Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-04-21

With those who fail to grasp the grand
march of events, orto recognize the present
as the product of the past and the mould
of the future-our Federal politics may pre-
sent chaos, defying all oldestablished rules
of action, and pregnant with such impossi-
bilities as chaos alone could promise. On
the other hand, there exists among the peo-
pie an instructive dread that, with all the
prevailing hubbub, Grantism may triumph
for another term. Now, as there can be no
effect without its cause, let us scan the
grounds of hope and fear.
The Radical minority came into power
through Democratic division. 1t soon &C
quired popular majority through the war
fever, and has been thus far sustained by
the same cause. Morton s. Co. now pro-
pose to perpetuate it through another appeal
to the war passions. If tie sentiment APP
pealed to still fourishes, the hour Of deliy-
erance has not yet come; and no possible
political legerdemain can change the ugly
stubborn fact.
But those who retain faith in the people,
believe the waE passions are subsiding and
must ultimately disappear. Has this re-
turning reason yet reached stage that per-
mits the country to address itselfto present
problems without being warped by the
stormy past2 Liberalism holds forth the
hope that such is our situation. Is the
promise premature? Is the light it holds
ont steady beacon, or is it an ignis. fdtouiS
leading back into the swamp?
Bluntly, is Liberalism subtle design to
check the reaction OF the people half way,
before that reaction goes the length Of COM
plete restoration? If SO, it is a struggle
against the memorable logic of events, and
can attain at the most only a transient and
transparent triumph.
If Liberalism proclaims itself 'the" Re-
publican party, pure and undefled, appeal
ing TO its infantile innocence of sixteen
years ago, it is but beating the air. The
occasion of the Fremont party was slavery;
its spirit was interference with others; its
logical tendency was centralism. But our
Republican Liberals repudiate centralism
and assert local government. Slavery being
buried, there remains nothing of the Ere
mont programme to revive, unless it be that
fag end of the negro question, Summers
reductiO dd GbSurdtun of social levelism.
Neither can they appeal to the later re-
cord of RepubIicanism, since 1860, for this
is the exclusive property of the loyal
Union-savers, against whose senseless
shibboleths the Liberal Republicans protest.
If their aim be merely to mitigate Radi-
calism and so perpetuate tiff their cry
for reform is confined to the party, instead
of embracing the country-if they seek to
infuse new life into a body of corruption
that must inevitably die out with the pas
sions of war-we fear their well meant eff
forts will prove to be loves labor lost. If
it is merely struggle for the mastery, be-
tween the knaves and the innoeents =
the corrupt knaves that rule the party, and
the simple innocents that have been led
farther than they wish to COVE very much
fear the innocents will be oVerreached. II
Democrats are invited to join for the pur-
pose Of saving the Republican party in lieu
of saving the country-we fear the Demo
Gratis will leave that party to its fate, and
strengthen their own for the succession.
There Is a hope for the country in the
Cincinnati ConventiOn-the hope that we
are already on the threshold of that bright
future to which all patriots look forward
if, while asking Democrats to work for
country without regard to party, the men,
BEES of that Convention can divest them
selves of similar preiudices. We know this
is expecting great deal of poor human
nature; butthe Democracy has already Civ
en- the initiative example by evincing its
readiness in all quarters.
Even a less degree of public spirit may
suffice, if party prejudices are carefully ig-
nored. The Cincinnati Republicans may
present ticket bearing upon its face the
unmistakeable impress of national reform,
and say to US: ave are Republicans; you
are Democrats; here is a ticket that speaks
for itself, and we ask your cooperation for
the country's good, without regard to our
party differences"
That public sentiment in the North has
reached q point where this is feasible, we
believe. Our only fear is that the Cincin-
natl Convention may not realize its own
full strength, and may therefore fall short
of its mission. We earnestly hope that the
exaggerated dread of continued war pas
sions, which prevails among Tennessee
"Reunionists" may find no echo at Gin
cinnati. We hope that body will rise to
the Liberal standpoint of Gratz Brown. re-
cognizing Democrats as compatriots. If it
does, its most sanguine friends are likely to
be sstonished by the generous response of
the North and South and West,