Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1860-04-18
conservation Aroused,

The near approach of the time for holding
the great political Conventions, and the turn
which political affairs have recently taken in
Connecticut and Rhode Island induce us to
believe that word addressed to conserva-
tive men may prove not unacceptable or be
deemed out of season. We have greatly mis-
taken the signs of the times if we err in sup
posing that the good will of the country is as
little enlisted in behalf OF Republicans n as
its hopes are likely to repose any longer in
Democracy These organizations. to be sure,
are necessarily looked TO as mediums Of the
expression of popular opinion, and mere par
tisnns will continue to cling TO them with the
desperate tenacity of their nature But the
great mass OF intelligent citizens are i'll at
ease, uncertain, shifting. ready to turn this
way or that, according TO the indications of
the hour and the prospect, remote it may be-.
of the formation of II lew party whose prin-
ciplcs and whose leaders may afford sub
stantial guarantee of political purity and
constitutional fidelity. When n people are
thoroughly awak cned to IA sense of di>trusi.
il not of danger, it is not q false inference to
assume that the conservative sentiment is
arouse d, and the mistake of pointing a moral
based on the assumption, if such it be, mere
ly, is not objectionable.
1t must he admitted that the centre of Repub-
lcan strength is found in the New England
States. Its flank rests on the Wet and North
west. but the corps d'nrmes is grouped III COM
pact columns around the homes OF its chiefs,
Seward, Sumner, Hale, Wilson. But. as we
have just witnessed, the main body and flower
Of the Republican forces have been repulsed
IL not defeated, on their own ground. How
is this tn be accounted tori A Trading paper
in the interest If the Republican party says
that the result of The Rhode Island election
was not Democratic victory, though il was
a Republican defeai, and il 8 ates that this
defeat as due mot only TO the cooperation
"Of the Am, Ticans and Old Line Wings with
''the Drmocracy-but also 10 the accession of a
''c0Hstd1GbRe farce Of Conservative Repgbi,csus"
This singular and almost unprecedented
inflammation OF ali parties. even Republ
cans Themselves. in opposing the regular
nominee OF the Republican party. IL too sig
nificant to I've overlooked. IL carries lis
moral on its face. We venture to affirm that
numerous prominent politicians who have
been so basiy In leaning towards, If not af-
fiiiatiug With the Republicans. are sorely
puzzled aud COMPOUNDED AT the spectacle
Perhaps they wouid not b.. unwilling TO effIee
the latest entries made on t.ieir T, cOrds.
And. in view of the course which conseTva-
tive men are taking, we cannot wonder at
their useless desire TO recall The imprudent
past.
With very bad grace indeed the ID m GRAFT
tC papers ~ Iutti-
selves on the victory eff cled Ia Rhode Island
by The strange coalition just mentioned. IL
is evident. however. that they cannot and do
not r. IL upon The coalition a Permanent
one, 10 lie made available next November. A
Democratic journal now before rs trasis that
the victory IA Rhode Island furnishes an H.
dicatioa of popular movement at the North
which twill not hereafter prove delasive
a Upon thi.. however, We cannot rely ut
present with implicit confidence. AlIh.ugh
"a there seems 10 be throughout the North at
Z" present an inclination To max. a straight
a out light for and against the Republican,
" although the movement for the oFganiza-
"a tion OF aaoiLer opposition party is pFiaci-.
" paliy Confined TO the Southern SIaie~ vf
=. u Ekss organisation al tie South eEa b< .Sscse
no desstf fksf 10 sils bs sxfes.dsa iraHs-
Ssafofy szcA q nsazaeT 70 isofsde A IAKoE
e MAJORITY or THE MIDDLE aES AT The
8 NORTH"
Mhea such an admission comes from a
Deme cratic paper. aud when that very pa
per calls these same middle menu .-oss.ssr-
s.Efsrs msa. We eaaRot dsubt that the .-sigl.s
The sentiments OF the eaaBtry with reference
10 il existing political snizsiions.-In
what this change viii be demonstrated, o.
whether 10 will prove sufficiently strong 10
dcuonstr4ie lie power over the strict rulings
OF party discipline. ID SuaId be impossible
now 10 predict with aay degree ef crrtaiaiy.
The next monih will probably bring to iighs
some Important Developments ia rrlsfiea 10
the coming Presidential eoatest.-Bzlssaers
-iH4taxa.