Clarksville Weekly Chronicle

Judge Wright, the Noble Standard Bearer of the Democracy, Discusses the Situation.

COLUMBIA, Tenn., Nov. 7.

John W. Childress, Chairman Democratic Executive Committee!

DEAR SIR—Your favor of the 4th inst. was received to-day. I thank you, sir, and through you the members of the committee, for the invaluable aid given me and the cause I advocated. I thank you also for your words of kindness and approval of the manner in which I carried the banner of our party. We were defeated because of our divisions. If these become permanent our party remains powerless. At all times and in all places I have conceded to those who opposed me sincere and patriotic motives. Some refused to vote at all, and many voted against me, because they did not have all the facts before them.

The question has been submitted directly to the people in the form and manner prescribed by the constitution, and in accordance with our system of government. Both the great political parties have spoken, and by large majorities each have pronounced a verdict in favor of the "strict maintenance of the public faith, state and national."

That the minority of the democratic party, or at least most of them, will yield a ready acquiescence to the will of the majority, as solemnly pronounced at the ballot box, ought not to be doubted. To doubt this is to doubt that they are true democrats and devoted to the principles of their party. They must either do this or join the ranks of their political adversaries. All men cannot agree precisely on any proposition, and hence the submission to the will of the majority is the only safe guide. It was a disputed point as to how our party stood on the question of the state debt. That has now been shown beyond all question.

The rule that the majority should govern is the only one which human wisdom has been able to devise in the conduct of governmental affairs, and parties, to insure success, must stand by their organization, and the majority must control that.

So far as I am personally concerned in the result of the late election, I bow without a murmur to the verdict of the majority. My confidence in the virtue and honesty of the people stands unimpaired. They have no motive to be otherwise than honest and patriotic. All their hopes and the hopes of their children are based on the idea of good, honest and economical government. They may be misled by ambitious and designing men, but the second sober thought brings them right again.

Our defeat should inspire in us an honest effort to rally our broken lines. Our divisions should now cease. A spirit of mutual forbearance should mark our conduct. If we be true to the history and traditions of our great party, we will certainly take this course. By so doing we can re-instate in power the party of our choice and our love. The opposite course may lay our state at the feet of our adversaries. The people will have good reason to suspect the men who strive to keep up a divided democracy. Good faith in maintaining the honor and pledges of the state is not only a sound principle, but it is indispensable to success, to prosperity, and a continuance of free government. History shows this to be true. Both parties by large majorities have endorsed this sentiment. The will of the democratic party has been expressed. Shall we not abide by that? The details of the proposition we may differ about, but the principle is steadfast. Let us listen to no propositions for a continued fight in our party. As faithful and devoted followers of true democracy, let us join our own hands together, forget the past, and looking our opponents square in the face, prepare for victory, and not induce defeat.

For those who opposed me, I have no words of complaint or reproach. I concede to them the same lofty motives which I claim for myself.

To those in every part of the state—from the mountains to the rivers—whose bountiful hospitality I enjoyed, whose friendly and enthusiastic greeting cheered me in the darkest hours of the contest, and who, on the day of final strife, closed around the banner which I bore, I offer the sincere thanks of a grateful heart. With ill to none, and good wishes for all, I am, your friend and fellow-citizen

JNO. V. WRIGHT.