The home journal., August 27, 1884, Image 4

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FACTS AND FIGURES.'
The IU-Hult of the lUllroud
Commission tnTeniicNsee.
Irjury Inflicted on the Industrial
Interests Now Charters
Dead Letters,
That industry which more nearly
contains within iUsel f alt tlio elements
of scientific development, emhracini;
the whole scope of the intellectual
ljusincts requirement, is the railroad
industry of this country a national
pride, the power and strength
of the land, which pyriiitaU:B the
whole internal economy of the coun
try, and magically spreads prosperity
and ai tivity from its approach as the
sun does light and heat to the dawn
ing day.
From a feeble, struggling line, looked
Upon with indiHWenre and subjected
to disastrous prophesy, the railroads of
the I'nion have gathered the people
of the earth together, built cities, es
tablished prosperity and made desert
places bloom. At a single bound the
vast continent is spanned ami spider
webbed with iiivigoratingliucs, which,
like arteries, grow tense and full with
glorious life. Prosperity, energy, ac
tivity, intelligence and wealth are all
handmaidens of this queen el modem
industry. What land, what spie,
what nation, what state, what county,
village, humid, neighborhood or man
(Inn's in (he ace of ita grand accom
plishment coolly to reject such an en
terprise? in the light of present political sur
I'liiiidiiigs in Tennessee ami in the
ijltKim ol its present railroad (mure, the
answer is thai, like Georgia and Sooth
Carolina, 7 'rmvutrr cowers anil cringes,
falters and mumbles out, that she has
added herself to the list of the In
glorious, and frowns upon them with
in her borders. Sho puts it into the
history of her pimple that, in 18W,
misled, blinded and stultified by the
voices of a score of weak-minded zeal
ots, she put an extinguisher upon tlio
glowing llamo of railroad advancement
and planted her foot upon its prosper
ity and growth, by inserting in her
democratic platform the plank for I ho
commission advent, hlie heralded it
to capital the most sensitive financial
plant, which anything less than a
breath closes that not only does she
intend to cripple those roads which
she now has, but, by tier conduct and
cole of doctrines, that she will prevent
any further lines from being estab
lished in her borders. She says toen
terpriso, energy and commercial pros
perity: "linnte you vilh my If ft hamd
and cut your throat with my rvjlit."
Mie proposed, in that year of all
misadventure, to say to all railroad
projectors that they might come ami
toil and build, but when completed
they should have foisted, as overseers,
over their skilled and experienced
servants, the arbitrary, unlearned and
prejudiced judgment of three men,
uotonoof whom had had the least
training for their special forum, and
ho should wield unlimited ami des
potic powers. What has resulted?
Htatistics illustrate tho disasters
which have followed, and which will
continue, unless sober ami cool judg
ment is sprinkled upon the passions
of such leaders as have put this folly
in existence. In IHHl' the war upon
lie railroads was inaugurated, lbs
Isileful ell'ects are to be seen when it
i t nsidered that, of nearly one hun
dred railroud charters now on file in
tho ollice of the Secretary of State,
less than one hundred miles of rail
road have been built in Tennessee
Since that period.
In ISM there were built in the
United States ii,H70 miles of railroad,
of which tho Southern States received
l,71(i miles. The effect of commis
sions upon railway construction can
ins lainy illustrated uv a comnarison
of three Southern Ktatce which have a
mandatory commission with three
others which have none, to-wit:
With I'liinniiwioii. Without Uummlmlnn.
Miles. MllcM.
(icorRla t.i Flnrldn 21;,
Bnulli Carolina... 10' Mlssimiiil Ji
Tuiiim'Mrd it) Loulnlniia 'AUi
Hy reference to Poor's Manual of
the railroads of the United States for
IHHi we are informed by the Statist!
cian that there were at tho close of
the fiscal year lSMIl in the I'uitod
Stales I '20.552 miles of railroad, nnd
according to tho report of the Railroad
lax Assessor ol Tennessee lor 1.HH4.
there were in tho State of Tonnessee
at the same period only 2,1 OH J miles ;
distributed among the counties in the
llirec divisions ol the Stale as follows:
WKHT TSKSMSKI.
if lira.
Benton 'J4'.w
Carroll 4t
Croc kett li
l'jer aai
Fayette M'i
IIiIipkiii 711'
llardeiimn n'
Uaywood !'
Henry :d
Lauderdale il
Wadiwui oi;
McNalry 4-,vj
Onion 1,1"
Hlielby 102
Tipton jC
Weakley so;j
MIMII.X TMiiKSSES,
lied lord 54 w
Cheatham al?
t'ollee so
Cumberland
Itavidion
IVekwnn
franklin
Gilea
Grundy
lllck II1HII
llouiluii
Humphreys...
Lawrence
Lewln ,
Lincoln ...
Marshall
ftiuury
Montgomery...
KobertAon
;
, 61
. Si
. 11
. 24
. Ill
.
. liVj
. 2Z
. UI
M
KntherforU jy'.'
Hlewart 5 :
Hiiiuner ,.,".'" " HI
Warren , -,
5
MIlHiiifon .jp,
Wilson,
, 16'
(AST I'MNESNir.
Andemon
Mount
ilradley '
Campbell
Carter
Cocke
tireeue
Hamblen "".
Hamilton
lluwklna ,
Jamui !!",!!..
