Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-10-10

LET Us LEARN FROM THE ENEMY /
It were useless to disguise the general
disappointment in tie result of Tuesdays |
elections, and the dampsring effect on, the
spirits CT al who have been laboring SO |
ardently and hopefully for the cause of
Federal reform. But nothing Is 10 be |
gained by voluntary seIf-deceptlon. Let
us look the situation in the face. 1t is not
the first time, nor dare We hope it is the
last time, that noble cause has met re-
pulse. IL is such times that try meu's
souls. One ugly feature of our growing
country is the increase OF thatclass who !
are called 'shoatingp voters--that uncertaln
quantity who seem capable of no higher
aspiration than to be on the winning
side whether right or wrong-the unthink-
ing who 60 with the current through i'm
becility Or because they ind it more com
Portable, and the morbidly selfish who
openly preach the advantages OF being. on
the eide of power. It is the existence of
this class among us that renders powerful
for mischief the prestige of these October
elections. Every. true Democrat and every
true Liberal viii stand the frmer for the
right. But the "uncsrtain quantity" we
speak Of, worshippers of success, may
slough of, turning the prestige of October
bought by corruption, into what may be
termed a popular .furone in November
And thus we are brought face to face with
9 likelihood of Grants reelection.
Lei Us not idly nor despondently close
our eyes to the impending danger. 1--we
cannot do all we would, it is our duty
none the less to do the best we can. The
interest in our Congressional elections in
creases. With Grant in power for an
other four years, and a two-thirds
support in Congress, we and the country
are swamped, perhaps for aye. And, as the
Cincinnati Commercial says, 'there is moth
ing in the Constitution to prevent GRANTS
election a third tims,n Or continuously for
life. 1t is only a tradition of the Fathers
that forbids third term. What respect
has Grant or his Radical vassals for any
such tradition, in the utter absence of any
semblance of law? Therefore our Congress
sional elections. assn me primary import
anee. We must lodge in the Lower
House some CHECK on the evils of continued
Grantism. A loose national organization
will no longer suffice. We must close up
the ranks. We must organize every
Congressional distries-organize for success,
leaving nothing Hadone -to,Tender defeat
Impossible. Independents y must not be
Suffered to divide our forces and leopard
ize results. Let all selfish aspirants be
shelred remorseiessly by an alarmed and
endangered. people. What have we wit
messed in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana
during the past several weeks? How have
the better feelings and nobler aspirations
Of the people been crushed, at least for the
time being? There has bean much of open
fraud and covert corruption in the process,
but we see also the most rigid organization,
patty drill, and military discipline. Leaders
and subalterns have acted as one man.
With military precision they have moved
their big guns from point to point, and
marshalled their forces in compact array.
What can we oppose TO these cohorts but
like organization2 What would be
thought of an invaded people who
opposed the well lssed battalions of their
enemy with nothing but scattering 'sinde-
pendent" scouts, refusing to brook military
organization because, forso1th, it trammels
the freedom of individual action? Such
people would invite pilage and p.undering.
So with US, if our people scout organiza-
ton in the unequal struggle with disci-
plined foe, we viii coatinue to be plundered
and pillayed. When bad men conspire, it
Is time for good men to combine.
Tennessee&hs, do your duty. Stand by
you. organization, and we are certain OF
eight Congressman. There is no excuse
for our doing less than this. But let us
aim even higher. IL this national emer-
gency, let Tennessee prove its fealty to the
Union by striving to do its whole duty.
With anything like the organization de-
veloped by our foes here aud elsewhere,
we can send our friends in Congress an
unbroken delegation from Tennessee. Let
such be our inspiring aim, assured that the
proper effort viii secure it. And let us re-
member that Tennassea's ten plGu be
necessary to breakthe two-thirds despotism
of Congress. Democrats, be up and doing