The Hickman courier., 1872-11-16
-rne congressional Race.

We trust the Republicans of this
District may never have another such
/ opportunity to elect member Of their
/ party to Congress in this District as
was presented 10 the race just closed
The Tennessee Districts, similarly situ-
ated, fell victims to radical strategy, or
rather to their own fool hardness.
Judge Crosslnnd's vote in the District
in round numbers is about ten thou
sand, while the eutire Democratic
strength polIed will not probably reach
twelve thousand all told, and this is as
large vote as may reasonably be ex-
pectedly at any usual election. The
Republican strength, as represented by
the vote given Gen. Grant. we can not
estimate at less than six thousand. So
then il is plain that in an election di
viding the vote equally between any
two democrats, the choice Of Radical
is sure result.
This then should teach Us, and let
it never be forgotten, that IN future
contests the opponents Of Radicalism
must, under no circumstances, tolerate
more thar one candidate Conventions
are iudisputably often productive Of
evil and error, but there is remedy
for these evils in the close vigilance Of
the people, in attending and directing
the primary movements for said organi
zation. Aspirauts must be taught as
au irrcyocable rule. that their claims
are to be submitted to the decision Of
their party friends, and that to bolt, or
refuse to submit such arbitration, is
an eternal death to ali their future as
pirations. Defeat. and defeat IN every
instance will overtake US, unless our
friends demand this strict discipline
We write this while The results in Ten
nessee, aud elsewhere, are fresh in the
minds Of our people. When a contest
is upon US, newspapers are hampered
in such expressions, for fear of injuring
this or that candidate, but in future We
announce it as our policy to make it
sine qua non of our support of any |
man, and if the opponents of Radical
ism in their individual capacity will
stand By US in denouucing this party |
discipline, we shall never meet such !
defeats as now humiliatO our Tennessee
neighbors.
In the Congressional contest just
closed the COURIER appreheuded the
possible contingency, aud used its
utmost power TO induce our party to
center on Judge Grassland as the one
certaily able to defeat any such possible
and III go doing We were
seconded by several other District pa
pers. We believe that Judge Cross
lands extensive acquaintance and pop
ulariiy. together with the effort of Ger
tau papers begging tile Democracy to
ceuter upon him. saved the District.
1t was either this, or the extreme
weakness of his Democratic opponents,
Ior. notwithstanding the Radical vote
was split between Trabue aud Houston.
we all know ii could have been cen
tered on the one or the other in twenty
four hours, if any considerable desire
in the democracy had have encouraged
the Radical leaders to apply the party
whip. Therefore il was that Crossland's
known and conceded strength dashed
their hopes, aud spoiled any conspiracy
In the next contest,
democratic aspirants may more evenly
devide our vote, and if they do the
Of the Radical strength,
defeat us Therefore friends let US
thoroughly aud rigidly.