Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-07-14
HORACE GREELEY AND THE ma.
TUlNAL RERT

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sweep over and scourge a country, like a
dreadful psstilence, and the virtual enslave-
ment of the laboIing classes. It may be
new doctrine to many that debt enslayes
the tolling millions, or that they are en-
shaved at all. Slavery consists simply in
the nottingham being defiauded, no
matter in what way, of the
fruits of his labor. Now this
thing is being done the world oyer--in some
countries most severely, in others less so.
By whatever name this oppression may be
called, it IS slavery. Take England for an
example. Does not that class which pro-
duces all her wealth, which holds her plow,
opens and runs her mines, builds her
houses, ships, and railroads, carries on her
extensive factories--does not this class live
in the most tumble-down houses, wear the
shabbiest clothing, eat the cheapest and
ofentimes most unwholesome food? Does
not that other class, of lords and noble
men, step in and receive the lions share Of
the fruits of their toll? And where is the
country in which workingmen are not
oppressed, in some measure, similarly
Debt, alone, may not give the rich man this
firm grasp upon the poor laborer, but it
contributes its full share. 'fThe borrower
is servant to the lender" is an inspired
proverb. The way the power is obtained is
this: National debts always bear good
round interest. This interest is paid by the
working class; not directly perhaps, but GER
tainIy. For the working class produce all
the wealth, and support, of course, every
idler who lives by his wits and upon the in
terest of his principal. Until the Govern
ment itself and the whole settled course of
things is destroyed, no English workman
can escape contributing his share in the
| support of rich lords and noblemen; for
England, which means the rich class, wants
the debt, and will do nothing to have it paid
of. 1t secures them a princely fortune
yearly, and their principal is secured by a
lien upon every poor man, woman and
child in the realm. .s1T
In our country the national debt must
and even has produced the same condition
of affairs in point of fact, though not so bad
in degree. There is no foe 10 our Liberties
greater, perhaps, than this debt. Grants
Capitalization may be more Immediately
alarming, but the people already see it and
will come down on it next November, and
at any like threatening peril in the future
they may, by simple vote, sweep the dan
ger away. Not so the debt. 1t viii brood
over the country for generations, ever ready,
vulture-like, to swoop down and eat out the
vitals of our free republic. 1t cannot be
repudiated, for it was fairly contracted; yet
it. is and should be regarded as foe to any
free people. 1t should be sedulously watch
ed, preventing the occurrence in our land
of that state of affairs existing in all the
kingdoms and empires of Europe. 1t should
be paid off as fast as possible, ever guard
ing, meanwhile, the industrial interests of
the country.
Whom then do we want for our next
President? We want Horace Greeley.
Thoroughly identified with workingmen
from boyhood, we want him to guard them
the bone and sinew Of this, as of every
other country-in their rights. We want
him to do the work for which, by lifelong
study we think him prepared, viz: to main
tain the reputation of the United States as
an asylum for the oppressed of all nations.
Parton in his life of Greeley, published in
1854, says: 'The eleven lectures Of Horace
Greeley which lie before me are variously
entitled; but their subject is ONE; his sub
ject, is ever the same; the object of his pub
lie life is single. 1t is EMANCIPATION OF
LABOR; it is emancipation from ignorance,
vice, servitude, insecurity, poverty. This
is his chosen, only theme, whether he speaks
from the platform or writes for the
Tribune" With such testimony, from
such a source, written twenty years ago,
what workingman can hesitate as to whom
to vote for? Whatever else is needed in
President, the present crisis demands pro-
foundry honest and severely economical
man We may count upon Greeley to re-
duce to the lowest minimum the number Of
offices, and 10 fill those offices with men
who, like himself, believe that government
must be conducted for the good of the
people and not for the emolument of the
office-holders. What miserable, sickening
spectacle to see the highest Office within the
gift of the people turned into a money
making machine! Grant, with misery
selishness, prostituting the Office Of Presi-
dent TO fill his pockets and those Of a
retinue of relatives A nice sight, indeed,
to see President with salary of $4,000
per annum gadding about over the country,
attending horse races and the like, as coolly
Indifferent to the important trusts and dH-
ties committed to his care as if they were
only some two or three worn out army
horses to look after! But after all, it may
bC unIOooOuduAO W CApCCJ OLO vi Ills "a
pacity to do better. But thanks to the re-
yolVing seasons, which have brought us
nearly to November, 1872, when we may
put in man distinguished for his forget
fulness of self, and for his devotion to the
best interests of his countrymen-Horace
Greeley. Put him in the Presidents chair,
and we have large, benevolent heart, ever
beating for the people, and mighty, active
brain ever executing the patriotic impulses
of his heart. Much might be said to fire
the public mind still more for Greeley, but
the people know enough of him already to
ensure bis election.
THE Hon. Robert Stewart of Chittenan-
go, Madison county, New York, Grant
elector from this State in 1868, has come