Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-09-17
A NEW CONVERT 10 DEmOCRACY

N NE" OONtEhk IO DEHOC4sASH.
Tue Boston Advertiser has hitherto been
a stauDch supporter of the old federal doc
trine OF strong Federal Government, in
opposition TO the Democratic principles of
State rights. But since President Grant
and bis subordinate officials have attempted
TO foist Gen. Butler into the gubernatorial
chair of Massachusetts,, the Advertiser has
been converted from IFS monsrchicaI notions
of government Capitalization, to a jealous
advocacy of local independence in the man
agement of all local affairs. 1t says:
ali such things are possible to-day, how
many years viii elapse before Governors of
States are sent down into the provinces by
the party who for the moment holds power
at Washington with as much regularity as
collectors and pOslmasters? L. may be that
such is the destiny of America; it may be
that events are stronger than we, and that
the end must come, but it shall not come
without struggle, and the st 3te of Massa-
cbusetts shall not lead the way if any means
now humanity in our power can prevent it.
This is 10 contest between individuals, but
part Of that great struggle which is taking
honesty and the manly traditions of the Re-
pubic on one side, and that in5idiOus poison
of corruption which is everywhere eating
into our national life Oh the other. The
battle must be fought squarely ard on the
true ground. The sooner it comes the bet
ter, for the longer the disease is neglected
the deeper it strikes It's roots. If we act
LOW with honesty and courage, we shall do
our dDty, and We shall gain at least one vic
tory for what is right over the degraded
champion Of ajegraded cause"
Thisiis strong language, and it is pertinent
to inquire into the origin and look after the
friends and supporters of this "degrsded
cause" Has it not many degraded cham
pions" beside the badly defeated candidate
for the Office Of Governor of Massachusetts?
There is great significance in the event that
the Republicans of the strongest Admins
tration State in the Union have pointedly
condemned the conduct and policy of the
President on principle. Generals Grant
aud Butler were as close together as the
Siamese twins In the saIary-stealing bust
ness; and they are equally "degr&ded
champions of degraded cause"
in the cid Ba7 State. But this
infamous "esuse" extends to other States,
and now is the time TO follow up the blow
of Democratic Massachusetts in support of
'honesty and tie manly traditions of the
Republic" and crush federal meddling with
State governments forever. AS no one
State in the whole desires to have its own
neck under the yoke OF central despotism,
all should unite to punish severely every in
vasion of the reserved rights of the people
of any commonwealth. This is an impor-
tant matter which demands immediate &C
ton and permanent settlement. The Los
ton Advertiser invoked "courage and hon.
esty" as sufficient weapons to put down
Grant and Butler, the degraded
champions Of degraded cause"
The vitality of public plunderers is wonder
full and their name is legion. They are
likely TO concentrate on the election of
Grant for third term, as it win be found
very difficult to agree on any other candi.
date. Any honest man of intelligence who
is identified with the industrial classes, can
easily beat Chief Magistrate who pervert-
ed the forms of law to put 100000 in his
own pockes that did not belong to him. In
all its chameleon forms and phases, stealing
j. dis .raceFul. Gan honest man is the
noblest work Of God"