Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-05-09

The Troubled Waters - The Free
Fradsrs and the Anti.Grans Men
as work
Correspondents Of the Cincinnati Enquirer
spxAKKR BLAINE AND THR WAYS AND MEANS |
GUARDIANSHIP.
NV. Tozr. Afay 8, 1871 The Ma
tjon0l Intelkgencer, formerly published
in Washington, and now in New YORK,
and edited by Hon. Alexander Dslmar,
publishes In it en- important article this
morning On the Craftsmanship of the
Committee on Ways and Means. II states
that Speaker Blsine has lately WIS.,
tied that city and had an in
terview with numerous leading man
ufacturers and merchants in which the
tariff formed the principal theme OF con-
yersatior. The parties, with one voice,
united in denouncing the present system
as highly injurious to their interests ana
of the country. They were nearly a.,
Radical business men, who had rendered
themselves prominent during the war IN
supporting the Union cause. NeVerthe'
less thew declared to Speaker Blaine Inst
If he appointed Judge Kelley or any
other protectionist as Chairman OF The
WAYS and Means Committee, they should
regard the act as declaration of hostil-
! ity, and should thenceforth throw tneir
money, votes and influence with the CJn-
servstive party.
Mr.. Blaine in return assured them or
his intention to investigate the matter,
as he already had strong reasonto believe,
he found that their voice was that OF the
commercial classes generally, he should
certainly pay great Difference to it In sp-
/ poiuiipr the chairman of the committee
-one of the gentlemen who was present
has even named to US the person-an I'M
qualified revenue reformer, whom, the
Speaker limited he had thought OF ap
pointing as chairman, but this conclusion
may not be fully warranted by the Ian
guage used. There can be no doubt,
to the views of the business community
in this matter he will appoint 6
revenue reformer. But on the other
b md, how can be steer clear of the diff
Guilty raised by the fact that the Radica
party is irretrievably committed to pro
lection. It is true that the New Yori
Post and Chicago Tribune are free trade
papers. 1t is also true that since Speaker
Blaine's visit to the city, the Tribune
heretofore obstinate in pinning its party
to Protection, and Protection to its party,
and strange, nay, even brutal in its de
uunciations of all who failed to agree
with this policy, suddenly comedies &c
every Radical the right to support protec
ton or oppose it at will, but tht
former journals are hardly Ra6i
cal party organs. While the Rad
ical press generally has laboret
hard to ingraft protection upon its parry
platforms, easily to shake off. Now it vii
not do for Speaker Blaine TO appoint {
man like Gen. Garfield, who is neithe1
flesh nor fish. The man he appoints
must be an unquestionable revenue re
former, or a positive protectionist. i
the former, The tariff win be Immediately
cut down after Congress meets-Federa
taxation reduced at once 10 almost 5000,
600, 900 year. If the chairman Of th'
committee fails to accomplish these meas
ules, most of the manufacturers and all o
the merchants are determined t.
turn iheir backs on the Radical party. i
he carries them opt, the Radical polite
ians will be left without adequate mean
for the campaign of 1872, and the debt
paying, specie-hoarding, and 0thel
finance quiddities of the present Admin
i traiion will be stamped with the disap
progel of COngress-an awkward mattel
for Grant. The dilemma is great, anC
the subject has al important bearing or
the Presidential election.
4 n
A MOVEMENT TO DEFEAT GRANT IN 1872.
During the past few days number Of
leading Republicans, discontinued witt
Grants Administration, have held an i'm
p3rtant conference in this city, and thu
line of sctioa decided upon is one thai
will make itself felt il tie yerious States
this very yea:, so as 10 have due etfec
on the Presidential election, They &C
knowledge that the Republicans are in s
majority in the North, and as GRAM
is to be the nominee of the regular
convention, they iatend to encourage re
bellion in their local conventions, so as t
cause break next year and run man Of
their own, and thus defeat Grant, to whom
are now opposed men like Logan, Banks
Fenton and Cox. They cannot secure
|
votes away from GRAFT 70 help elect the
Democratic nominee. For INA purpose
local discussions, similar TO those now
keeping the Republicans of this State
in state OF demonstration, are to bt
everywhere encouraged Gnd kept alive. Al
the same time an sctiFe correspondence
has been going on for some days past
with leading Democrats so as TO prepare
the way for the Democratic rank snd file
to run their man without q platform.
The Wing precedent of 1910 and 1S48 is
quoted, being the only years when the
I Wing candidates Were elected, because
there was no platform. Should this be
accepted by the Democrats, the boiling
Republicans, while keeping up q division
in their own ranks, promise to throw a
heavy vote for the untrammeled Dem
ccFatic candidate. The Republicans claim
that the Democrats can elect their man il
he is not hampered by platform, and il
his name is q guarantee for the new de.
parture policy. These suggestions have
been thrown ont 10 the Democracy by
leading Republicans here this week, who,
after having agreed upon the tactics tO
be followed in their own party line, now
attempt to secure whatever aid they car
from the Democrats TO defeat Grants re
election. The Democratic leaders here
are not averse to running a candidate
| without platform, and among the
names mentioned are Hancock, Adams
and GratZ Brown.