Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-11-02
= VIEW Of THE SITUATION.

10 Tue Eullor OIL Jne Union ana American:
ASHLAND CITY, Oct. %, 1S72.-Having
been watching the signs Of the times since
thai memorable Saturday night in your
city, when the great "disorganizer' IN
furled his banner, with the inscription
"death to Conventions" 1 have been un-
able to reconcile the conduct of great
many with their declarations; they say that
they are opposed to Radicalism in all its
protean phases, and would do nothing that
would IL the least advance its interest, and
yet, if the signs of the times are net deceit
full, they are indirectly doing what they
would under no consideration do directly.
For in supporting Mr.. johnson they are
dividing the strength of the only
party that is presenting any barrier to the
advance of the Radicalism that has bank
rupted almost every Southern State, and
piled up a national debt that never can be
paid by the people of the United States,
judging from the worlds history as to the
payment of national debts. But in justifi-
cation Of their support of him they say
that he is the strong man, and therefore he
Is the man to beat Maynard; admitting this
to be the fact, for the sake Of the argument
(Which we viii not sdaIit), it seems to be
the strongest reason why we should not
support him. If he had never become a
candidate, does any one suppose that May
nard himself would ever have been one, or
if be had the temrity to make tie expert
ment, does any one suppose that he wo1ld
have had the ghost of chance for election?
And yet we are called upon to vote
for the man who has not only jeopsrdized
the election Of a Democratic Congressman
from the State at large and also ia several
district elections, but the election of men,
bers TO the Legislature not few. Every
little one horse politician who can't sue
coed in making everybody believe that un-
less he is the nominee of tie convention
before which he comes, the whole country
will be lest 10 all eternity; and, then, if a
better man get the position, at once he be-
comes very patriotic and thinks all such
things have been corrupt and should be
done away with, because he was defeated.
Immediately he becomes intensely ''inde-
pendent announcing him self candidate
until the election, appealing to the "dear
people" to sustain him in his crusade against
conventions, and sat all events if you
wont elect me, beat tie nominee, for we
had better have a Radical than the NOM
inee of a corrupt convention" Doubt
less he educatsS himself to believe
that the convention was corrupt, and
having no other evidence of the fact than
that he failed of the nomination. By some
species of legerdemain or h0Cus pOcus,
some Of the good people have caught the
infection; they attend conventions and vote
and huZza for their man until he is beaten,
and then all at once conventions become
in their sight very corrupt and smell to
heaven, and at once they take up with one
of the independents and thereby defeat |
the regular candidate and let in Radical. |
Who is responsible for all this disafection? |
1t seems that blind man can see that Andy |
johnson is at the bottom of the whole |
thing, and is the source Of all the trouble;
and yet we are asked to reward him for it
by electiDg him to Congress from the State
at large, and as a matter Of course all his
ard independent bugle men
to whatever positions they aspire.
Since the night Mr.. Johnson accepted |
a nomination at the hands of disorgsu- !
izing assemblsge, made up, perhaps, of ev-
cry cast, shade and nationality in the city, |
he has brought all the energies of bis great |
mind TO the disruption and defeat of the |
party that has given rim every position he |
has ever held except those of Military Gov |
ernor and President. That night our roads |
began to diverge, and will ever thus con-
tinue. Mr.. Johnson has put everything /
upon the cast of die; with him the Rubi-
con is crossed, aud all is lost. Doubtless
be is making an experiment with the people
of Tennessee. He thinks he can mould
them as the potter does his clay. Organi-
cation, and complete rout Of Radicalism
in Tennessee, or Reorganization, and with |
it complete restoration of Radical rule in
Dur glorious old Commonwealth, will be
he result of the present election. How
then, is it that we should be |
united and of one mind, remembering that
D union there is strength, and in division
here is defeat. CHEATHAM COUNTY.