Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-11-26

Upon the whole, the lecture of Gen.
Butler, from the Geographic synopsis
which we publish, will not add to the
genuine fame Of Gen. Butler, or con-
tribute TO the permanency or responsibility
of the Grant administration.
ssWHO BRINGS DEAD FLOWERSl,,
1t was a pagan maxim, De naortuis
nil aisi GOnuna-Say nothing of the dead,
if you cannot speak well of them. But
some of our exchanges are dreadfully dis
turbe1 by the deceased, if we may judge
from their daily denunciation of e'dead
issues" We do not know what Witch
of-End0r has been raising the dead, and
rather suspect that our friends are labor
ing under nightmare. But their alright
seems none the less real, for its cause
being purely imaginary. We proceed,
therefore, to exOrclze these ghostly sha-
dOws and give our friends gaiet1LS.
What are these 'dead issues (" Let us
all join to hunt them down, and pin them
to the earth, that they may wander about
no more, 10 the terror of the timid.
First, Slavery is dead issue. The
united voice of Clristendom could not
resurrect il in our Southern land. Against
our win, Yankee greed forced it on us,
TO foster their maritime enterprise; and
against our win, Yankee greed forced il
from US, to 'protect" their manufactur-
ing enterprise. The devil gave; and the
devil hath taken away: give the devil his
due.
Secondly, The political status of the
freedman is a dead issue. The same
march of revolution that abolished slavery
iTeyOcably, has also settled this. The
same revolutionary forces thai swept away
slavery, has brought the negro to the top
most surface The last final fight in this
State occurred on the floor of our COnsti-
tutional Convention last winter. The
issue is dead. The Democracy have no
intention, immediate or remote, of seek
ing 10 revive it. Nor do we think that
the future holds within It's womb any con-
iingency that could ever render il even ad-
yisabie for the Democracy TO reopen the
question. 1t is settled, and we can but
make the best of our body polite as 1T
g. l.
simulated That we are ''Bourbons''; We &C
cept The soubriquet, if our friends viii
accept these as the views of Bourbon
Democrats, which indeed they are, as well
as ours
Thirdly, Secession is dead issue. Dis
missing dull discussion of its merits and
dement's, we remit it 10 the region Of
speculative politics. As Il scheme for the
seyering and readjusting of political rela-
lions by peaceful means, it required the
assent of all parties interested. When
tried, that assent was found wanting.
Furthermore, we recognize that the Union
conceived by our fathers of 'S9 is better
bond than any German Bmd yet devised,
or any ever shifting balance of power.
Our future, as a Union of States, presents
a simpler problem than it would have
done as collection of jealous neighbor-
ing nations.
To render this Union durable and en-
| durable 10 make it more catholic as it
embraces more territory and a larger di-
versiiy of interests; to replace it on the
firm foundation of the fathers and TO
transmit it to our children, as we received
it, in all its glory and usefulness-is the
immediate duty of this generation. To
this work the Democracy is cOnsecrated.
Ii presents live issues only. These issues
are: simple and cheap government.
From these two, honesty will follow
| Two tendencies OF the times we oppose
sirenuously:
First, consolidation, which destroys the
simplicity Of government and nultiples
offices, while placing the officials above and
beyond the scrutiny of the people. II
gives us public servants incompetent and
insolent, because irresponsible to us. The
Democracy sounds the old rally cry of
local self-goyernmeni, under which the
Revolution of "a was won. The in.
ternal economy of States is better under
stood and better regulated by the local
powers. We therefore oppose the AS
sumption, underlying the fifteenth amend
mcnt, that the Federal power should regu.
late suffrage in the States. We see noth-
ing but mischief in the scheme of main
tanning 4 standing army in time of peace
10 interfere in the State elections. And
We oppose the present cumbrous and
costly machinery for The collection of The
internal revenues.
The second evil tendency of the day is
the erection of huge monopolies. The
almost fabulous grants 10 railroad mon
opolirs threaten 10 huildup in this country
a class more powerful and more danger
Gus 10 republican Institutions, than the
fcudal lords of old-mushrOon million
aires. with all the wealth Of European
aristocrals, with little of their culture and
none Of their family traditions to hold
unsullied The high honor of historic
names. The miSmanagement of our
national deb, is building up another fav-
ored class of this ilk. The National Bank
monopoly Expresses every man of enter
prise in the land. Through its corrupt
influence funding bill was rendered i'm
possible in the last Congress. And the
multifom tariff monopolies press hourly
on every soul of us in everything we ca,
and drink and wear. The Democracy
Opposes monopoly in every form. We
want freedom for all, protection for all;
hut privileges for none, above his fellows