Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-07-13
AnuEsrrnN OF nIrrx


see, and the still greater ones that are
impending, impel those who assume to
speak for the public to speak plainly and
fearlessly There is not a man of intel
ligenee in the State, of whatever politics,
who does not know that we are in ter
rible condition. The guiltiest leader of
the party whose policy has inflicted these
sevils is as thoroughly satisfied that the
interests of society are being sacrificed,
as are those who are struggling to relieve
themselves. Is it not strange, then, that
there should be class who appear in
different-men who fold their hands and
offer to make no effort-who, when APP
preached and asked to cooperate in
measures looking to relief, tell you that
matters are indeed bad, and will ineyita-
bly, grow wOTse-that the BrOwnloW des~
potism is the meanest and beastliest that
ever existed, yet, when solicited to at
tend meeting, or extend assistance and
encouragement to those who have the
spirit to work, positively refuse? At
first thought, it is singular that such men
should be found But when We reflect
upon the events of the past few years,
and study the steps BY which peoples
have passed from state of freedom and
personal independence of action to that
of servility to official authority, it Is readi-
ly accounted for Power once seated in
place and hedged in with the forms of
authority, has faVors to grant as well as
punishments to visit upon those who are in
disposed to quietly abide its usnrpations.
One means of sustaining itself, is the ap.
peal it makes to timidity, seltishness, and
aYarice In this way it gathers to itself
the treacherous, overawes the faint
hearted and, to a greater or less extent,
paralyzes the efforts of those who have
the courage to oppose it.
Twelve months ago, it was not thought
possible that the shameless autocracy
that has saddled itself on Tennessee
could exert such an influence upon any
worthy, intelligent citizen of this State,
but in the progress Of this canvass, the
evidences of this fact are manifest In
portions of the State there are men in a
material point Of view having a larger
interest than most of their fellows in the
early rectifcation of affairs, who are
standing passive-whose faces are never
seen at Conservative meeting--whose
voices are never heard in encouragement
Of the movement for the Acknowledgement
Of the white people-whOse fists grip
tightly on their bonds and greenbacks-
and from whom no expression can be
wrung but damn against Radicalism
uttered in a corner and with bated breath
Do these men ever reflect that, by their
Indifference and inaction, they are giving
moral aid and support to the Radi-
cal party Are they unaware of the
guilt they are mourning in the cOnse-
quences of the continued sway of that
faction? Do they dream in a false secu-
rity, and think that in these turbulent
times, they have no public duties Do
they hope by non-committalism and an
abiuration of their political individuality,
to offer sacrifice to the MolOch of Radi-
ealism, and escape the unprecedented
common calamity? If they do, very well
We do not wish to prescribe course Of
conduct for any man, and we know, also,
that there are many citizens formerly in
public life whom it does not become to
figure prominently at this time but
we can tell that class for whom
these remarks are intended, that
if it is in the book of fate that this
country is to be crushed on the wheel of
Jacobin misrule, they will not be the
least among the sufferers and that when
the parchments on which property titles
are written are being consumed in the
lurid flames which will light US all to
destruction they will not have the con
ISOLATION of having attempted to avert 1t,
nor the commisseration of those who are
cognizant OF the cOwardice and selfish
ness which aided in producing it,
"