Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1860-01-24
From the Memphis Enquirer, Jan. 10.
Han Inhn Ral

We have so often expressed our personal
preference for Mr.. Bell as a candidate of the
Opposition for the Presidency, that repeti-
ton of il wonld be superfluOus. 1t is not,
therefore. merely to make public our entire
concurrence in all that is said by the Banner
and Patriot, that We reproduce the above ar
ticles. We wish to add that our advocacy of
Mr.. Bell is not based upon individual PARTIAL
ty. We have another and more powerful
motive. The political object we have most
at heart is the redemption of this government
from the vandal rule which he's been hurry
ing 1t on for seven long years to destruction
and disgrace. There are few sacri6crs we
would not make to drive into obscurity the
| reckless demagogues with whom the creation
of sectional animosities has grown to be
pleasant amusement. We would endure
much to bring back the unselish patriotism
OF former days, and check the wild extraya-
gance which of necessity breeds corruption
in all our public Offices. 1t would cost us no
| effort to sacrifice any personal attachment
which stood in the way of the accomplish
ment of these ends, and much as we esteem
Mr. Bell. highly as we appreciate bis talents
and pa triotism, we should unhesitatingly give
him up, if more available candidate could
be pointed out. But our firm conviction is
that he is the strongest man who can be Sc
lected. and if we cannot triumph with him,
we shall encounter defeat under any other
4
the public men of the Nation, and we do not
know enc who combines more of the elements
of success, or who can point TO record more
defensible. We cherish a. proper Sta te pride
as a Tennessccan, and we freely admit that
other things being equal, we would prefer the
selection of one of our own citizens, but we
left that, as We did all personal leanings, out
of view in making up our opinion as to who
| would prove the most available candidate. If
Mr.. Bell was personal enemy, inst cad of be-
ing. as he Is. a personal friend, our advocacy of
his nomination would be none the less jealous.
As 10 the objection we sometimes hear urged
that we cannot get up an enthusiasm in his
behalf, we answer, that, if it be true, it is
objection at all. The success of party
depends far l,ss upon getting up Enthusiasm
IN favor of its candidate than we are prone
TO imagine. The unexampled success of Gen.
Harrison in 1910 fixed that idea in mems
minds, and it seems TO be impossible to drive
il out They forget that the same elements
existed in his history and character in 1886.
and vet the attempt to create an enthusiasm
in his favor then dead failure. The
enthusiasm OF 1910 was due to the cOrrup-
lions aud extravaganza of Mr.. Van Buren's
administration, and the same result would
have followed the nomination of any other
uneXceptionable IN, mber of the Wing party.
We do not deny that great military glory
has its charms, that great actions, on any
fheaier, will attract the regards OF mankind.
but the American people emphatically a
reasoning people, and no political success
can be permanent and available which does
rot command the assent of their Judgment
There are causes enough at work TO defeat
both the Democracy and the Republicans,
without invoking the aid of enthusiasm. We
need no appeals, except TO the common sense
and honest patriotism of the nation, and in
our judgment Mr.. Bell is exactly the leader
under whom such appeals may be most effec-
tually made. His whole lie proves him an
honest man. and sound, conservative states
man; aud his long public service has made
the fact univ ersally known. He has been
party to no bit er sectional strife, and is pc
culiarly obnoxious 10 none but those We wish
to defeat, and whose opposition to us would
be as active under any other leader who
might be selected We cannot conciiate
| them, and ought not to do ii If We could.
Mr.. B IL is our best man, and the more they
hate and dread him, the more he should be
endeared to us.