Year: 1876

State are true Democrats. To that
party they have looked with conf
dence for good government, for
honest government. They enter
tain nothing but aversion for the
Radical party, and its career in
Tennessee. Yet, if the Democratic
party shall not set about a change
in its management of the affair of
the State, the days of its power in
Tennessee are, we predict, number
ed. The question of the financial
condition of the State, its credit
and its honor, is now the leading
political question of interest. All
Others are minor and overshadowed
by this, and will not be ignored,
if one rate of taxation will not pro-
tect from dishonor, another must
be adopted, and if one party will
not give this another will. Should
the Republican party, next sum
mer, nominate decent men as can
didates and place them before the
people, with satisfactory assurances
of redeeming the credit Of the State,
and meeting its obligations, and the
Democrats follow the programme
pursued by the executive and legis-
lative branches of the State govern
ment since the last general election.
then surely will the scepter pass to
our political enemies. We need
not say that we have supported
with the ability we possessed the
Democratic party in its efforts to
rid the State of Radical misrule, ex-
travagance and corruption. The
people and press have made hard,
brave and successful fight for the
purpose. But to be plain about the
matter, for plainness now is a duty,
the Democratic party in Tennessee
have not been true to the pledges
made by, or the confidence reposed
in them, upon this vital question.


And though used to suffering,
having borne much, the people will
not submit quietly and willingly to
be disgraced in the house of their
friends; but will in a contest be-
tween open enemies and treacher-
GUS friends stand aloof as specta-
tors. Does the Democratic party
desire to perpetuate its power in
the State? Then the programme
must be changed, the do nothing
policy must be abandoned-it must
announce principles to be main
tanned, policy to be pursued, and
good faith to be observed, and this
theory must be put in practice.
Opposition to everything, advocacy
of nothing, will not meet the exigen
cies ofthe State or the requirements
of tho people. Tho loading press
through which it is to be heard
must abandon their quasi neutrality
in politics, and take position on
grave political questions. Its lead
ers or members who aspire to high
places of honor must base their
claims upon the principles they
hold and the ability with which
they proclaim and advocate them.
The policy of having no principles 5,
and giving no expression to any, lest
some one should not agree or be-
come offended, will not succeed.
Such a programme indicates neither
character nor capacity for the posi-


tions to which they aspire, and the
party which supports them and
their policy will surely die of in
anition. We live in an age Of pro
gress-advance is the watch word
of the hour-the party that sue.
ceeds must be alive, courageous,
honest and progressive-the one
seeking to impede by opposing ev-
erything, proposing nothing, and to
have the world or the country tc
stand still will surely be crushed
beneath the advance of the other


#These estimates are from reports t.
the last Legislature, as appears in ap-
/ DeDdix tO Senate 1Ournal = GInrESpiLZ,


Chronicle.