Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-07-17
BE Irsr ANp FEAR NOr

BE- - AMI II EAAk NOA
From the day the ballot was restored to
Tcnnesseeans. up to this good hour, all
our political troubles have arisen from
divisions in our own ranks. The fact is
instructive, in showing that the remedy
lies with ourselves. What We have
lacked heretofore, is not numbers but
esprit de corps. Our strength has been
our weakness.
Again, it has been ne act or failure
to act, by our Democratic State Ad-
ministrations, that has occasioned
these unfortunate discussions. 1t was,
for instance, no question of public pol
icy or official delinquency that caused
the widespread ruin of 1872, reversing
our Congressional delegation in half a
dozen districts.
We appreciate the inherent difficulty
Of holding together large party whose
nominations ought to be equivalent to
election. But we think the past has
fully demonstrated the necessity for an
esprit de corps. The people recognize
its necessity, and the press should cul-
tivate the sentiment.
In their day, the UNION AND AMER
ICAN cordially supported Gov. Trous-
dale, Gov. johnson, and Gov. Harris.
We did not listen to or repeat the par
ty charges made against them by the
old Wings who were more numerous,
and certainly more respectable than
the Radicals Of to-day. Idle accuse
tions, without a scintilla of proof,
could not then find place in the col
umns of Democratic journals. We
treated every man as innocent until
proven guilty. We accorded the pub
lie officers of our own selection, the
poor privilege of the prisoner at the
bar Of Justice. In this course the
Democratic press were a unit.
Reverse the picture, and we find the
same. The Wing press uniformly and
consistently supported Governors Neil
S. Brown, Jones and Campbell. No
mere partisan charges against these
ntlemen were countenanced by then
party journals, without proof strong as
Holy Writ. There were giants in those
days of party spirit and political puri.
ty. Have we improved on them IN
political management: Let our dis
sessions since the war give answer.
These remarks are suggested by a
strange story that comes to us from no
political friend or opponent of Gov
Brown in West Tennessee, but from
commercial irummels of other States
We have not seen 1t limited in any
newspaper, but there IS rumor freely
circulated that Gov. Brown has been
offered or given $4,000 to locate the
Insane Asylum at Brownsville. Such
a rumor is liable to paralyze an officer:
freedom Of action. He could of course
disprove it by decidinga against Browns
vile. But this would perhaps be q
gross injustice t. that town. 1t place:
both parties in an awkward pre-
dicament, well calculated TO
injure one or both. Such rumors about
our chosen public officials circulated
from mouth to mouth without any pre-
tence at proof, ought to be sternly dis
countenanced by the people and the
press. In this matterwe appeal to tie In
stincts Of all honest men, regardless OF
party. Tennessee can gain nothing by
advertising that our State House Is
as corrupt as Washington, unless it be
so. All good citizens will support the
constituted authorities in the discharge
Of their duties, and will be slow
to credit or circulate rumOrs
without demanding some shadow Of
evidence. The misfortune of the age
is the aversion of good men to public
station. 1t is inthe power of pot-houst
politicians to increase this aversion, il
reckless SANDERS are countenanced and
credited by the people. While scourg
ing the thieves out of the public tenn.
pie, let US endeavor to avoid injustice
to any man who may not deserve it.