Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-01-01
RADICAL LEADERS.

Unfortunately for the permanent sue
cess of Radicalism in Tennessee, the
leaders of that party in this State have
almost universally been reckless and
revengeful, seeking to- crafty their own
private purposes rather than subserve the
interests of the State Their conduct
has been such as not only TO ALLEVIATE
those Of Southern sympathies, but also to
drive from their party many who approved
the leading political principles of the
party. A Radical writing in the New
York Tribune, from Knoxville, appre-
ciates the difficulties with which his party
has had to contend because of the malig-
nancy and corruption Of its leaders. We
commend the following extract from his
letter to the sober consideration of his
party:
If ever there was Il people cursed with
a multiplicity of frivolous elections, it is
the people of Tennessee since the war
This is, in some degree, the cause of the
want of interest in this one which has
Just been held As before stated, the Re
publicans have taken very little paTt'in
the matter, leaving the Democrats and
Rebels to pursue, uumolested, undisturbed,
the even tenor of their way. We expect
the convention to meet at the appointed
time, and to spend a few weeks in 50
shaping the State government as to dis
place from their present position all Re
publican office holders, and more especi-
ally the judiciary, throwing the whole
machinery thereof into their own hands.
To this end, several important changes
will be suggested in our organic law,
portion of which may result in good,
but a large majority of the measures
adopted will really be for Ousting men
from position who do not belong to
the party in power. These measures are
urged by the Democracy as Ie;aliatOry to
the foolish policy pursued by leading Re
publicans while they were in charge of the
State Government. These foolish, not to
say wicked, acts have been the cause of
the downfall of the party, have kept up
domestic strife, and furnished our enemies
abundant means of using our own weapons
upon us. While the masses of Tennessee
Republicans are honest and patriotic, they
have been unfortunate in the selection of
their leaders from men whose prime
quality seems to have been treaChery TO
party and country. The consequence is
that of Tennessee OlitiCians-RepubliCaD
politicians few, very few, have
been faithful to their party, and deservedly
occupy an honorable position in the land,
many have TUNED reCrcant to every prin-
ciple of honor or patriotism, and, either
from the use of money or the inOrdinate
desire for place, have become the most
corrupt men of modern times, in com
parison to their natural ability. These
are the men who have passed and
placed upon the books statute after
statute for the oppression Of those
who failed to agree with them pOliti-
Cally. They have plundered the public
treasury, until we are almost on the verge
of bankruptcy, and our free schools,
which should be in full blast, have been
for some time suspended. These ale the
men who, when it was asCertained that
the scepter was about to pass from them
forever, commenced intriguing TO keep the
e'ring" in power, or 10 break up the Re.
publican party of the State. These are
the men who now, having turned their
backs upon those with whom they once
acted, and having succeeded in placing
their enemies in power, pratc about pro
scription, and speak of the policy of the
Republican party as being too proscrip- |
tive If these trcacherOus men had |
proved true TO their professions, pursued
the line of duty, instead of being led by |
their inordinatc ambition, the Re
publican party Of our State would |
have been in power now, and |
would now command the respect |
of the nation and &C the State. As it is,
we are degraded in the estimation of our
friends and utterly despiscd by our enc
mics, who will spare no opportunities du-
ring this Convention to keep us down.
The only hope we have Of rising is to re-
nounce the corrupt leaders WHO have
placed us in our present unpleasant con-
dition. We will follow no man who has
been instrumental in bringing us to what
we are. We will select new leaders, and
elevate the standard of Republicanism in
the State to that reached by the Republic
can party of the nation. This being done,
VIC expect to redeem the character of
Tennessee Republic 'Nli'iHs- and march
on to conquest 18th our
brother Rep