Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-08-23
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TTONkL POLITICS.
One would infer, from the teachings of
some of the newspapers nowadays, that
a Chief Executive is not to be elected in
the interests of the State, but to harmon
ize the organization of some one or other
national party; that a State Convention
to select candidate for Governor is not
really for the selection of Governor, but
for the adoption of some sort of plat
form to establish somebody's party and to
shape the national politics two years in
advance of any other community. For
tunately, however, there are others with
more brains and sincerity, who believe
the business in hand is to elect Governor
and Legislature and Representatives In
Congress TO look after the affairs of Ten
nessee and let national parties take care OF
themselves. The Bonner.
We entertain the highest possible degree
of esteem for 'the brains and sincerity"
of those "others,n who differ from US in
the view we have taken of the bearing of
the fall campaign in Tennessee upon ma
tional politics. Nevertheless we are com
PEELED to adhere to our frequently express
ed convictions.
If Chief Executive is 'to be elected
in the interests of the State" without
regard to the political influence of such
an election, would it not be best in con-
sideration of the benefit that would accrue
10 the State, by reason of entire harmony
with the President of the United States
and the Congress thereof, that we should
choose for our next Governor some such
person as our esteemed fellow citizen,
Hon. John Timble2 Or if material in,
terests only are to be consulted, perhaps
Col. Colyar would be most acceptable to
our cotemporary; for there is no man in
the South more familiar with and more
energetically devoted to the development
and encouragement of the material
interests and resources of the State.
If s'the business in hand is to elect q
Governor, Legislature and Representa-
tives in Congress to look after the affairs
of Tennessee, and let national parties take
care of themselves" why shall we have
an exciting canvass, take the people away
from their flocks and fields, simply to de.
feat such men as Mr.. Maynard, Gen.
Stokes or Mr.. Prosser9 Is not Mr.. May.
nard, an experienced member of Congress,
man of distinguished ability, of &C.
knowledged influence with his party and
particularly devoted to the iron and Goa
interests of the State2 May we not say
much the same of Gen. Stokes Mr..
Prosser, though junior In the Congress
sional course, is going to have the Nash
vile Customhouse built and the Cumber.
land river surveyed and appropriations
made to clear it out from Burksville to
the mouth. Why shall these gentlemen
be disturbed if our Representatives in
Congress are simply ''to look after the
affairs of Tennessee and let national par
ties take care of themselves.
For ourselves we believe that it is OF
the first importance in Tennessee, as in
Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, that q
party should be established, if there is not
one now in existence, whose voice shall
be for war, open war against Radicalism
III all its hideous forms. We want par
ty that will not recede an inch from the
positiontaken ''on national politics" by the
State Convention of June 9, 1868. We
want party that is rot ashamed or afraid
to merge with the national Democracy in
the great battle of 1872, the skirmishIng
of which begins thisfall. If Fillmore,
and Winthrop, and Adams, and Brooks,
and such men in the North, with
John Netherland, and Tom Nelson, and
GustaVus A. Henry, and Vim. H. Stephens,
in Tennessee, all old Wing leaders, may
90 merge" with the National Democracy
in the next campaign, why may not every
other man in Tennessee who is opposed to
Radicalism2 The struggle which we
have to make is against the party in
power. We shall not permit it, so far as
we are concerned, to be dwarfed into a
petty rivalry between aspirants of the
same y,oIiticaI faith.