Jellcmou
Knoi
1ondon
Marion
Monroe
Morgan
McMlnu
JUiea .', ,',
koane
Beoit "
Kulliran
U'.HI....A
S'i
31
.10
js
SO
It
l.'l
&
17
Sit
Wxi
17
St '
44
M
MM
IS
- 25
1 " ionowtng eonmies hava
no rail-
uaua;
I'.Ifduro, Haneork, Polk, Claiborne, John
Son, N.'Vler, oralnger. M1ki. Beou.o.hi. ' nT
(Hd, I'nion, Cannon. Jackaon. Pick.ii ' v..
Durtn,
.u7, siamu, l uuiam, Wayne, Do-
Kail), Moore, Smith, White, Fcntrin, Over
ton, Troiikilale, Lake, hecatur. Hardin, Ilea
dtrtou, Terry, Chester.
BKCAHTUI.ATIOH.
Total number in Ilea railroad In
Went TeiilicHftec , 7JA.Vt
Middle Teiju-HCQ li'i.ci
Kaat Teuuecsee tt'i;.ill
TotalTiumber mlloa In TeDneaaee..2,lul.T'
It will be seen that of the ninety
six counties in the State, thirty-tiro
one tliinl ) huvt iiorailroadi at all. Mid
dle Tennessee, by reports of Kille
brew, llawkinsaiid McWhirter, rich in
everything, from a smiling sky to a
teeming land, and peopled by a high,
proud people, slunk along, and now
skulks behind poorer places elsewhere
located, with its soil and grand re
sources, has llfteen counties as yet nu
traversed by a single foot of railroad,
whilo three of the twenty-tivo
counties which have railroads have
only l.'i J mill
'iho same may be said of both Kast
and West Tennessee.
Krom the following list oi railroad
charters which compose only forty
live of near one hundred on file in the
ollice of the Secretary of State it will
also be seen that the still-born rail
road schemes if the IJailroad Coin
mission had not killed them before the
breath of life came upon them, and
they had lustily lived would have
pnl 'i riitlrti'iil 01 1'11'ry muiilij in JVn.
iv. Trace the liius of railroads
marked by these charters and you
may form some faint idea of what a
load of actual wealth might, under
favorable auspice, have hem poured
into the State.
The following existing charters in
Tennessee are of record in the office of
the Secretary ol State:
Charlotte, Clarksville .t l.on Air Hail
Dad Company Krom any convenient
illation on (lie Naihvillc". Chattanooxa tt
.St. I.'inis Jtailroad in Dickson County,
IbrotiKh the tow'4 of Charlotte, via Cum
berland Furnace to Cla.-ksviile in Munt-
Rouiury County.
JlciiJile, Olnriisville i hvan.iTilIe ltaii
road Com nan v From ivjnie point on the
Teniiecuce and Kentucky Hlate line
through Monlgomery, Dickson, Hick-
man, Lewis and Wayne counties to
the Alabama tiiate line, to Mobile via
Florence, Ala.
Tennessee & Kentucky Itailroad Com
pany From a point on the OwensWo
A Nashville Railroad through Robertson
County to Nashville, in Davidson
County, Tenn.
MempliisiV Uristol Railroad Company
From Memphis, in Hhelhy County,
through the counties of Fayette, Harde
man, Madison, Henderson, Decatur,
l'erry, Hickman, Maury, Williamson,
Rutherford, Wilson, Davidson, DeKalb,
Putnam, White, Fentrefa, Cumberland,
Morgan, Scott, Anderson, Campbell,
Union, Claiborne, Hancock, or (I rammer,
Hawkins and Sullivan, to Uristol, on the
Virginia and Tennessee Htate line.
Sparta Sl Cincinnati Railroad Com
pany From Bparta, in White County.
mrougti an liureti and Cumberland
counties to lome convenient station on
the Cincinnati, New Orleans Sc Pacific
Railroad In Morgan County.
Clarksville & Kentucky Railroad Com
pany From Clarksville, Montgomery
County, to a point on the Kentucky and
lennescee tttale line, in the direction of
i'rinceton, Ky.
Naihvilie ct Knoxvllle Railroad Com
pany From a point on the Cincinnati.
New Orleans V lexaa Facilio Railroad,
In Scott County, through hen tress, Over
ton and Putnam counties, to the Cum
berland River, in Brnith County, with
branch to Sparta, in hite County.
Middle A Kast Tennessee Central Rail
road Company From (iallatin, in Knm
ner County, through Trousdale. Smith.
Putnam, DeKalb, White, Cumberland
and Roane counties, to Knoxville, in
Knox County.
I rand lielt Railway Company From
(Iallatin, in Sumner County, through
ilson, lluteerliird, Williaimon. Mar
Lltl.ll luciPV I uuifl llil,an ll,.lf.n
at ...Hi..., ..u.d, .itiyBiiiflu, 1'ivmmiii,
iioiiHiou, niewari, Aioiugoniery ana
Robertson counties, back to (iallatin, in
Sumner County.
lennestieo Southern Railroad Com
nany From a point on the Mis.sissiiuii
and Tennessee State line, in Shelby
County, to Memphis, thronidi Tipton.
IrouHdale, liyer and Oblou counties, to
the lenne-cseeand Kentucky State line.
iirownsviiie x jacason r.ailroad Com
pany rnim lirowiisvillo, in Haywood
County, to Jackson, in Madison County.
