Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-01-26

some "Reminiscences OF the SAN

Some "Reminiscences of the same
Some days since the topmost part of the
pole of the old flag staff at the southeast
corner of the City Hall fell to the ground
and was broken to pieces aud shattered to
fragments. 1t was significant Of the fate
of the political ring who some years since
destroyed the rights and franchises
OF the people, recklessly squandered
the city and the public funds, ruth
lessly turned citizens out of office,
and filed all the offices, county,
municipal and State with foreign impor-
tations, and as an indication of their
triumph hoisted an omiEous carpet-bag
upon that same flag pole, to which the
people were asked to bow, with that sur
| veillance, required once Of another brave
| people who were once asked to bow to the
cap of Gesler at Altorf But as time at last
sets all things even, 20 time has proven
that we had in unconqGered spirit at last,
William Tells enough to resist the usurpa-
ton and overthrow it. With the fall and
breaking up of the Radical ring and carpet
bag power forever, 1T is to be
hoped in Tennessee, it was meet that the
ropes that held their ensign should rot
away, and that the timbers supporting
them should come tumbling to the earth
beneath our feet. The authority of the
ring was brief but they made the most of
1t. The city was run ruinously in debt
Corporation checks were issued indisGrim-
inately, and almost hopeless bankruptcy
was involved. By the restored sovereign
viii which had been fettered and suppress
ed, the power of the people to regulate
their own municipal concerns has been
restored, and order and credit are being,
as rapidly as possible, brought out Of
chaos and bankruptcy
Where now are those who formed lead
ing characters in the Ring, few of whom
were of rs, or had aught of interest among
rs. 1t is hard to locate them, for since
the shattered wand of power fell from
their grasp, they have been somewhat mi
gratory and peripatetic In their move
ments. They are scattered hers
and there on the adventurous war
path, some of them drifting about
aimless and apparently purposeles5,
as to motive, movement or occupation
Capt. Allen, the city attorney at the tune
of their power, is we believe IN Kansas
City, where he swings his card as ''Ooun-
sellor and Attorney at Law" Commits
sioner Stone is in Washington City, whore
he has a clerksbip in one Of the Bureaus
Col Moore is in New Jersey. Capt. Heydt
is in Washington performing mental ser
vice for Brownlow. Ex-MayOr Alden, who
We believe made nothing ouI of the AIug,
is Deputy United States Marshal. Sheri-
dan has left for parts not known to rs and
ike his iliustrious namesake of the famous
ride, rides no more among Us. ..-.-
| The members composing the old City
| Council are, some of them here, and the
others are scattered in different localities.
| The Freedmen's Bureau is busted, those
| holding its immaculate drawers being,
we learn, in Missouri. Innis, the RE
ceiver," is in Michigan. The Club House
on North College street exists no more,
and those who made merry at its festive
board no more eo-mingls together in the
Rock City.
The ring like the timber from the flag
staff is broken to pieces and shattered to
fragments. Its members are scattered
throughout the country, and no longer
hold the purse strings, levying taxes,
making appropriations, issuing checks, and
imposing collections on a people who were
not allowed solitary voice in the most
/ important matters of municipal, State or
county legislation. -.
The result was not unforeseen and con-
| veys its moral 1t shows that a united
people, by judicious forbearance and
united action, will ultimately triumph over
oppression, and that usurpation Of natural
and God-given rights brings, sooner or
later, Just and irrevocable retribution to
the usurpers. We refer to the subject
through no hardness of feelings or regrets
for the past, whatever of mischief it may
have entailsd for the time, but as showing
that virtue brings its own reward, and that
power, obtained over a brave and gsner-
Gus people through Legitimate means,
proves eventually but barren scepters in
| the grasp of those who WELD it.