Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-07-31

on this account.
Among the antecedents, deem it my
duty to mention the
Lisfleo Capacity
of industry Of the President in protecting
the colored people and In assuring peace at
the South. Nobody can doubt that small
portion of the effort and earnest win, even
without the lobbying, SO freely given to the
San Domingo scheme would have averted
those ku-klux outrages which We deplore.
Second. Passing from antecedents, 1
come now to
The Present Position
of the two candidates, which is the subject
Of your next inquiry. III in any former
particulars the two are on an equality, yet
in all substantial respects the obvious sd-
vantage is with Horace Greeley. Each was
nominated by Republican conventions, one
at Cincinnati and the other at Philadelphia;
in this respect they may seem to be on an
equality. But it will not fail to be OBJ
served that the convention at Cincinnati
was composed of
Able and Acknowledged
Republicans many of whom have acted
with the party from its first formation who
without previous organization, came to-
gether voluntarily for the sake of reform
and purity in the Government. While on
the other hand the convention at Philadel-
phia was composed of delegates chosen
largely under the influence of ofice-hold-
ers who assembled TO sustain what is known
as .-..,,','.--
Grantism,
l-s a 4 L
tie personal Government and personal pre-
tensions OF President Grant, involving ne-
potisn, the repayment of gifts by official
patronage, the neglect of public duty, ab-
senteeism, military rule, disregard Of the
constitution and law, with general unftness
and indignity to the colored race, all Of
which is so unrepublican as to make bis
support --.'.
Impossible
by true Republican. Therefore the con-
vention at Philadelphia, calling itself Re-
publican, was less Republican than that at
Cincinnati. The two platforms, 50 far as
concerns especially the colored race, are
alike in substance, but that of Cincinnati is
expressed in terms most worthy of equal
rights. From the two nomina-
tions and the two platforms, come to
The supporters of the Candidates.
Aud here look first at those immediately
about them, and secondly at the popular
support behind. Horace Greeley has among
his immediate supporters in all parts of the
country devoted and consistent Republicans,
always earnest for reform and purity in the
government, and In whose lives there is no
shadow of suspicion, being contrast in
character to those rings which play such
part in the present administration. The
country knows too well the military ring.
the senatorial ring and the custom-house
ring through which the President acts.
Such supporters are very poor recommen-
dation. Looking at the
Popular Support
behind, the advantage is still with Horace
Greeley. President Grant has at bis back
a diversified army of office-holders drilled
to obey the word Of command. The
speeches praising him are by office-holders
and members of the rings. Horace Greeley
finds fiocking to his support large numbers
of Republicans unwilling to continue the
existing misrule and allied with them
Regenerated Party
which comes forward to unite in the liberal
The Democrats in joining
Horace Greeley have changed simply, as
President Grant changed when he Joined
the Republicans, except that be was re-
warded at once with high office. The
change is open, adopting the Republican
platform which places equal rights Of all un-
der the safe guard of irrevocable guarantees,
and at the same time accepting the nomi-
nation of life long abolitionist who repre-
seuts re-eminently the sentiments of duty
to the colored race, they have set their
corporate seal TO the sacred covenant. They
may continue Democrats in name, but they
are in reality Republicans.by the same title
that those who sustain Republican princi-
pies are Democrats according to the original
Of that word, dedicated TO the
rights Of the people. 1t is idle 20 say that
Horace Greeley aud the Republicans that
him are any less Republicans be-
cause the Democrats unite with them in the
support of cherished principles
and the candidate who represents them.
Conversions are always welcome and
not less so because the change is in null
titude rather than individuals. A political
party cannot if it would, and should not if
it could, shut the door against converts,
whether counted by the score, hundred or
thousand. And SO We find the supporters
of President Grant announce with partizan
triumph the adhesion Of a single Demo-
cratic politician or q single Democratic
With equal reason and with
higher pride may the supporters of Horace
Greeley announce the adhesion of one who
turning from the things that are behind
presses on to those that are before. 1t is
also idle to say that the election of Horace
Greeley as President with Gratz Brown as
Vice President, both unchaDgeable Repub-
licans, will be a
Return of the Democratic Party
to power. On the contrary, it will be an
inauguration of Republican principles un-
der the safeguard OF Republican Presi-
dent and Republican Vice President with
Democrats as avowed supporters. In the
organization Of bis administration and in
the conduct of affairs, Horace Greeley will
naturally lean upon those who represent
best the great promise made of equal rights
and reconciliation at Cincinnati. If Demo
Gratis are taken it will be as Republicans in
heart, recognizing the associate terms of
settlement as an irr vocable fnality. Tue
HardihOOd Of Political FaIsehOOd
reaches its extreme point when it is assert
ed that under II. Greeley the freedmen Will
be enslaved, or that the colored people will
in any way suffer in their equal rights. On
the contrary, they have in his election not
only promises of platform but also splendid
example for the full generation, during
which he has never wayered in assertion
of their rights. To suppose that 81. Greeley
when placed where he can do them most
good, will depart from the rule of his hon
est life Is an insult to reason.
1t is none the less idle to suppose that
the Democrats supporting Horace Greeley
expect or desire that he should depart from
those principles which are the glory of his
character. They have accepted the Cincin-
natl platfoFmwith its two-fold promises and
intend in good faith to maintain it. The
Democrats cannot turn back who at the
Convex tion adopting this platform sang
Greeley songs to the tune of "Old John
Brown, his soul is marching on.n Seek
ing especially an establishment of character
in the National Government, they will ex-
pect their President to be always true to
himself. Therefore, put aside the parti-
zan allegations that Horace Greeley has gone
to the Democrats, Or that he will be con-
tToLed by the Democrats.
Gentlemen, in thus answering your two
inquiries l have shown why you as colored
fellow citizens, and also all who would up
hold your rights and save the coored race
from indignity, should refuse to sanction the
reelection of the President and nut your