Somerville ct Jackson Railroad Com
panyFrom Somerville, in Fayette
;ounty, tiirougu uaywood or Harde
man counties, to Jackson, in Mudison
County.
Nasbvillcj, Jackson ct Memphis Rail
road Company From Nashville, in
Davidson County, via Franklin, Centre-
vine, Linden, Lexington, Jiecaturville,
Jackson, Somerville, through the conn
tlesot Williamson, Maury, Hickman
Perry, Decatur, Henderson, Madison
Hardeman or Haywood, l'ayette, to
Memphis, iu Shelby County, or vi
Waynesboro, Savannah, Adamsville,
Purdy and llolivar, throtiim Lewis.
Wayne, Hardin, McNairy and Hardeman
counties.
Alabama ct Tennessee River Railroad
Company From a point on the lennes
see and Alabama State-line in Wayne or
Lawrence county, through Wayne or
Lawrence county to Centcrvillo in Hick
man County.
Valley Mountain Railroad Company
f rom Sparta, in n nite county, to liald
win Knob, in Van liuren County.
Sparta A Southeastern Railroad Com
pany From Sparta, White County, Van
liuren County to lennesseeit Sequatcui
Railroad in Cumberland County.
Selma, Marion A Memphis Railroad
Company 1' rom Memphis, in Shelby
County, to Tennessee and Mississippi
niaie-une, in inn uireciion 01 selma.
Ala.
Tennessee River, Rhea Springs cfcCrosiv
vine uauroau company r rom Hrady
Ferry, in Rhea County, via Rhea Springs
to crossviiie in uumoeriami 1 ounty, in
tersectini; with the railroad nroiect from
Nashville to Uristol through the counties
01 nnea and uumDerland.
Orillith Creek Coal it Railroad Comna
ny From Victoria in Marion County to
lracycuyin iirunay county, via liriL
ntn t:reek, Miller s Mill and a point
where May Creek empties Into Collins
ruver.
TenneiaeeA Iron Mountain Railroad
Uompany F rom Mizabeth, in Carter
County, via Limestone Cave and Fwin
through Unicoi to the Tennessee and
North Carolina State-line.
Tennessee River A Ooltawah Railroad
company r rom leunessoe River June
Hon, in Roane County, throucu Meigs
Comity to Ooltawah, in James Comity.
Coal Creek & Winters Cap Railroad
Oompasy From Coal Creek, Anderson
County, to Winters Gap, near the corner
oi noane and Anderson counties.
Cincinnati Southern it Clinton Rail'
road Company ! rom Clinton, in A
dcrson County, via Henderson Spring
oraiicii, iiviuing muge, ana Little
F:mory River and Stephen's Gap, to uiilo
poet in Morgan Countv, on the Cincin
nati Southern Railroad.
Morristown A Carolina Railroad Com
pany i' rom Morristown, in Hamblen
county, through Oreen County, to the
Tennessee and North Carolina State line.
Cumberland Railway Company From
a point on the Tennessee and Kentucky
State line through Claiborne, Grainger,
Hamblen, Jefferson and Cocke counties,
to the Tennessee and North Carolina
State line.
Knoxvllle, 'Winters Cap tt New River
Railroad ( 'ompany From Knoxville, In
Knox County, through Roase, Andereon
or Campbell, viaNew'Klver, to an inter
section with the Cincinnati Southern
Railroad, In Scott County.
Wintera Gap Railway Company From
some point on the Knoxille & Cincin
nati Southern Railway, in Koane
County, via Indian F'ork of Toplar Creek
and the Big Bushy Mountains, in Mor-
fan County, to Cumberland Mountains,
n Anderson Couuty, and various
branches forming said Poplar Creek.
New Kiver Railroad Company From
the Anderson County Coal Company's
Railroad, In Anderson County, via New
River, via Burch F'ork, to the Cincin
nati Southern Railroad, in Scott County.
Hiawasaee, Railroad Company From a
point on the Cincinnati Southern, In
Rhea 1 ounty, via the valley of Hiawas
aee, Cog 11 i il, in McMinn County, and
(ius Creek, In Polk County, and the
Spring City or Dig Kmory Gap, to Boyce
Station or Chattanooga, in Hamilton
County, through the counties of Meigs,
McMinn, Polk, Bradley and James.
Kingston it Emory Gap Railroad Com
panyFrom, or nfar the town of Kings
ton, to a point on the Cincinnati South
ern, in Roane County.
Koane Mountain Railroad Company
From a point on the Fai-l Tennessee,
Virginia 4 Georg aRa l.oa I onipany, in
WacVmrtori County, to a pint on the
Tennessee and North Carolina State line,
on the borders ol 1 arter or L'nicoi coun
ties. Kingvon A Cleveland Rnilroad Com
pany, from a point in Roane County
through Meis County, via Riley's) reek,
to Cleveland, In Bradley 1 ounty.
Sweetwater A Tellicoe Railroad Com
pany From Sweetwater, in Monroe
County, via Madisnville, t Tellicoe in
Frentri-aa County, with the authority to
connect nth any line runnb g from
Murphy. N. C , to ennoect with the Cin
cinnati Smthern Railroad, extending
through Scott County, and the counties
of Monroe, McMinn, Roane, Loudon and
Meigs.
