Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-08-18
SHOW Not to Manage Southern
ElectiOns"--A Blistering Ar
ticle from Radical Organ.


| From the New York Times, Aug. Is, 9
A saying of the Wise Man is verified
| in the course of some extreme Southern
politicians and their Northern abettors:
Though thou shouldst bray fool in a
mortar among wheat with a pestle, yet
will not his foolishness depart from him. ~
The class Of whom we speak learn moth
ing from experience. The fact that Gov.
Holden's violent proceedings have trans
ferred North Carolina to the Democracy
teaches them no lesson. They imagine
that the possession of power entities
them to play despotic tricks with
impunity; and that r if their authority
TO override law and outrage Justice be
challenged, they have but to appeal to
Washington to obtain sll the support they
require. They assume that Federal
troops are available whenever they choose
to call for help, and that, if. these are not
equal to the occasion, Congress win upset
Its own work, do violence to the rights of
sovereign States, and restore chaos as a
pretext for military, government 1t
must be admitted that for these extrava-
CANT assumptions too much justification
has been afforded. The dispatch of
troops to do Gov. Holden's bidding is
precedent not less mischievous in its tend
ency than the eYer-recurring threat of in
reference which the extremists in Con-
gress promulgate whenever they find party
supremacy jeopardized in Soutern State.
But the folly that inyokes Federal inter
ference is none the less because there is a
folly that comedies such interference. In
either case it is suicidal. ai t1l E.. Z
What is about to happen when Mr..
Forneys two papers begin to talk of 're-
newed Southern outrages, all of US sknow.
The sign is understood everywhere. There
is purpose which may be interpreted
without prophetic aid. + Some scheme for
promoting personal ambition or factious
greed is to be presented to Congress or
the President. Some plan is contemplated
for carrying an election against the will
OF the people, or for perpetuating an au-
thority that cannot Withstand free exer-
clse of the ballot. Then the Ku-Klux re-
appear, and murders and outrages multi
ply at rate which only vivid imagina-
ions can explain. Of this startling intel
igence the Washington Chronicle and |
he Philadelphia Press have monopoly;
hey are without rival in that line of the |
newspaper business. And they are pre-
pairing now for fresh manifestations of |
heir peculiar skill They would have US
believe that the defeat in North Carolina
night have been prevented had there been
more bayonets at the bsllot-box; and they
70 describe events in other States as to |
suggest the necessity for military appear
lnces to make sure of Republican victo-
les. They ask us to rely more upon the
juliet and less upon the ballot. -s5T /
From this teaching Georgia has happily |
been rescued by the good sense of one |
branch of the local Legislature, indorsed |
md perhaps aided by Attorney General |
Akerman. The people are not TO be de-
rauded out of an election, as was propo-
ed. Now let us hope that they will be
allowed to vote unmolested by the militia |
y. Mr.. Akerman has well said that the /
Republican party can better afford to lose |
State than retain it by means that con-
lict with right. In Texas, however, there
5 Governor who desires to initiate Mr.. |
1elden. He wants little standing army |
o aid him in managing matters, and threat
ms to appeal to the Washington Jupiter
f the Legislature rejects his propositions. |
\ dispatch to the Galveston BulLetin-a
taunch Union sheet-brefly tells the sto-
y:
''AUsTIS, Aug. 6.-Gov. Davis has de-
ermined that if the Legislature adjourns
Without passing the appropriations he
Isked, amounting to 81, 800, 600, that he |
will Immediately call an extra session.
t that is refused, he will report to the
federal Government that the State is law
ess, that he is powerless, and ask that the |
State be remanded to military rule, that
lie be appointed military Governor, and |
roops stationed in the State as before re-
construction" E.E sEE -
We have seen these things so often al
eady that the prospect of their repeti-
ion creates no surprise. The partisan
cense in which they originate is not yet
Exhausted. All we can hope is that if
ioy. Davis make pilgrimage to Wash
ngton he will return home less conf
ent if not wiser man.
1t is quite evident that the process of
the Southern States to establish
'arty supremacy in them forever, has
'een continued too long for the good of
be party itself. The object of recon-
tructiOn was national, not partisan, and
he policy that would unsettle q finished
york as often as partisan exigencies arise
) as scandalous as it is impolitic. 1t
rings disgrace on the party resorting to
!, and insures repetition of results akin
o those in North Carolina. The field is
road and fair, and we should be content
o contest it fairly. Many substantial
dvantages are on the Republican side,
nd their legitimate use should be suf-
cient for all reasonable purposes. If
ur party managers would turn them to
he best account and win victories where
ow they seem to dread defeat, they will |
XDel the HOldpns and Daviaes from their /