this canvass we have not


hesitated to charge that the policy


being pursued by the Democratic


party in Tennessee meant repudia-
tion of the State d, bit. If we were


wrong we viii be glad to know it.
| We shall look with interest to Judge


Marks message on the subject and


the action of the Legislature. They


may deceive us, and take an honest


course. We trust they will. What


we have been saying has not been


for political effect merely, but be-
cause we believed it.'


That is very fairly said and


breathes the proper spirit. We do


not hesitate to declare that the re-
! cent deliverances of the Democratic


party, in regard to the manner of


dealing with our public obligations,
have not been as satisfactory as we
! could have desired; and we further
admit that the local successes, here


and there, of men holding and
openly advocating doctrines favor
able to reputation, may very
reasonably have given cOloring to
the charge that there is "a strong


popular tendency in that direction.


But we are not prepared to admit,
nor Go we admit, that the body OF
the Democratic party in Tennessee
is thoroughly tainted with the infec-
ton of repudiation. On the con-
,La
otherwise convinced by a satisfac
tory test, that an overwhelming
majority of The people Of Tennessee,
including both Democrats and Re
publicans, are in favor of dealing
with the subject of our State debt
like honorable men, and of bringing
about an early and equitable adjust
ment of the whole matter; and we
further believe that they will expect
the Legislature, Just chosen, to take
immediate steps to hasten such a
conclusion and thereby relieve our
Commonwealth from the odium
that has rested upon her good name,
especially since the adjournment OF
the late extra session Of the General
Assembly. While wehave felt that
the platform adopted by the last
Democratic Convention was subject
to just criticism by the advocates of
a straightforward settlement, we
do not regard it as implying a com
initial of the party to Reputation
by any means, and we have cOnsid-
cred all charges to that effect as un-
just to the real sentiment of the
party. There is nothing in the
platform that precludes an equita-
BILE and mutually satisfactory ad-
juStment between the State and her
creditors, and it will not avail time
serving and trimming Legislators
to seek justification for any neglect
of duty on this subject in the Dem !
Ocratic platform. Every interest of |
the State, and certainly the welfare |
of the Democratic party in the State,
demands that every Democratic |
Senator and Representative should /
at once prepare to address himself /
to prompt redemption of the State |
from its present unenviable situa-
ton. We presume, if we are to ac-
cept and credit their professions,
the Republican members will cheer /
fully aid in the undertaking, We !
have had enough of pitiful, petty |
on this subject. The |
question has'been too long dallied |
with, already. The Democratic |
party cannot afford a continuance of |
such trif1ing. The substantial peO- |
pie of the State will not tolerate it. /
public opinion every
where will condemn it, and con-
tiOund faiIura in fba diScha rop of |
duty, in this case as in all Others,
will certainly bring disaster to the
delinquent party. Our State debt /
is now the legitimate subject of ne
gOtiatiOn. Propositions, based up
on an equitable view of the subject,
are in order from either side. After
all, the process Of settlement will
be very simpi matter. ltrequires
no great amount of Statesmahship
to comprehend it or put it into exc
cutiOn. Let the honest intent once
and assert itself, and the
end is almost attained. We believe
the representation from East Ten
nessee will be almost solid in favor
of an immediate and equitable set
tlement, and we have hope that
there will be q decided majority in
both Houses of like opinion and
purpose. In spite of all clamor to
the contrary, the people of Tennes-
see are heartily sick of their present
situation, and will hold
the incoming Legislature to grave
4 settlement is 2oldt
the.y rant.