Kmory River A Care)vllle Railroad
Company From F.mory Gap, in Roane
County, through Anderson County, to
Carey villc, in Campbell County, via
Mountain Fork of Poplar Creek, and
Stone Coal Fork and Welden Fork of
Coal Creek.
Tennesfee Central Railroad Company
From Rhea Springs, in Rhea County,
through .McMinn and Monroe counties,
to the Tennessee and North Carolina
Htate line in the direction of Murphy,
N. C.
South Atlantic A Ohio Railroad From
a point in Sullivan County, on the Ten
nesaee and Virginia State line, through
Carter County, via Fliabetbton, to the
Tennessee and North Carolina Stale line.
Rogersville A Manchester Railroad
Company From Rogersville, Hawkins
County, through Hancock and Claiborne
counties, to the Tennessee and Kentucky
State line.
Tennes'ee A Ohio Railroad Company
rom Rogersville, in Hawkins County, lo
point on the Tennessee and Virginia
State line.
Knoxville A New Kiver Railroad Coin-
any From Robertson, in Scott County,
d the summit of the divide botween
Brimstone Creek and New Kiver.
Dandride A Mosy Creek Railroad
ompanv From Dandridge to Mossy
Creek, in Jellerson County.
Tennessee, Iron Mountain it Carolina
Railroad Company F' rom Vanderbilt,
Unicoi County, alonir the line of Noia-
cbucky River, to the Tennessee and North
Carolina State line.
North Carolina, Cleveland A Chatta
nooga Railroad Company From a point
on the Tennessee and North Carolina
State line, In Polk County, through Brad-
1... 1 i'l 1 1 1 1 ro..
irjr tib viryeiBiiui DIiu j nines, HltlMl'
tanooga in Hamilton County.
Clinton, Poplar Creek k Huntaville
Railroad Company F'roni IClinton, in
Anderson Couuty, through Campbell
County, via Donegan Gap, in Waldren
Ridge. Hellenwood and New River to
such coal mines as may be open in Scott
county.
Cincinnati, urecn Kiver k rtasnvllle
Railroad Company From Nashville, in
Davidson County, through Sumner (via
(iallatin) to a point on the Tennessee
and Kentucky State line. This com
pany proposes to construct their road
under the charter of the Cumberland A
Ohio Railroad Company
Atlantic, Gull & Northwestern Rail
road Company r rom a point on lite
Cincinnati Southern Railroad, at or near
Rock wood, in Roane County, through a
portion of Loudon, McMinni via Athens)
and Polk counties, to the Tennessee and
Georgia State line.
W ith thirty-one of I be counties in the
State which have not one foot of rail
11 their confines, and the silence of
theirgroves slill unbroken by a train.
ail are provided for with chartered
roads. Taking the counties of. Can
non, Clay, DeKalb, Fentress, Jackson,
.Macon, aioore, Overton, 1 ickett, rut
nam, Smith, Trousdale, Van liuren,
wayne and Into all of Middle Ten
nessee the ivirni.Y miits of land pre
sent an appalling consequence to be
visited upon those wlm deterred the
spirit of improvement from their bor-
lers. 1 tie lowest average value 01
laud in these counties is '.' ontu per
ime in J'nilrrn and the hiijhent $12,:((1 in
Smith, vhlt the gi-iwral nvrraijt of tli
land 111 (i'l hV tijlein amnlin untiv
anlfd hy a rttitmtld in Iim than .o.(H) ;i
am: With a railroad through them
developing and furnishing an outlet
lor the inexhaustible iron, coal and
timbor in which Killebrew. Hawkins
and McWhirter tell us in their reports
they abound, it woultt he lair though
comparatively a low estimate) to sav
that lliesc lands would lie enhanced to
three times their present value, and
thus enrich the peoplu and enhanc
the revenues of the .State. These
counties had Representatives in the
last legislature w!io should not hav
heen deterred from doina their neonle
a service, yet under the lash of the
party they aided in the commission
lolly, rattier doing the misdeed of
wronging their country than to stand
the penalty of being "ri'd out of Ih
pany lor daring to oppose
the commission. 1 he bare truth
of this iniquitous railroad
wariare has done more to cripple Ten'
nesaee than a dozen civil wars. The
whole future of the htate depends
on the integrity of her commercial
system, and yet she seekstostay it, ami
set her Railroad Commission, like
starving vultures, to prey upon its
hall-dead body. Falling in line with
tier sister tanatirs, she has by her Kail
road Commission, and her Board of
Tax Assessors, unjustly assessed the
railroad property of the State at from
twenty-nve to one hundred per cent.
higher than any other State in tlm
Union, warned capital and enterprise
to aeep irom wuiun ner norders, and
as it were, placed a Chinese wall
around the Mate.
ir: .1 1 .
vt ibb men 01 me uav 01 n nnr.
ties must soon be turned upon this
awiiii calamity mat lias been foisted
upon tne Male and sought to he eon
tinued, and put pure, wholsomn il
trinm in the place of tlnf malignant
principles which have lowered in the
scale of prosperity so potential a State
down into the last notches. Hiving her
a lair cnance witn her snare ol material
improvements, Tennessee ought to
stand foremost in the Southern
calaxv. J'ut a Railroad CommiKxinn
to sap the foundation of her strength
ami cut ner prosperity in twain, and
Tennessee, like a foolish virgin, will
ever be "too late, too late."
Without Dlavusclnn.
