Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1868-10-27

thew are reckless of the restraints of |
morality" The wholepress Of the State
were outspoken in its condemnation.
The people of the State expressed their |
adherence. 1t was, therefore, evident |
that whatever may have been the incendi-
ary and threatening language of the de-
ceased, vet that his homicide was CEN
sured by the Democracy as well as by
Radicals, blythe white race of the soil,
as well as by the colored people. In
fact, no condemnation could have been
mort emphatic. If therefore, any fur
Their expression Of opinion was deemed
either necessary or wise, it was easy to
have convened public meeting of all
the citizens, irrespective Of party. But
this was not done. The killing of Ran
dolph by irresponsible and unknown per-
sons seems to have been regarded as too
good an opportunity for political capital
to be lost. As one of the speakers said:
"The blood of Randolph left them this
consolation. As the news flashed across
the electric wires, thousands of men
would fall into the Republican ranks.
RandOlph's death would thus gain ten
thousand votes for Ulysses S. Grant"
Or, as the same speaker, moro polntedly
expressed the whole purpose and scope oil
the meeting, Remember whenever
Democrat comes to you and says he IS
your friend, point him to 'Randolph's
bloody corpse" 1t was, therefore, not
peace that was desired, but agitation. 1t
was not truth, but charge without the
slightest foundation against the Demo-
cratic party and its principles. TWAS
not to condemn the perpetrators, but
falsely to arraign the Democracy. 1t
was not so much to deplore the deed, as
to array the races. And to these con-
illusions we have gbeon forced by the
general tenor and character o. the
speeches.
"Some ofthe most valued of the white
race have been stricken down by the col
ored assassins upon their farms and upor
the high road, in the broad light of day
while pursuing their peaceful avOcations
and vet it has never been charged upoI
the Republican party as such. The SAT
fate of Rhett, of Haywood, of young
Smith, of Columbia, and of others, ar,
but too well remembered. Republican
orators of all colors, have traVersed tn
State disorganizing labor, inflammation.
and insulting in their appeals, arrayini
race against race, denouncing the whit
race of the soil, and even threatening tn
use o. the torch. This meets with n
rebuke from the Republican party. Demo
cratic voters are driven from the polls
: Democratic colored orators are threatene
and intimidated, the premises Ofthe whit
race. and the safety Of their families ar
impefiled by the incendiary, but not on
word of stern rebuke or Of denunclato
is heard. But on the other hand whe
those who suggest the incendiarism an
inhame the public mind are Violentl
dealt with by men unknown, in detianc
b Of all law and order, it is charged immC
diatsy upon the Democratic party, an
upon the whole white race Of the Stat
notwithstanding their open condemnatlo
OF the deed. Can any other concluslo
be drawn than that the whole matter
, forEEolitical capital and not for the Wind
, cation of the Jaw or the preservation
the public peace. 1t is time that all tn
folly of either holding the Democrat
party or the people responsible for unad
vised acts of violence should cease.
may suit the purposes of party, but it
not the truth"