Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-05-01
AGAIN tI8 AraIdiicde says.

"peoples triumph in 1893. p..-Memphis
AUdlnnches
Again The ArdIGiicde says,
ave remember that when 1t was bro.
posed TO liberate Tennessee by electina
.Senter over Stokes the II. & &. did not
synpathize with the movement. It could,
! not consent to the election of a Republican.
The bare suggestion shocked its delicate
nerves. If the policy, of the
UNION AND AMERICAN had prevailed In
our State politics, Tennessee WoEld still be
in Brownlow's grasp"
The ArdlGncke has repeated this story
until 1t really seems to believe it9true. If
the Avalanche does not know better, it
ought to. 1t either wiIIfuny misrepresents,
or IS uDpardonably ignorant. It Is not ar
rogance in us to say that the UNION AND
AMERICAN did more to elect Senter and
beat Stokes than any other paper in the
State. The UNION AND AMERICAN fought
the Bonner in that contest, not, on the
Stokes-Sentsr question, but on the
election of members of the Legislature,
the Banner insisting that there should be
no Democratic or Conservative candidates
for the Legislature, and the UNION AND AM
ERIcAN Insisting that the opponents of the
Radicals should take advantage Of the con-
fusion in the ranks of the latter to elect q
Democratic and Conservative Legislature.
The policy advocated by the UNION AND
AMERICAN was followed. The result
was the election Of only about
fifteen Radicals in the Legislature Of
1869-7O, the LEGISLATURE which called the
Convention of 1870 that enfranchlsed the
people Of Tennessee.
We will refresh the memory of the Ara-
lGnche: The Radical Convention which
resulte in the Stokes and Senter split
was held on the Goth and 21st of May, 1889.
Neither Stokes nor Senter took posi-
ton on the Franchise question until
they spoke in Nashville on the 9th
Of June. Senter then took decided grounds
in favor Of acknowledgements; Stokes agsisnt
Il. Previous to that time Stokes had been re-
gsrded as rather more favorable to eufrsn-
chiSement than Senter. BE had declared
himself some time before his becoming can
didate, 10 favor of gradual, qualified enfrsn-
chisement. Senter was dumb until his
Nashville speech. The Democracy dis
trusted him and moi one of them advocated
his election until he declared himself for
enfrsnchisement.
To return. In the second issue of the
UNION AND AMERICAN after the Stokes
Senter Convention in May, it said:
"We cannot be supposed to ympatblse
with that party which is not In favor of our
acknowledgements. Nor must it be supposed
that the Conservatives contemplate having
q gubernstorial candidate. They certainly
will not"
Four days later we said:
ave have had occasion to inform our
friends, the Senters and Suckers in this
State, that there win be no Democratic
candidate for Governor, and the Informal
ton may be repeated for the benefit of our
Democratic friends abroad. The New
York World and Herald are urging that the
Conservatives should take advantage of the
Radical disuni0n, but until they are en-
fraDchised they do not propose to do So"
On the 4th Of June, the day before the
discussion here, which was the first time
they met In the canvass, the UNION AND
AMERICAN had the following as its leading
editorial:
''wILL STOKES FAVOR IMMEDIATE EN-
FRANCHIsEMENT?
at Is rumored that Stokes intends taking
ground in his speech here tomorrow in IA
7oI Of the next Legislature making
provision for the calling Of
Convention for the purpose of
amending the franchise law, so as 70 con,
fer the right Of suffrage on the white men
Of Tennessee. We do not know what truth
there IL in this rumor, but this we do know,
that Stokes has been 10 Washington 70 con-
suit the leading Radicals there touching the
programme he shall lay down for the can
vass he proposes to open in that speech. It
is known that most Of the lead
ing Radicals of the country are in
favor Of The immediate enfranchise-
ment of the white tax payers Of this State,
while such extreme Radical papers as the
New York Tribune, Chicago Tribune, Gin
cinnati Gazette, ard st. Louis Democrat
have come out decidedly in favor of the
measure. It Is not at all improbable that
Stokes has drawn inspiration from these
sources, and that he will return with
much more liberal policy than he was sup
posed capable Of advocating. 1t will be re-
membered that be surprised both
Democrats and Radicals in his speech
here a few weeks ago in reply to
President johnson by coming ont for the
early enfranchiscment Of those Rebels
who had conducted themselves with pro-
priety by showing themselves law-sbiding
citizens. His organ, the Press and Times,
asserted Only the other day that Stokes p;
sition Is that Acknowledgement must be
gradual and those who have properly de-
meaned themselves by remaining at home
ard attending to their own affairs, have
claims upon the Republican party Lead
ing Radicals outside Of the State are urging
Stokes to take position In favor of the i'm
mediate embarrassment Of the white tax
payers, and there is reason to believe that
leading Radicals have privately urged him
TO make this the main issue of the canvass.
We all know that Stokes is a shrewd
politician, and has gone into this race to
win. He finds his competitor dallying as 70
the course he will pursue, aud Stokes may
have determined To make a bold strike
which he feels assured will secure bis cleo
ton. If he takes tho ground in his speech
tomorrow, which rumor says it is probable
be will, it Is needless to say he will take
the wind out of his competitors sails to a
very great extent, Gov. Senter has shown
a timidity In this canvass which has SUI
prised many OF his warnest political friends
who have seen from the start that his
chances of success lay In a policy that
would receive tho support Of at least large
portion of the Democrats, whose strength
has been very considerably augmented BY
the recent decision OF the Supreme Court
Instead of taking any step in that direction,
be and his friends permit the Stokes organ
here THE Press and TimoSl to represent
him as saying that 1T will be long time
before the DISTINGUISHED are admitted to the
6allot-box.'"
On the following day, June 3, the day of
the discussion, we said:
own. r. STOKES, WHAT SAY YOU?
"Gen. Stokes Is a candidate for Govern
or and his competitors-fOr there is now
third Richmond (Tipton) in the field-are