Clarksville Tobacco-Leaf.
So anxious was the convention to
end its labors after the fight over the
tariff plank was ended, that it was
prepared to accept almost any propo
sition. Manv counties were instruct
ed against a Kailrvad Commission, yet
that plank of the . platform was not
discussed and the old Commissioners
were re-nominatod without a contest
ALL PRAISE CLEVELAND.
His Letter of Acceptance Com
mended on Every Side.
Ita Sound Common Sanaa, Ita Masterly
Dealiiiff with the Labor Question, the
Sumptuary Laws aud tho Question of
He. election to the Presidency Meet
with Popular 'Approval-Buuimarlied
an "Concise, but to the Point."
Nashville American (Dein.)
If the Republicans in other parts of
the country arc as much exercised on
the subject of Gov. Cleveland's letter
accepting the Presidential nomination
as tho.-o of this immediate vicinity,
the (iovernor's formal acceptance must
have been a subject of no small solic
itude to our Republican friends. We
had supposed, as a matter of course,
that the Governor would accept and
signify his acceptance through the
usual form of a letter, but we had not
supposed such an epistle, by way of
knowledgement of a distinction,
1011I1I necessarily bear all the signifi-
ance of a party platform, simply be
ausu Mr. liluire had deemed it im
portant to obscure the platform of his
mrtv with a voluminous prouuncia-
niento of "inv policy."
Wo have been amused at the
strained criticisms of our local Repub
lican ollice-liol'lers ol .Mr. I leveland s
letter, which was given to the public
iroiigli the press yesterday, iliey
II have their partisan microscopes
eiuiiig upon it, eagerly searching for
points to hang a Republican hope on.
)ne coin plains that it is too short
evidently drawing the mental com
parison between its brevitv and the
voluble volume of lilaine's perform
ance, as if it were a contest for the
premium as the boss letter-writer of
the iperiod. Another says: "W'hv.
le says nothing about the tarill ;
tut lie dot s say a good deal about it.
He unequivocally and cordially en
dorses, iu letter and spirit, the plat
form upon which be was nominated
tarill plank and all, and well says
that "so plain a statement of Uemo
cratic faitli and the principles upon
which that party appeals to the suf
frages ot tlio people needs no supple
ment or explanation." Kvidently
Mr. Hlaine did not so regard the lie
publican platform.
Memphis Appeal (tlera.)
It is short and to the point. It is
also manly, frank and outspoken, and
is worthy of the brave man who tele
graphed his friends to "tell tho truth"
as to the llalpin scandal. He cordi
ally approves of the platform, under
stands and appreciates the responsl
bilities and duties of the Chief Kxecu
tive, and if elected to that position
will dedicate "every eltort to the pub
lic good." This is all that could be
asked of him, but he goes further and
dwells at some length upon the claims
of the workingmen, which he insists
must be sntisned, with, of course.
just regard of the rights of employers.
tie also indorses very strongly the
civil service act, and the passage of
appropriations to improve the great
waterways of the continent. There is
no attempt at style or literary display
in this letter; no spread-eagle non
sense, no innuendo or ambiguity. It
is couched in plain, honest r.nirlish.
and will be accepted by the people as
another proof of the worth and intel
ligence of a man who is evidently
above all things honest and direct.
This letter is n remarkable contrast
with that of Blaine's, just as the
writer is a remarkable contrast with
the Maine statesman in ollicial intog
nty aim manly independence.
Memphis Avalanche;, lu,.
Cleveland accepts the Democratic
nomination and the country breathe
freer. The limine business was too
promiscuous and Ilutler darkened the
political horizon with words. While
Illaine covered all the States and Ter
ritoiies he neglected the navigable
streams, especially omitting the Mis
sissippi river, which is now a great
national highway and a grave political
issue, c leveiand has steered cleur o;
the rocks upon which the Rluine and
Ilutler crofts nave foundered and witl
the fewest possible words clears all
stumliling blocks irom the I'residen
tin! track with one exception. That
exception is the tarill'. It is true, it is
not ius lauit that the platform is
tariif straddle. It is not his fault that
the free trailers say that it means free
trade and the protectionists say that
it means protection. One merit in
Mr. Cleveland's letter deserves enecial
commendation. It is brief, being
brief and covering a wide range ol
subjects it is necessarily to the point
With the one exception before men.
tioned, the sentiments expressed in
this letter are so broad that they can
be heartily indorsed by every citizen
01 me repuiiiic.
Courier Journal, (Dem.)
One is forced to contrast this letter
with that of Mr. Illniue, and ot every
point tho advantage is with Mr Cleve
land. He speaks without affectation
without restraint. lie is not striving
to make fictitious issues, nor to formu.
late meaningless phrases to conceal
want of real earnestness and det-
conviction. He does not stoop to the
mutilation of public documents, nor
does he rest his cause on manufactured
statistics.
hvery line will bear examination
and will win with approbation. It is
the letter of one familiar with the
needs of the times and well fitted for
leadership. Strong in his own con.
victions, confident of the loyalty of
his party, and relying on the patriot
ism of the people, he at once lifts the
campaign into a higher, clearer am:
purer atmosphere. Hereafter the
campaign speakers and party journals
must ileal with living issues, with vital
questions; they must discuss the
principles the party platforms are sup
poseu 10 express, ami must give goo.
reason for the faith that is iu them.
