Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1860-05-24
Signs of Republican Discomfort and
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Notwithstanding the great enthusiasm
which was manifested at Chicago and few
other points III the Northern States, on the
nomination of LINCOLN by the Republican
Convention. that party is full of the elements
of weakness and discomfort and decay. No
party, as we have often said, can be perma-
nent which seeks to administer the govern
ment on single isolated idea. Outside of
the slavery question the Republicans have no
bond of union to bind them together, but
many differences to disintegrate them. In
1856 they went before the country on
single issue and were defeated, and seeing
tie same fate inevitable in the present can
vass Oh the same issue, they attempted at
Chicago 10 enlarge the basis of their organize
tion. and gave out the following equivocal
expression on the tariff question:
THAT, while providing revenue for the sup
port Of the General Government by duties
upon imports, sound policy requires such No
adjustment OF these imports as to encourage
The development OF the industrial interest of
the whole country: and We commend that
policy Of national exchanges which secures
to the working men liberal wages. 10 agricUl-
ture remunerating prices, to mechanics and
manufacturers an adequate reward tor tn, ir
skill. labor, and enterprise, and to the nation
commercial prosperity aud independence"
To those who have, in days gone by, sub
scribed to the protective theory, this is held
to contain an explicit sfirmance of that
policy-for example the New York Tribune
and Enquirer. But the Evening Post, an
ancient and unchanged champion OF Free
Trade, says it is unable to find ga single
word in it in favor of raising the duties on
imported goods, or the slightest mention of
the doctrine of protection" and adds with
earnest emphasis:
This is the Interpretation we put upon
the resolution adopted at Chicago and II Is
as fair a construction as any other. 1t any
other construction b. fairer or truer ono,
then We do not belong to the party by which
the resolution is adopted. If it was intended
to adopt resolution which should mean
nothing distinct or positive, but should bear
two constructions, then the Convention
has done what was unworthy OF the
party whom IL PROCESSES to represent, ana We
arc ashamed of it, 1t would have become IL
better to be silent on that topic altogether
The construction we have placed upon tins
resolution We sD:tIl nOlu 10 HTIIllS- II tue MT
publican party should elect its candidate. he
must act on that construction. or he will
soon find himself encountered by an oppo-
sitiOn by which he will be overwhelmed"
1t is clear from this that the Republicans
cannot make tine fight on any other plank in
their platform than that against slavery ex-
tension; and if they were even successful
which is impossible if the patriotic masses Of
all sections will stand firm and true to them
selves, the Union, the Constitution and the
laws-they would SPLIT into factions and frag-
ments the very moment they should under
take 10 lay down a policy embracing the
entire theory of government. The people OF
the North who are inclined to go with that
party as well as the demagogueswE are striv-
ing to control and he benefited by it, had ms
well give some attention and ref, ctiOn to this
point.