Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-10-10
WILSON COUNTY.
speech of Hon. A. b. Martin.

HGPCGCAh Va HULL a. n NA8EttHs
A correspondent gives us glowing &C
count of meeting at Lebanon on Mon
day. We have only room for the synopsis
of Hon. Andrew B. Martins speech.
Mr.. Martin said: The reasons which in
duced him to appear before the people Of
his county were not personal: that be
meant, if possible, to serve alone the pub
lie good, He was not a candidate, nor was
be a politician; but still with all this, be
was yet party nan. Parties were not or
ganized as the mere instruments Of indi-
vidual promotion, to be used to-day and
thrown aside to morrow as it might suit the
ambition of aspiring men. Parties rested
upon principle; they were the representa-
tives of political cTeeds, and not of men,
and when any man, however great he
might be, and no matter what his services
may have, been, assumed to be the party
himself, or rejected its cOunsels, and in bis
over leaping ambition compaSsed its defeat
and destruction, he became the proper OBJ
jeet of dlstrust and should be rebuked with
unqualified condemnation at the hands of
the people.
He said parties were essential; all men
belonged to them; governments could not
exist without them. They did not exist in
name only, but entered into the very man
ner. of government itself, and dictated the
policy upon which it was administer
ed. If you elect q Democrat to Office he
would administer the government upon
Democratic principles, if a Republi-
can then upon Republican principles.
Then in voting fer the candidates
who stand before usfor office, we vote for the
principles Of the party which they represent,
and in this view we should lose sight ofper-
sonal preferences. If the principles of the
party are correct and we desire their sue
cess, we should with unfinching fidelity ad-
here TO them. Partyism was greatly mis-
conceived and greatly abused il the minds
OF many. He said be heard men say, it
was aliberdE to be always for one party.
Now that depends entirely upon the prin-
ciples of the party to which you belong; if
they are illiberal, then you are guilty as
charged, if not, the reverse is true. Fear
less, persistent adherence to principle is al
ways honorable and just, in the same de-
gree as the principe itself is correct. Now
if any man believes that the Democratic
party is correct, then it is his duty to aband-
on it, but If be believes the success ofDem-
ocratic principles win in any degree tend TO
purify and correct the abuses ofadministra-
ton, it is then the demand of patriotism
itself that be should clsave unto his party.
But parties nor party PRINCIPLES can never
succeed unless there be harmony and sui
ordination among the individuals who com
pose the party, and these can be attained
only through discipline and organization.
Political parties have their fierce campaigns
and holly contested fields as armies do,
and both are more entirely dependent upon
discipline for success than upon the ardor
of their devotion TO the cause for which
they fight. A leader, an executive head is
essential in both. Ifindividualism was not
lost in armies, and the wishes of each SOL
der was 10 be considered and deferred to,
then each Captain's company would furnish
leader, and they discovered, as scattered
twigs, their power wSIld be gone, and
noble, and it may be- SeVoted army would
be wasted as leaves beSife the winds, under
the well directed fire o. an inferior but dis
ciplined enemy. The most dangerous en-
envy that any army oripolitical party ever
has is the enemy within Che fold. The SER
pent which you have taken to your bosom
and warmed into life again, strikes near
your heart when he thrusts out his venom
GUS fang to rend your flesh. 1t Is better
that be should play the role of bold de-
| serter aud go at once into the ranks of the
enemy, than to STAY within our camp and
plot his schemes Of INSTRUMENTATION and
mutiny. --
| He said there were but two parties in
Tennessee; one was the Grant Republican
party and the other the Democratic party,
to which was allied and united the Liberal
Republican party. That each Of these par
ties had their candidates for Governor, who
were put forward by conventions of the re-
spective parties. He said that there had
recently been another party in Tennessee
called the Re-U. and the Ref. party, but
be supposed, unless Mr.. Johnson was a
member of that band, that it did finally die
with the withdrawal an course of the Hon.
A. 5. COlyar as an aspirant for Governor.
You of my friends who were so fortunate
as to hear the recent discussions at this place
between Gov. Brown and Mr.. Freeman,
the Republican candidate for Governor, no
doubt remember that there was third man
here with them. Many of you eDquired of
me at the time lUbO that other fett0tU 1UGS,
and what he was for. Well, now, he was
the independent anti convention candidate
of the Re-U. and Ref. party on the john
son platform. You remember how furious
ly be demonstrated, but it was all vanity
Of VanitieS; the people in unmistakable
terms said they ''would none of him."
They preferred the regular nominees of their
respective parties, they preferred organiza-
ton, and so without much ado he has again
retired to the shades of private life. /
point to this, said he, and l have a right to
DO 50 as warning Of that condemnation
which awaits all independents at the hand
of the Democracy Of Tennessee, He said
Mr.. Colysr.was riding upon the johnson
wave, that he was man of no mean abiIi-
ty, and withal a far more bouyant man
than johnson himself, and YET he could
not ride, his slim figure slipped beneath the
wave, the counter wave Of public condem-
nation. Now if independents can draw
comfort from this ,diScomfi ure of the most
agile one of their number let them do SO,
and make the most of it.
Mr.. Martin then gave his attention to
President johnson and said he did not de-
serve to stand upon any higher ground than
anv other of the independent candidates,
bat rather worse, if any difference, for
johnson was a bOlter also, and
that too from party which had
nurtured him in his youth, and
warmed him into life, and made him all he
was. BE has through long lifetime re.
ceiyed at the hands of the Democracy Of
Tennessee all the honors which they could
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