Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-05-10
A CAL,r IOoK roRWAHn.

Committee. At Their meeting In Nash /
Vide. glst May, should be b ksai the |
differences of the past, and promote |
harmony and confidence in the Demo-
cratic party. By pursuing policy of |
Judgment, pFuaessee and liberality,
they can eweep the State in November,
with a splendid majority; but if the IN !
dependent and the johnson men are to
be arraigned IS traitors to the party, as
seme incorporate, partisan papers
would desire, the Democracy viii suffer
Waterloo defeat.
Let the committee issue an address
to the people Of the State, giving a COR
dial and honest invitation TO all who
oppose the Republican party TO Join
them in the canvass, assuring them of
a hearty welcome upon terms of perfect
confidence and equality, and the. eaA
viii be answered with enthusiasm from
Carter to Shelby.
The interests of the State will not
suffer if the Gubernatorial Conven-
ton should not assemble until after
the August INSTRUMENTATION Courier
Herald.
We cordially commend the above
view of the situation and its demands,
as given by our vigorous young con-
temporary with the new double name,
and we have no doubt that the Exeeu.
tive Committee would be glad to have
such free and frank expressions from
all sections. There is no disposition
anywhere, that we are aware of, to ar
raign as traitors" such meh as are
honestly independent, holding aloof
from both parties, but ready to vote for
that which offers the best men and the
best measures. Our only fear is that
in delaying their decision too long they
may lose the opportunity for helping
to shape the policy of the party with
which they are pretty certain
to vote ultimately. Good citizens
should not hold aloof merely to see
which party Will present the better
men. They should take sides prompt
ly and help to arrange the right sort of
a programme. Such is the attitude of
the UNION AND AMERICAN toward all
true independents" The name, how
ever, is liable to abuse, and has been
appropriated by some schemers as a
nucleus for faction to be drawn from
the Democratic ranks, and held IN ter
rorem as balance of power. This
latter class of pseudo independents, "
being composed of notorious place
hunters, have received no countenance
from the people, and are now taking
refuge In other roles.
Neither have we seen any disposition
to ostracize ''the johnson men, under
standing by that term the men who
voted for Andrew johnson In 1872. On
the contrary, the news from every Sec
ton is that the people have fully de-
termined to work together for the COM
mon good of county and State. The
distinctively Bipartisan epithets John
son men, and "Cheatham men" might
well be dropped at once and forever as
misnomers. cit would be difficult, in
fact, to define who are the johnson
men" of to-day. Many O'Conor
Straightouts, having no ticket of their
own, voted for Mr.. johnson in 1872
because they couldn't swallow Greeley.
There is no such question before us
now. Side by side with these BOur-
bons" were Liberals so advanced that
some have since gone over to Radical
ism. a large element were anti-cOn-
vertionists, but now the masses every
where insist on conventions, primary
elections or some other means of ruling
off third candidates.
1t is from no mere partisan stand
point, but as the plain lesson of the
times to be read of all men, that we
think all the reform and retrenchment
that is feasible can be best secured by
the majority of the people retaining
control of their affairs, instead of turn
ing over the State to a minority In
sympathy with the masters of corrup-
ton at Washington, and responsible at
home to constituency composed most
ly Of non-tax-papers who expect every
thing from government. Woe to the
property-holders, demandingthe reduc-
ton of taxation to twenty cents, if
they draw off enough people
to turn the State over to the
tender mercies of Radical misrule such
as has reduced Arkansas to its present
unhappy condition. With, therefore,
no idea of furthering the promotion of
any man or of obstrueting the promo
ton of any other, do we deprecate the
setting up of this low taxation cry as a
dividing issue. Weshouldequally dep
recate such use of the public school, or
temperance, or any other kindred ques-
ton. Why? Because, the enemy
would not divide, and the Democratic
division would not further the good
cause sought to be accomplished,
but only result in a Radical triumph.
In our desire for Cancellation and to
show that all questions of mooted re-
form can be freely discussed within the
party, we have perhaps given the
Twenty-Centers more attention than
their numerical strength callsfor. Our
adviccs from all sections of the State,
through private sources as well as tn e
country journals, is to the effect that
there is but little danger of division on
this question. Let the people see to it
that they send us honest, intelligent
and incorruptible Legislators. We can
not ask them to de less than this, and
in the hands of such men, we have no
fear for the true interests of the people
as individuals and as a State.
III. V. R." writes to the Cincinnati