The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1872-02-22
Frank Blair on the Situation.

haustivc document, but entirely too
elaborate for newspaper publication.
An extract or two, however, will give
the reader pretty good idea of the
character of the remarks, 5, and the line
of policy which the distinguished gen
tlcman thinks bost to pursue in the pres
cnt anomalous and extraordinary con-
dition of things. Discussing the pro-
position to affiliate with the Liberal Re-
publicans, the speaker said:
We should sometimes learn from our
enemies, and when we see the alarm
and CONSERVATION which have pcnetrat-
ed the ranks of our opponcntS-which
have driven their inilcXiblc President
from his inlrcnchmcnt and compelled
him to deliver n message in favor of am
ncsty in the Congress of the United
States. we mot help seeing that it is
the policy that they fear, and that we
ought to adopt it, If we 90 u step FUR
thcr, and firmly decline to make anomi-
nation for President, have no doubt
that Grant himself will rush over on the
Democratic platform. and Congress will
pass bill for universal amnesty before
adjournment. McClurg, in spite Of our
protests, would have sold out cvcry-
thing in the State if we would have
elected lin last year. But il we pcrSc-
we're; if, instead OF putting forward n
Democratic candidate for the prcsdcn-
cy. we simply stand as we stood last
year in the election in Missouri. allow
the Liberal Republicans to nominate.
they will be very careful to nominate
a man who is acceptable to the Demo
Gratis.
We need not give ourselves the slight
est apprehension; no man need 90 out
of his wav to suggest this name or that
name; they know they must yet n man
more acceptable than Grant in order to
get the votes which will elect their man.
If believed that Democratic prnci-
pies could be advanced by running a
candidate, if he were beaten hundreds
of thousands Of votes. | should not hes
itate one instant to declare in favor Of
the preservation and maintenance of
those principles, even at the expense of
thc most Overwhelming dclcn, that
couId Inc visited upon us: hut do not
believe that defeat is the right road to
victory believe that another defeat at
tli. time wuuld thorouuhly destroy the
efficiency of the Democratic party for
thc futurc tho, such a blow would so
rrinulc if that its ability 70 serve the
orrnt object and to maintain the orca,
priuciplrs il has sought to establish
womb -. 50 thorourhly and COMPLETELY
iuiurol ns tn render il utterly inefficient
in the future. or for wears 10 come.
On the other hand. look &C. this poli-
cy of obstaiuiu" from making a uomi
u,tiou and iuyitiu~ that norton of the
Rcpuhlicons who. Ihouoh antauouis,ic
ON no.t oucstious. vet concur with Ms in
some of thc GREAT principlrs which we
desire 10 defend ana maintain, TO pu,
torword q candidate. and that we will
cudc,vor ,o clcrt him rs the most etIi-
c;cn,. thc most ctlcctual and certain
method of collirr a halt upon ,hr Radi.
coI nroorammc for thc sr5iurotion of
,Ir roun,rv and thc final overthrow of
,l,o rca, nrinrinlrs unon which il wos
rnnndoI ! tbinl if i. thc most thor.
.nunh orI o,,oc,nol ,uothoI of ch.ck in,
,hn nrn,cun .ys,cm nrInr which nil
brmocr,,ir nrinrin,c il di.mnnror;ur
,r,nn ,-o ol,n;n;slro,in, ,r ,h, ,,I,ir.
of thc Govcrnmcnt
WHY the idro of cousul,inr thc Con.
s,itn,inn to soe whe,hcr Concrrss hns
.,nwcrt, do tLis ,h,t or ,hr n,hcr is
no mara ,houmht or in Counrcss now
v.hor u, ,iII ;s in,rndncol tbon If ,hcrn
L,l novo,. hcou such , ,hiun os , Cam
,,itr,ion or ,Lc Ini,cd states Powers
orn c,,imcd and cyrrcisrd =, this dny
,hot wonll hnvc startled rho Federal.
is,s mnLrr ,hc administration of fine
oI1er AI,ms Thry wnu,d mot in tLo
moment Of their "reotcst mower hnvo