Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-07-04
What an Old Time DemOerat Says
Letter from Hon. Harvey M. Wat
terson to Gov. Ns,ill s. BROWN.

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What an Old Time, Democrat Says
Letter from Hon. Harvey M. Wat.
terson to Gov. Ns,ill s. BROWN.
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The following letter from Hon. Harvey
III. Watterson recalls some political history
of thirty years ago. The writer succeeded
James K. Polk as Democratic member Of
Congress from Tennessee, in 1910, when
the latter was elected Governor. 7a
WASHINGTON City, June 26, 1872
DEAR GovERNoR-Neithery you nor have
forgotten the Presidential canvass of 1910
You took stock in William Henry Harrison,
and in Martin Van Buren,. Your stock
paid and mine didn't. PCS - T-ii.. q
l need not tell you what caused the great
political storm that swept over the country
during that memorable year, tearing from
the Democratic party many of its oldest
members. You know that there had been
a great financial crash in the land-tte peo-
pie were depressed by debt and cursed By
deprecated currency. They argued that
matters could not be made any worse, and
might be bettered by change OF rulers.
Onthis theory they fought and conquered,
Mr.. Van Buren, received but sixty electoral
votes. -+l-
To my mind there is striking analogy
between the canvass upon which we nave
just entered and that of 1910. remem-
Der that when the Wing National Conven-
ten put Gen. Harrison in the held Tor
President, instead of their great idol, Henry
Clay, we Democrats had some hearty,
wholesome laughing. This amusement we
INDUCED in for three long months. About
the fourth month things began to look seri-
ous-entirely too serious for any further
sport. The truth is we were then beaten.
We found out, when it was too late, that
the public mind was restless and dlssatls-
ed with those in authority. The people
painted for change, and they determined
to have it. When We attempted to con-
vince man against bis will, invariably we
left him in the same opinion still.
The ridicule we heaped on Gen. Harri-
son only made him stronger. History is
now repeating itself. The nomination OF
Horace Greeley was at first received by the
GRANTEES with horse laughter. They fiat
tered themselves that it was a huge Joke,
which would strut It's hour upon the stage
and then be heard of no more. Little did
they know of the spirit that animated the
able and patriotic Republicans who assem-
| bled at Cincinnati. And little did they
know of the longing of the people Tor the
overthrow of military rings and personal
government. Least of all did they know OF
| the shouts that would 60 up for Greeley, all
over the country-North, South, East and
West. Even now they are persuading
themselves, right in the face OF palpaoie
| facts to the contrary, that the Uemocratlc
party has run stark mad, and viii either
| nominate third candidate at Baltimore, OF
commit some other act of folly. Let me Tel
them that the time has passed when that OLD
| organization can be controlled by lmprse'
| ticable politicians. The masses have re-
i solved to think and act for themselves, and
woe unto the once respected leader VINO
attempts to cross their path. Why am
| now addressing you this letter? Because
my whole heart is in the cause espoused by
| Horace Greeley. ! believe that under MS
| lead we can drive the Nandals from high
places and restore the government TO It's
| original purity. To effect this high and
holy purpose, am willing to cooperate Will
| anybody or any party. And believe that
millions of my cOuntrymen are ana VIII De
| animated by the same patriotic Impulse.
The two armies of Cincinnati and Balti-
more will be united on the 9th day OF July
and then we will move directly on the enc
my's works. The devotees of Grantism
will wake up to realization of the stipend
GUS struggle in which they are engaged.
Then they will see the return OF l04O, only
| a great deal more so. Then, ike their
friend Colfax, since his defeat, they viii
| smile no more.
The question is not what you have been,
but what are you now? not What you
thought on subjects that no longer agitate
the public mind or concern the public well
fare, but what view do you take of political
affairs as they are unfOlded to your gaze at
the present moment. pity the man who
prowls around the graveyard of dead issues.
| When meet with such man instructive
| " turn away from his lead. The Demo-
| cratic party cannot afford to rip open old
| controversies. Exclude from its ranks all
| the old Wings and it could not carry a
| single State in the South, nor do believe 1t
| could carry a State in the North. And
suppose that old lifetime Democrats like
myself should refuse to vote for any man
| who had not always belonged to our or
Alexander Il. Stephens and Robert
Toombs? 1 remember the time when
thew both said as hard things against
the Democratic party as Horace Greeley
ever wrote or uttered. The students of
political history might employ few hours
| profitably in the Senate of the United
States. There he would find not less than
fifteen Republican Senators, some of whom
are the ablest and most INSCRIPTIONS Radi-
Gals in that body, who were formerly Dem
ocrats of the straitest sect. Should he Pur-
| sue his investigations to the other end OF
Pennsylvania avenue, he would find gen.
tleman occupying the highest position in
the government, who told me, eight years
ago, that the only vote he had ever cast for
President was for Mr.. Buchanan in 1856;
and be added: 81 voted for Mr. Buchanan to
beat Fremont" Yes, and four members
of his cabinet were, in times past, roaring
Democrats. l have stated these facts that
any one may see the utter folly of hunting
up old records, in order to ascertain the
whereabout of politicians nowadays. no
Thank God, neither of US is thinking Of
party. We are thinking Of our country.
! Her highest interests demand that we
should bury the animosities engendered by
the late cruel war. The man who is trying
to keep them alive ia order to creep into
office, is to me a despicable character.
What we want is forgetfulness of the
past. ! believe that the elevation Of
Horace Greeley to the Presidency will dc
more than that of any other man to restore
kind feelings between the sections. So be,
lieving, am for him with enthusiasm
Let the principles enunciated in his noble
letter of acceptance bloom once more al
the National Capital and we viii be hap
py people. Your friend,
HARVEY M. WATTERSoN.
Gov. Neil S. Brown, Nashville, Tenn.
AN old bachelor says women are like
parrots; they are willing to be Gagged if they