No honest and industrious laboring
man can full to be satisfied with what
the Democratic nominee has to gjy cf
1..1.. 1. .l:il'...l.; 1 i 1 t V ..
iiiuoi , ui iiii'uiiiiciiuies w nicn ueset it.
of the rebel to which it is entitled
"Honor lies in honest toil," he ssyi
and contented labor is the siirn r
national prosperity. He would secure
to labor all freedom of action, and pro
tect it from unfair and unjust compe
tition. To this end. while throwing
no impediment in the path of the im
migrant who comes of bis own free
will, imported lubor, purchased labor.
contract labor, or whatever it may be
caneu, snouiu, ne thinks, he restricted
The letter, altogether, is excellent.
o laboring man reading this letter
and comparing it with Butler s pub
lished yesterday can fail to see that
ith Cleveland, and the Democratic
artv back of him. lies the only hope
of the working classes.
Cincinnati Knqulrer (Dem.)
Mr. Cleveland regards the platform
adopted at Chicago in July as a proper
statement of the Democratic position,
and he only discusses a few of the
leading Democratic ideas of govern
ment. In this he is pithy and happy.
He wastes no words. He comes to the
point direct. There is more in bis
declaration that it is not a govern
ment by the people in which the ollice
holders seek to control the people in
stead of representing them than there
is in a volume 01 tiie general pouiicai
literature of the day. He points out
the danger of corrupting 6uH'rge, and
leaves the reader to reflect on the
prostitution of elections lv the ue
publican party for the benefit of Re
publican ollice-holders. Ho regards
1 1 .1:.,. l:n...:..
COUSIllUIlunui uuiiuauu auuu ui a
resident for re-election as 0110 of the
means which ought to be adopted to
secure tmritv in elections and govern
ment. While there may be Demo
crats who will diller w ith him as to
the importance of limiting a President
to one term, nooody win quarrei w iui
him about the point, and there is no
body who will not accept his opinion
as sincere.
In behalf of the workingmen, Mr,
Cleveland addresses a few words
which are full of meaning, and which
stamp him as the friend of thoso who
labor. He writes like a man who
had studied the question honestly,
ami had come to the conclusion with
out the assistance of demugogism,
'Our workingmen. he savs. ''are not
asking unreasonable indulgence; but
as intelligent, manly citizens thev
seek the same consideration which
those demand who have other inter
ests at stake."
MiHiouri Itepubliesu, (Dem.)
This brief, cogent nnd masterly
document appears to-day. In style
and manner it is a model. Terse and
plain, a synopsis, however close, would
be but a mere repetition of its state
ments. Gov. Cleveland pictures the
evils of a system of government where
the administration seeks to perpetuate
its power and to control the people,
nstead of serving them; where the
acceptance of a public trust becomes a
dedication to the profession ot poli
tics;" and the best way, in his judg.
ment. to abolish this is by a constitu
tional amendment disqualifying the
President from re-election.
Splendid points are made in the
letter on the subject of the dignity of
labor and the full protection of this
interest, together, in respect to immi
gration, with a proper discrimination
against those who are,brought to this
country, not to become Americans,
but to compete for gain with those
justly entitled to their field of labor.
cm the "sumptuary subject uov.
Cleveland is explicit, being opposed
to arbitrary curtailment of personal
rights, and urging careful attention to
the line between governmental con.
trol and moral and individual re.
straint.
The paragraph relating to cheap
transportation and the improvement
and protection of our natural water
ways win ue particularly pleasing 10
the people of the W est nnd r-otuh ;
but no part of this magmheent docu
ment will strike the public sense with
greater force than the poition treating
of the relation of the executive to the
employes of the Government. There
must be no drones, no sinecures, ine
tenure of ollice should depend upon
the fitness and not the questionable
party work ot the incumbent.
New York World, (Dem.)
1 like Gov. Cleveland, said a
prominent citizen who recently met
the Governor for the first time; he is
a plain, blunt man, who says what he
means and means what he says.
These characteristics of the Demo.
cratic candidate for the Presidency
are made apparent in his letter of
acceptance. Its strength lies in its
simplicity, it is tree alike irom ex.
travagant assumptions and blatant
demagogisni. It does not strain after
votes as an auctioneer caters for bids.
It is not tilled with high-Bounding
platitudes. In language clear to the
humblest intellect, it lavs before the
people the principles which are con
sidered hy its author vital to the safety
and welfare of the nation, and which
would guide and control his policy if
he should be elected.
The opponents of Gov. Cleveland
are in despair because there is not in
the letter a line or a word with which
they can find fault or the true mean.
ing of which they can distort. They
held their pens sharpened to criticise
tho letter. Its strong common sense
and homely truthfulness confound
them.
Gov. Cleveland's brief and direct
address goes straight to the heart of
the people like Lincoln's letter of ac.
ceptance, and points out to them the
candidate whose straightforward hon
esty and steadfast integrity of purpose
render him worthy of their confidence
and support.
This admirable document, dignified
in its simplicity, great in its truthful
ness, is the fitting opening of a cam
paign in which honest government is
to be vindicated and otliciul corruption
rebuked.
New York Herald, (hid.)
