Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-05-03
TIE nrTY OF TEE HOUR.

THE uUTY OF THE HOUR.
Some recent opportunities for obserya-
ton and conversation with the people,
have led us to conclude that they yearn
for cessation Of political excitement,
and are lnath 10 be embroiled in heated
canvass It is not an indifference or
apathy that is manifested, hut rather
strong repugnance to having their
thoughts and attention distracted from
the absolutely necessary duties which
pertain t. business. These latter are
pressing and imperative, and demand an
almost undivided care They are wearied'
too, Of strife and turmoil The reaction
from the tension OF excitement during
the war still exists. We think this state
Of things exists generally Atan import
ant election in baltimore, day or two
since, the vote was meagre and hut little
feeling exhibited The Louisville Jour.
nal of yesterday, says that though only
one day interyenes before an election for
members of Congress in that State, in
which three parties have candidates who
have actually canyassed, there is but
small exhibition of interest by the people
Ii will be difianlt, except under peculiar
circumstances, t. arouse that zeal and
ardor that were wont to characterize
political contests and il would be iortu-
nate for the country that this is 81, were
it not that the stake at issue is of such
vital moment Angry political passions
have been the hana Of this government,
and it is the duty Of good men TO seek
to allaY them Every Presidential elec~
ton, except those OF Washington, Monroe
and Pierce, perhaps Madison's also may
be included, have wrenched the timhers of
the structure, and some of them almost
TO as destruction For these reasons we can
readily account for the disposition which
substantial, conservative citizens feel to
participating actively in political cons
fiicts, and which seems to have deter
mined many to be involved no further in
such controversies and feuds as they en-
gender
But in this State there exists a neces-
sity for vigorous and earnest action 1t
is required by patriotism and not by par
tizanship 1t is demanded in order to
preserve the substance Of free and Just
government and not for the sake Of Sc
curing a mere party triumph, or the
adoption of any special theory of admin
istration To be apathetic to-day in
Tennessee is to risk civil liberty. A fac
ton which by consent, came into power
from the chaos Of civil war, has become
enamored of it, and seek to maintain
prescriptiye right to rule Il has arbi>
trarily altered the fundamental law to
suit its purposes, and bound the hands of
q large portion Of the people to enforce
to its viii 1t is striding
from one usurpation TO another, until
soon nothing but the empty forms Of re-
publican government will be left in the
State IL IS the solemn duty oeeyery
man who can claim the franchise priVi~
Iegs to exert himself to his utmost to
check its progress The people must
be made 70 know the imminent dam
GER they are in This faction viii
ight desperately, Cor it is the nature
If such organizations Therefore, unN
less the people of Tennessee are pre-
pared to submit, there must be a heated
political term in this State during this sum
ner We deprecate the fact, for we
share in that sentiment which seeks re-
pose from struggles for political ends.
We should prefer to contribute whatever
in ms may lay, to the advancement OF the
material prosperity Of the commonwealth,
10 assist in the development Of the agri,
cultural interests, to energize the work
shops, to regenerate the State from the
results of the civil war We
prefer, as DO the mass ct the people, busi~
ness to politics--peace to contention aud
,olitical wrangling
Bot we clearly fOresee that this Is not
O be, and cannot be until better order
# State affairs is established, and there
ore feel il 10 be II duty to urge the peo-
lie "a meet the case "a it stands They
must enter the political arena We DO
lot counsel passion, and would not pro /
oke anger or aught that viii lead to
turbulence or disorder But they must
eel deeply, and act firmly and vigorously,
{ they would sit in the shadow Of their
ines and fg-trees, safe, ooatentei and
rosperous