The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1874-08-21
rhe Recent sonthern ElectIons.

The general result of the recent
Southern elections in Kentucky, Teu-
nessee. Mississippi. and the most nota-
bly, in North Carolina, indicate an ex'
iensive popular reaction against the
party in possession Of the national gov
eminent. The same general causes
which, from the Ohio election OF DC
tober last, have been operating in the
North 10 the prejudice of the republi-
cars. from the New England 10 the
Northwestern States inclusive, are evil
IDENTIFY at work throughout the South,
notwithstanding the appearant diversi-
ty of opinions and purposes between the
opposition elements OF the two sections.
The republicans charged their defeat in
Ohio last fail toa short vote, 10 gen.
eral apathy in their ranks and to the in.
terposi,ion of such side issues as the
Temperance question, which carried of
the balance of power. To general
apathy and the new disturbing faction
Of the grangers they charge their No.
yember losses in the Northwest. and
their narrow escape from complete
overthrow in New York to too much
confidence in their fifty thousand ma
jori,y of 1872.
The results in all these cases were held
bv the republicans as Of no material I'M
portance, inasmuch as no national candi-
dates or issues were directly involved.
In short. 1872 was that of year" in ou'
party politics, the year immedialv fol-,
lowing the exhausiing strain aud ex'
elements OF the Presidential contest,
which, in the result of its State elections,
signified nothing, because the success
full party Of 1872 had nothing to lose or
10 fear from these elections Of 1878 and
could therefore well afford to rest q
season from their labors. But, the re-
publican organs argued our reserves,
which remained at home in 1873, will
be brought out TO the Congressional
elections of 1874, and il will then be
made manifest that the integrity OF the
republican party has not been shaken,
aud that the apparent political reac-
ton of 1873 like that of 1867, really
signifies nothing.
But the elections, so far, Of 1874 teach
us different lesson. y""FlOm New
Hampshire and Couuecticus, from Ore.
gon, Kentucky. Tennessee, Mississippi
and North Carolina, we have the sug.
gesiive record OF republican defeats and
opposition successes or OF opposition
Gains aud republican losses, Disturb
ing local divisions and factions are still
pleaded as the explanation of these re-
publican rcverses; but If these disturb
ing forces exis. from New Hampshire
to Oregon and from Oregon to North
Coroina is not the general outlook for
the year to the Republican party unusu'
ally dark and discouraging? The truth
is that the spirit Of unity, harmony and
active cooperation which has hereto
fore existed bewteen the party and the
netional administration exist no longer
The objects of the party are no longer
the purposes of the administratson.-
The compact between the President aud
the party entered into in 1868 has eX-
PRED. The engagements of the party
were fulfilled in his election for the Sc
cond term and the reciprocal duties OF
General Grant have been discharged in
the completion Of the republican pro-
gramme of Southern rec construction ard
restoration. Grant Is no longer bound
as an agent Of the party, aud the party
Is no longer found TO his administra'
ton.
But with this release ms an agent can
General Grant rightfully claim the en-
ploymcnt of the patronage of his agen-
cy in new departure for still another
term in opposition 20 the party from
which he holds this agency? Whatever
may be thc'moral law or obligation up.
on this subject it is sufficient for our
present argument that General Grant
considers his Executive patronage his
personal property, and that he has so
disposed of it from the nomination OF
his first Cabinet to- this day. Here the
trouble begins which threatens the party
eleoing him the lightweight of another
TYLER or Fillmore or johnson. Here
we reach the solution Of our State cleo
tons since last October. No reasoning
man can doubt that Generai Urant y
aiming Tor third term? no man be-
lieves that the republican party outside
the intrcnched camp OF the ofiice-holdcrs
desires or expects his nomination as
the party candidate for 1876, and no re-
publican feels sure Of The continued sup
port of the party by the President in
the nomination of any other man in his
place tor the succession.
Nor since last autumn has General
Grant shown any feeling but that Of in
difference in regard to the results OF The
State elections. The administration
did nothing for the republican ticket last
spring in New Hampshire or Connec-
ticu,, and did nothing 10 save the party
from its recent heavy defeat in North
Carolina. On the other hand, in 1872
no stone was left unturned by the ad-
minisira,ion to carry these States, and
thew all were carried. The conclusion
inevitably follows that General Grant
now desires to prove to the republican
party that he is necessary 10 it's success
aud upon his own terms, or that he de-
sires new party in its place and under
the flag Of General Grant for q third
term.
For either Of these designs his re-
ticence upon this third term mystery is
working well in the decentralization o.
the republican party, and there is no
third proposition which will fit the case
Returning, then, 10 these recent South