Gov. Cleveland s letter of accept
ance, which we print to-day, is typical
lor its ciear, good sense and its com
prehensive yet concise statement of
the leading points in our political con
dition. It is characteristic of the man
who is always equal to the occasion
that arises, and who, standing upon
his record, has no explanations to
make and no need to conceal his
thoughts in a wilderness of words,
It would appear that this vear candi.
dates are making letters of a length
tiiat is in inverse proportion to their
hold upon the people; and confidence
and strength are implied in the Gov.
ernor s simple, direct declaration of
his views.
New Y'ork TIbxm. (Ind. Rep )
He declares, and justly, that ours is
not a government by the people' when
a class is tolerated which arrogates to
itself the management of public at
fairs, seeking to control the people in
stead of representing them." This is
a view of the professional politicians
nnd place-seekers that will find hearty
approval with a people long since tired
of their impertinent domination. As
a means tow ard checking the influence
of this class and toward keenine the
head of the Government faithful to his
public duties and undistracted by per
sonal interest, he advocates an amend
ment to the Constitution disqualifying
the I'resident irom re-election. Air,
Cleveland's estimate of the evils due
to the desire for re-election is sound.
His remedy for them is simple and
direct. 11 is more radical tnan Is
necessaiy, and it has its disadvantages,
Sash, Doom, Blinds and Glazed Wi d '
PATNT9 nTT.R ftTASCi trin..
ho 90 vuuicu, near voiiego ai,, . (jseuiii,
T. Ilt SL...I. ri-ii n l
but it is significant of the spirit of the
man.
Philadelphia North American (Ind.)
Mr. Cleveland's letter of acceutance
has at least the merit of brevity.
Philadelphia Tlmea(Ind.) (
The letter, as a whole, is a modest,
sensible, straightforward document, ad
vocating the soundest principles of gov
ernmental policy, and is highly credit
able to Hi author. It can be understood
by the plain people. There it no double
meaning in it anywhere.
New Y'ork Kvening Post.
The letter in which d'ov. Cleveland
formally acceps the nomination is a
plain, atraigntlorwara document, in
which perhaps the most important sen
tence is that in which be recalls the fact
strangely enough overlooked by bit
rival that the- Presidency It an execu
tive ollice and the President an officer
charged with the duty of enforcing, not '
of making laws.
New York Graphic.
The letter la characteristic of the man.
It is tilain and modest and at the same
time dignified aud shrewd. Its leading
characteristic ia common seme, and theiu
is evidence in every line that the writer
is duly impressed with the responsibility
of bis position without being over
whelmed or unduly atlected by it.
New Ha veil News (hid.)
Cleveland's letter of acceptance bat at
least the advantage of brevity over those
of lilaine and Butler. Its suggestions
on the subject of a single term for our
Presidents renects the oest seutimentsol
those who see the evils which the desire
for a second term intlict on the civil
service. Its best utterance is that whicu
declares the Presidential ollice a simple
practical trust to be administered strict
ly under law in the interests of the peo
ple as distinguished from, class or party.
Baltimore Sun (Ind).
Gov. Cleveland's letter of acceptance
is a brief and straightforward document,
in which the main purpose ia evidently
to express in few words the writer's sol
emn determination, if promoted to the
highest olrice within the gift of the peo
ple, to dedicate nim;eit.to securing, as
far as lies in his power, the well-being of
the entire country. The character of the
man and his conception of his relation
to the office of President it fully ex
pressed in this one tentence, with which,
referring to the people, be cloees his let
ter: "The stateamanihlp they require
eonsitts in honesty and frugality, a
prompt response to the needs of the
people as they ar's, and the vigilant
protection of all their varied interests."
Bolton Herald (Ind.)
We do not need to commend Gov.
Cleveland's letter of acceptance to the
notice of our readers. It will secure
universal attention by ita own merits.
It is a true reflection of the political
sentiments of an honest man, given in
plain language, which the simplest can
understand. The perfect sincerity and
upright purpose of its author are made
manliest in every line. There is no
weavineof phrases to hide opinions, no
attempt to play fast and loose with mo
mentous issues. In reading the letter
you feel ture that its author means all
that ne rays, and tnar, 11 given a cnance
to put his principles in practice on the
national field, the country will find him
ready to make Kood his professions in
every particular.
Botton Globe (Ind.)
Gov. Cleveland's letter of acceptance,
published this morning, is one of the
manliest, most vigorous and unambigu
ous documents of the kind ever pre
sented to the consideration of the Amer
ican people After reading this letter
no fair-minded workiDgman need be re
minded that in Grover Cleveland he hat
a sincere friend. The demand for hon
es), simple, plain government is just
wuab iingui iibtb weeu v&iiecjit-u iruiu mo
great reform Governor of New York.
Kvery sentence in the letter, the brevity
ot which Is not the least commendable
feature, bears the Impress of integrity,
force, ability. Grover Cleveland doet
everything faithfully and well. He has
made no exception in writing his letter
of acceptance.
Tennessee Judges Suntulned.
State Kxcbange.
We assume any defense of Judges
Baxter, Key and Hammond's acts en
tirely unnessary, but to show they
have been sustained in their opinions,
we give below the action of two prom
inent Mississippi Judges upon a like
question :
The Legislature of Mississippi
enacted a railway law, substantially
the same as the law enacted in Ten
nessee. The railroad applied to the
courts for relief. Judge Hill, in the
case of the Illinois Central Kail road
Company vs. the Mississippi Railway
Commission, granting the injunction,
closed an able and exhaustive opinion
in the following words:
"It will be obseived that the Constitu
tions of Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin, In
wbiehtbe cases relied upon by defend
ant's counsel arose (in the Granger case),
reserved the ireht to the Legislatures re
spectively to fix a maximum, or regulate
the rate of charges for transportation
within their respective States, which Is
not reserved by the Constitution of this
State."
