The Union flag. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1865-187?, 1869-12-17
AND TENNESSEE
REPUBLICANS.

We refer our readers and the press
to the able paper on our first page,
known as the Protest against the lc-
gality and validity of the late election
in Tennessee" 1t speaks for itself, and
speaks the truth. For various reasons,
we reprint it, and ask its careful peru
sal by those who are advocates of law
and order and opposed to lawlessness
and unauthorized revolution.
We say to our brethren of the Re-
publcarpress of other States, and to
all, that the great body of Republicans
Of our State are true and incorruptible.
They have not bowed the knee to Dem
ocratic Baal; nor will they.
Of the true men of our State, who
are Republicans from principle, and
will live and die such, their number
represents an actual voting strength of
not less than seventy thousand. OPP
posed to them is voting strength of
about eighty thousand of the sharp
grit &" Lost Cause" Democratic school:
and in addition, some twenty thousand
of the good lord, good devil " stripe,
that usually measure themselves out to
whoever is likely to win.
The question is, shall the true men
Of our State be abandoned to cruel
and murderous fate?
For the past few months, we have
been panied at repeated editorial COM
ments in reference to the Instability
not to say downright treachery-of
Tennessee Republicans. The COM
ments referred to are made by our
ablest Republican journalists, and as to
one class, they are true. 1t is, however,
n matter Of justice TO all concerned
that the true secret should be known,
as it has an important bearing on other
States as well as Tennessee. In reveal
ing what we aver is the secret, we are
indebted to the opinion and observation
of one of the most worthy, deliberate
and sensible resident citizens of our
State, one who has grown up with the
State, and may be styled a lifelong
Republican. lie is of that not very
numerous class of Republicans that
snuiled danger in the johnson breeze"
long before the public feared its APP
proach.
The secret is, that with almost no
exception, Tennessee Republican trail
tors are those who were the most out
spoken advocates and participants Of
negro slavery. In Tennessee, many
were the owners of slaves who admitted
that the institution was an evil, and
expressed fears as to consequences TO
our nation. But few of this class can
be found who were not friends to our
government in It's time of trouble, and,
to-day are numbered with the unwaver-
ing Republicans. On the other hand,
Republicans who were the open, uncon-
ditioAal advocates Of slavery whilst il
existed, arc now part and parcel Of
the Conservative Democratic party
They are that class of men who be-
licyed that the government ought and
would pay loyal men for the loss Of
slave property; and the fact Of its not
doing so, knocked entirely OF that
corner of their souls that contained al
their patriotism hence, all that was
left in them was Conservative Rebel
Democracy
We publish the test-formula, and
challenge an application Of it to the
cases In question. If exceptions are
found they may be marked. only, as
variations from leading and well-es-
tnblshed rule.
This lead US TO state another impor-
tant fact: Toe moral poison OF the
spirit and practice Of involuntary slave.
rs with It's fostering pollution, will be
curse in many Of our States for years
to come and It's r'rus y just as antag-
onisiic TO true Republicanism as He'll l.
opposed 10 Heaven