Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-10-16
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The most inhammatory and shame
less document that has originated in
Tennessee for many day, is an "Ad.
dress Of the Republican Executive
Committee to the People of Tennessee, -
signed by "a. S. Prosser, Chairman. -
and printed in the KnozuiUe Chronicle
Of the 18th inst For vindictiveness,
this incendiary appeal to the worst pas
sions of the human heart viii equal
anything Brownlow Illuminated between
1865 and 1868, while, for reckless asser-
ton, it bears off the palm 1t is con-
ceived in the spirit of evil, and put
forth certainly with no other intent
than to stir up bitter animosities. As
a specimen of the faring statements of
this malignant document, we present
the following extract:
1T the Democratic party still re-
fuses practical recognition of the equal
rights before the law of all American
citizens. AS Ku-Klux Klans and
sWhite-League organizations are gotten
up throughout the South for the
avowed purpose of establishing white
mans government, and in direct oppo-
sition TO, and in violation of, the great
principles of our Government, and of
the legislation of the Congress of the
United States. To accomplish their
criminal and reasonable purposes,
these Klans and Leagues resort to the
most infamous and atrocious means
known to the most barbarous ages and
nations of the world. Murders and
outrages without number have been
perpetrted In every part of the South,
until their repetition has grown weari-
some, and all laws, human and divine,
are set at defiance by these bush
whackers and marauders, and whilst
the blood of their victims cries
from valley and hilltop to heaven for
vengeance, not one of tie guilty par
ties mas ever been brought to punish
ment by the local authorities. The
perpetrators of these outrages, ard all
the members of these dislOyal associa-
tons are Democrats. That party is re-
sponsible for all these lawless deeds of
brutal violence. Bat few days ago
the extraordinary spectacle was pre-
scented of the leaders of one of these
organizatiOns-the White League, in
LOuisiana-undertaki to stop the
commission of these Outrages, and
protect life and property-when this
was the duty of the government, and
not of a secret political society. Is it
possible to present a stronger illustra-
ton of the danger of intrusting this
party with the control of the country?
"In our own State the course
of that party has been of the same
criminal character.
Human life, which is the most precious
Of all the treasures, has become a cheap
commodity, for whick, more especially,
IN the case of Republicans, both white
and colOred, there is absolutely no pro-
lection. Promises areabundant on the
part of those whose duty it is to afford
protection, but those promises are never
fulfilled by corresponding perform
ances. The sacred majesty of the law
is insulted, its officers defed, It's pre-
cincts invaded, and hundreds of muir
ders of the most atrOciOus character
have been committed during the admin
istTarion of the Democracy III this
State, yet the perpetrators of these out
RACES are permitted to walk the streets
of Nashville and roam through the
plantations of Gibson county, and
numerous other localities. unmolested
by those whose duty it is To bring them
to the trial and punishment they SO
justly deserve"
We appeal to every State in the
South under Democratic control for a
complete refutatiOn of the assertion
that the Democratic party ''still re-
fuses practical recognition of the equal
rights before the law Of all American
citizens" Nowhere is a citizen, what
ever may be his color or previous con-
dition of servitude," denied any of the |
rights guaranteed him by the law, and |
nobody knows this better than "a. S. |
Prosser, Chairman. The assertion |
that there is absolutely no protection"
to life for Republicans in Tennessee, is
pitiable in the extreme, because it can
be sustained by no facts and by no
unimpeachable testimony anywhere IN
the State. The very day on which this
incendiarY address was printed in
Knoxville, the Chattanooga Commercial,
as representative a Republican journal
as there is in the State, and edited by
the postmaster at Chattanooga, said:
There is no conceivable political
opinion that a man may not boldly ad-
vOcate here with impunity. They (the
Democrats have attested their liberal
ity by heartily joining with the Repub-
licans IN making all necessary prepare
tons for holding the convention"
Here is a downright contradiction of
Prosser's assertion by the ablest organ
Of his own party in the State. 1t is
the truth, So known and recognized by
all honorable men. With this showing
the press and people of the North may
know exactly how much Importance to
attach to any statement that may ap-
pear over the signature Of this fellow
Prosser.
But Prosser is not content with ma
igning the great body of the people of
this State in tbs most outrageous man
her. He misstates and misrepresents
,acts which are notorious and well
known 20 every intelligent reader. For
Instance, he makes these statements:
''At the close of the war, all citizens
we're invited to assist in the work ofre-
storing civil government. A majority
If those who Joined in the work Of
were Republicans. The
of State was put in motion. !
The credit of the State was rapidly /
rising, under the auspices Of a Repub- ,
lean administI alton. The railroads. I
almost destroyed, were restored. The :
interest on the State debt was being
paid. a thorough and eff
,ient system of public schools was be-
NC established, IN order that all citi-
.ens, without regard to color or pre-
nous condition, might become intelli-