Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-08-08
ry4e COMING caMpAfGN,

The imminent danger now hanging
over the country lies in the congressional
enactments known as the Ku-Klux and
Bsyonet Election laws. Under the former,
the Presidential aspirant can proclaim
martial law in any State or section at his
own discretion, superseding the civil
authorities and preventing all elections
whatever. Under the latter enactment
he can surround the polls with bayonets
and secure as overwhelming majority as
Louis Napoleon proclaimed only few
months before his reinforcement. Whether
or not majority of the American people
will endorse. the many and alarming ''de-
partures" of Rsdicalism from the sim
plicity of republican institutions, is one
question. Another, prior, and more i'm
portant question is: Will the msjority be
allowed TO pass their opinion on the present
dynasty9 In other words, shall we be
granted free and fair electionsa for such
are the discretionary powers lodged by
Congress in Grant, that the matter piac-
tically resolves Itself into concession or
grant. t.-ii'" ei cd
Although the laws we speak of are so
worded as to apply TO the whole country,
there is little occasion for immediate
alarm as concerns the North. Gov.
Gesry appears fully determined to keep
the closely contested field of Pennsylva.
mia clear of Federal troops. The same
may be expected in New York. The
immediate danger lies rather in the
South, against which section these odious
Congressional enactments were in reality
directed.
An important work before US is to SO
speak and act that there shall be no
reasonable pretext for military interfer-
ence in the elections in the South. Some
may say if we cannot speak and act as
we please when we have no hostility, it
would be as well for us to be under an
imperial government. We say to all
such that while we are under govern
ment republican in form, it is in sub
stance and effect q despotism, a
despoLism which will be riveted hope
lessly upon us, if the Grant party
should succsed in the next cleo
ton. We have no apprehension that
any portion of the Southern people enter
tain any feelings of disloyalty to re:
publican constitutional government. BIT
wehavein the party, sustaining the present
presidential Incumbent an unscruplous
foe, who resorts TO any Misrepresentation
which may effect his purpose in deceiv-
ing the popular mind of tie North es to
the aims and purposes of the South. We
can give dignity and strength to the De-
mocratic organization by laboIing IN
harmony for its success, while the free
dom of elections and the perpetuity of
genuine republicanism are in doubt.
A word to cur Northern friends:
From the days of declining Rome
when the Pretorian Guard disposed of
the imperial purple, down to the last
J1le6iScite of modern despotism, military
elections have meant the suppression Of
the popular voice. They have no place
in the autonomy of 8 republic, where
the majority is supposed to rule. Moth
ing is plsiner than that the people among
whom the ballot box must be protected,
are adjudged unworthy or incapable OF
free self-government. If such be the
Northern opinion Of us, let the North
settle the country's future all by itself.
AT leasr, lei the North see 10 it, that its
own honest convictions are not nulli-
piled and overturned by false bayonet
returns from the South.