Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-04-28
1RADTCAL nTTrERENCR

While looking toward Cincinnati with
hopes that are heightened by the dangers
now threatening ou- American system of
free government, It Is well-to bear in mind
that the masses Of the Democracy can only
be relied on in fight for principles. From
the days of the Old Confederation to the
present there have existed In our politics
two conflicting tendencies. The nature Of
these tendencies, in their present aspect, is
veil described by the New York Courier
des EtGts- Unis, a French-Americsn organ:
The serious difference between them ia
the effort made by them in opposite direc-
tions5by the Radical party 10 suppress what
remains of local franchises, to the profit OF
the Federal power captured by the master
! politicians of VI ashingtOn; and by the
Democratic party, to preserve the greatest
] part possible OF their independence In what
/ concerns their local interest. We have,
! therefore, every imaginable reason to con-
| tinue our attachment to the Democratic
| par.y-reasons founded on principle from
an American point Of view, In relation TO
the internal pollty Of our adopted country,
and reasons founded OF facts drawn from
the immediate interests of the country
Of our birth. France.
With similar ciearness, the Philadelphia
North american roughly sketches the cou-
fictiDg forces from the Radical standpoint:
On the one hand we have presented the
State sovereignty, and on the other nation
al unity; on the one hand we see homogen,
city, on the other diversity in kind, as q
preferred principle.
Thus these differing authorities practical
ly agree that the one grand living principle
Of Democracy is local control of local con-
earns. To denounce this as secession is a
dishonest violence Of terms, for secession is
understood TO seek remedy out Of the
Union, while the Democracy seeks in the
Union 70 restore its true equilibrium, and
thus render its perpetustlon durable in be-
ing endurable. And this one principle of To-
cal liberties embraces all the passing issues
Of the day. Amnesty for all, security for the
rights of all, follow of necessity. Carpet
bag rule, bayonet elections and martial law
disappear before the free government of the
people. The corruption and insolence of
Office will cease when officers become re-
sponsible to the people. But Radicalism
distrusts the people, North as well as South;
and seeks to repeat here the continually ex-
plOding European experiment of CONSOLE
dated government absorbing all local fuDc-
tioDs. 1t transfers the affairs of New York
city to Albany; those of Philadelphia to
Harrisburg; and already seeks the second
removal of both to Washington, 1t apes
French Imperialism, and has by the same
means brought about degree of corrup-
ton little short Of that which has prostrat-
ed France in the dust. Public spirit, pub
lie morals, all elements Of national strength,
die In such an atmosphere. Already we
have too many instances, in our foreign
policy, of the weakness abroad that Is bred
of tyranny at home.
In looking, therefore, toward Cine innati
with the warmest wishes and hottest hopes,
it remains to be seen whether that we'll
meaning body will grasp the fundamental
forces of our national ife-whether, ad-
herring to the name of Republican or not,
they can diveSt themselves of those princi-
pies and tendencies Of the Republican par
ty which have led logically into Grantism,
and which will inevitably do so again, il
still retained in the proposed new move
meut.