Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1872-07-18
A GLANCE AT POLITICAL HIS
TORY.

'Q~uadrennially America is affected with
commissions, even to the most humble cit
liens, sufficient to alarm and astonish
strangers to our Government, but which
we have learned by experience to regard
as a necessary phenomenon and n high
ly conducive to the healthy and vigor-
Gus growth of the country. Unlike the
cpiIeptic spasm which so frightfully racks
the human frame, the upturning of all the
political elements once in every four years
serves but to remove from the body pol
itic the impurities which stagnation in
eyitably c~ngenders and as an outlet fur
nishes a vent through which the human and
excited passions of the American people
may pass away. In the Old World such
oft recurring political struggles would be
unsafe to their peace and prosperity
Here, however, the force of education,
habit and calm philosophic examples set
by the fathers of the Republic have had
their effect, and citizens of the United
States are much better prepared to exer-
else their right to vote and less likely to
be carried away by passions hegotten of
victory or defeat. The action of the Dem
ocrntic party which met in Baltimore last
week inaugurated another n of those
great Presidential contests. Mr.. Greeley
the nominee of the Cincinnati Conven-
tiou wonld scarcely been heard of were it
not that the Convention which met at
Baltimore also nominated him. The nom-
nation of President Grant at Philadelphia,
has been received by the Republicans
throughout the broad country with all
those unqualified evidences of approval
which is safe to conclude, led to his sclec-
tion as their standard bearer, and which
is hoped will crown the efforts Of the party
with success.
The Baltimore Convention was TIE
match to igsite the combustible material
which the politicians have for months
been scraping together. and quiet will GER
tainly not reign in our country, till after
the November election.
fofos CONVENTIONS UNKNOWN.
There was a time in the history Of the
United States when the plan of choosing
a Candidate for President by a Conven-
ton was not in existence. Many of the
early Presidents were voted for and
elected Immediately by the people, while
the names of others were suggested BY
Congressional aucuses and their reconi-
meniation accepted. But as the minds
of the people became educated, they de-
cided that men were sent to Congress to
make laws and not to make Presidents.
This impression ripened into conviction
about the time the contest waxed SO fierce
IN the House of Representatives for the
control of the Administration when
Adams, Jackson, Clay and Crawford, ran
a sweepstakes for the Office of President
of the United States. "A wide spread
feeling of disaffeetion was manifested
towarda Mr.. Adams, the choice of the
House, aud the Legislature of this State
at its next session raised the banner If
Gen. jackson, Which was quickly followed
by similar action in other States.
The Convention system was not fairly
recognized until about the close of Gen.
Jackson's first term. Party issues pre-
vious to the term had frequently been ex-
citing it is true, and had given rise to
acrimonious struggles. which to our fore
fathers appeared to shake the Government
to its very foundation, but party lines had
not been severity drawn, nor was there
that clearly defined difference in principles
which the masses could appreciate The
party styling itselfsNationai Republican"
composed mostly of Federalist and disaf-
fected Democrats was disguised at the
name in which General jackson ignored
their most cherished convictions and ira
ditions and a most determined opposition
was organized against him.
THE CAMPAIGN Of 1882. I
A feature in this carpsign was a party
WEIGH sYrars Up an opposition to the
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