Chancellor Peyton, in the case of
the Natchez, Jackson & Columbus
Railroad Company vs. the Mississippi
Kauroad Commission, said:
"After mature consideration of the
case, I have bf en brought by the cur
rent of authority to the conclusion that
the supervision law is nnconstitutional
and void so far as it attempts to inter
fere with or interrupt the r'ghts con
ferred on corporations Dy lis charter, it
is insisted that the Granger cases and
some others establish a different doc
trsne, but upon a careful examination
of these cases, the power to repeal the
charter waa reserved to tne Legislature,
either by the charters, an existing gen
eral law, or the Constitution of the
States."
What applies to Mississippi will ap
ply with equal torce to lennessee,
Both commission acts were substan.
tially the same. The Constitutions of
the States and charters of the roads
of both States, so far as they relate to
railway legislation, are also the same,
The Time to Scratch.
The Nashville Budget.
This is an age of scratching, and all
honor to those who have the
courage to scratch. The hope
of the republic rests with the
seratchers. Citizens should weigh
both men and measures, and select
the least objectionable. There are
too many of us who are one thing or
another by tradition. "He serves his
party beBt who serves his country
first," is the motto which every true
American should keep in view.
I'Hu,.-.!." !,,. 1.1 KA Ik. -.t,
vnivii aiiuuiu uo iud nuLcunuiu,
and, acting thereupon, we should
search for the best men, and for the
principles that are calculated to pro
mote the general prosperity aAd.hap
piness of the American people.
SLDERS SUPPLIES
JTTT.T.MAW Bnwmirrte)
R
0
"to
CIRCULARS
ND PR I C II.
HARNESS
Horse Goods of All Kindt.
ADDKKS3, rOR PEICE8,
C UK 13 EXT BROS:
MASHVILLE.IEM(,
PIANOS AXlToftQAxT
PIANOS
AND
ORGANS
CHEAPER THAN EVER BEFORE
At the Grand Wholesalo fJiitributla Dpi
for the South. 'I
JESSE FRENCH
NASHVILLE.
FIELD, FRENCH PUKO A OHr.JUfCO, J
0. K. HOITK, MemphU, Tenn,
SCHOOL AQEXCyT
SOUTHERN SCHOOL AfiLKT,
S. 9. WOOI.W1NR Prnr.Hi.li.
j:i J,' i Church Street, NiSHYimmi.
Send SUiud fur Clrritlln. I
1. Procures Competent Teachers (orScittjl
nu ruiiui's wmiuui vuirgc.
2. SupplUn Teachers meilng potlUositbl
unliable places at small coik I
3. Rents and sells School PrOjMertj uiil
aiucjn cji oituiiui Appliances. I
4. Given Parents and Ouanllani Inlomu l
oi guuu scntHMs wunoiu coanje.
PERIODICALS.
The
BUDGEI
Should be hi every countlnf-roomud
at every fireside. It li a JOl'BSAt
free from puffery and scandal. Send
for SAMPLE COPY.
SUBSCRIPTION ONLY 50 CIS. AM
Address
TUE lllhf. ET CO.,
Kanhville, Test.
SEWING. MACHINES.
WHEELKB
9ILS0V
SlfXNT
Mai'bii
HO. 8.
TheCnlTO!
Favortliu
wide wot;
round.
Matt,
Silent, Dunk
838 church St., Maahville, Tnt,
Milan nd Olbton. ,
Milan Exchange.
A thoughtful communication, t
bodying a very plausible argument
favor of the State controlling the t
roads, appears in this paper. 1
we cannot agree with the writer in
positions, yet we are willing the sul
should have the benefit of bis thouj
on the subject. As tho whole d
tion is now before the courts, w
not see that anv good can result 1
its agitation. There seems to
disposition among the people 1
with the press of the State to uik
other matters, and leave this for
courts to decide, and we think il
well. Milan ar.d Gibson County (
not afford to array themselves agi
railroads, and we believe .the"
a little disposition to do so. 0ttr
derful growth and prosperity
tributed to these great enterprise. 1
we should do all in our powerto 101
other projected lines through
county. We have not yet
hope of seeing the completion 01
Tennessee Central.
No More Nonname.
8helbyvllle Gazette.
The candidates for the lag1"
am. as a rule, lettinnthe raihoaaf
. . I I .11 l,a,. mpv
Tl
lion Bione, unu cu mtj - c
had as well understand, first
that no more nonsense will W 1
der. The State has paid oats a
sum of money to these healthy w
men for services not remlereu, 1
to find out that the Legislstureo.
dered in the enactment of '
and unconstitutional law. le1"
can't afford to indulge in any iw
hostility toward her railroads, an
politicians who run contrary w
sentiment will find their mistake.
No Weed ef Abuse.
Athens Post.
There is no provocation for
criminate abuse of railroads in
neessee during the P'ff'0?)1'
and nothing can be a dded to 1,1
cratic strength by such 1 w-..
general issues of the canvass wu
sufficient to employ the . taient
pencils of all who really desire V
cratic victory in November.
1 ir-r.v vui