Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-01-28
ORGANIZATIONS BY COUNTIES.

The county elections are yet six
months OF. but the multiplicity of can
didates already in the field, justify
some remarks thus early in the year.
In most of the counties, the Radical
party IS strong enough to take advan-
tagc of any split IN our ranks and elect
their own men, as they did in the Con-
grcssional race Of 1872. 1T is well un-
derstood that our enemies are a close
corporation, compactly organized, and
that they are working Ike beavers to
get possession Of the whole State. The
elections for such county Offices as were
to be filed in 1872, took place before
the unfortunate divisions Of that year
had developed, and 50 We're not affected
BY them. But this year the whole ma
chinery Of the State, local and general,
Is to be revised. Fortunately, the
comfy elections come off in August,
while the State elections do not occur
till November. There is no reason,
that We can conceive, why the masses
of the people-the honest taxpayers
cannot combine in the various counties
to preserve self-government and elect
honest, competent men to the va
riouS county Offices. If the so-called
independent" system be followed, of
patting on the back every aspirant who
announces his desire for Office, great
many Of our counties are likely to pass
under the Radical yoke. With such a
prestige from the August elections, the
danger of the State being turned over
to the same pitiless plunderers in No
vember would be greatly increased.
The surest means for obviating such
misfortunes IN August, lies III the or
ganization Of the people by counties.
Let the honest and patriotic masses
come together and consult about the
means Of securing a proper expression
of their wishes at the ballot box. This
is 4 very practical matter, and should
be dealtwithin practicalmanner. The
peop,e of each district can and should
eetoit that they elect good magistrates
and constables. The people Of each
county should see TO it that honest and
able men have the handling and dis
bursting Of the county funds. The dis
trict that fails to elect a good consta-
bic, or the county which elects an i'm
provident court, Is false to itself and
stumbling block to the cause Of reform
throughout Tennessee and the whole
land. True reform, like true charity, be-
gins at home. We look for effective
action IN this matter from the farmers,
who have learned in the Grange the
value and necessity Of organization.
We anticipate that the work viii be
more thorough than ever before.
Loosely constructed county conven-
tons are not exactly the thing. Let
every man who feels an interest in the
mattcr-as every voter IS morally
bound to do-take hold and contribute |
his share Of thought and Of work. Let |
every section and neck Of the woods !
have its proper representation. |
Wherever practicable, there should be |
organization Of precincts, and precinct |
clubs. With these, the coun-
ty convention, fairly rejecting the |
wishes of all, would follow
as a matter Of course. There would be |
some clashing Of interests and personal |
claims, but the clash OF intellect is ne
cessary to human progress. The full
est expression Of diverse views before
hand, is the only sure basis for an equi- |
table compromise by which all may |
stand. All government is a compro-
mise, and our American system is a
compromise on the willof the majority! |
The Democracy follows closely the |
forms laid down hy our revolutionary /
foreiathers. The talk of the party /
lash, Of drill seTgeants," etc, is but
a bugaboo Of the enemy. The Democ-
racy invites the people 10 drill them
selves; It appeals to no lash bat the
lash OF duty and Of conscience. Every /
intelligent man knows the value OF CO.
operation in Church and State, in CON-
mcrce and manufactures, IN science,
ana IN every human effort. The farm
ers now appreciate 1t, as perhaps they
never did before. Let US have organ
ization by counties for the August cleo
tons, bearing IN mind that there can
be no earthly excuse for Juggling into
such organization any of the unhappy
divisions OF 1872.