Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-09-22

| III greenDackS, instead OF com, anu lOT tildI
purpose, as far as the wants Of the country
may justify, increase the circulation Of
| legal tender notes.
3. To repeal the present tariff which dis
eliminates in favor of the few against the
many, and enact in its stead tariff for
revenue alone.
'6. That we denounce all legislation that
seeks to interfere with the individual right
| OF the citizen to select his own associates,
and particularly what is known as the sup
Elementary Civil Rights bill, pending be-
fore the Federal Congress, as palpable vi
olation of the Constitution, intended 10
veX, harslss, Cypress and degrade the people
of the Southern States, and productive o
untold social and political evils to both
races, and which we should resist by all
legal and constitutional means in our
power"
This last plank in the platform is COM
prehensiye, and yet so explicit and express
i've as to demand no comment, only such
as may be provoked by discussion Of the
Radical plank On the same subject.
STATE REPUBLICAN PLATFORM.
After re-affirning tie National Republic
can platform of 1872, which is full Of vain
glory and Radical Platitudes, the conven-
ton proceeds TO define itself thus, on
finances and currency.
2. That the system of national currency
founded by the Republican party, has
proved the best ever devised for the pur-
pose Intended, and while we would favor
no violent change which might be oppress-
i've to either the debtor or creditor class,
We would recommend a system Of free
national banking, basel upon 4 safe plan
for redemption, and a return to specie pay
ment at the earliest practicable period con-
siStent with a sufficient supply of currency
TO meet the reasonable wants Of business.
What a splendid enunciatiOn of prihci=
pie! 1t reminds one Of the husband who
said 'this wife Sally had been the best wife
in the world, but he was anxious to be di-
vorced from her. Laughter
They declare the national bank system
the best ever devised, but they recommend
its adjustment and a system of free bank
ing adopted instead. Their platform of
1872, which they re-afrm, fully approves of
the system of national currency, and styles
it sour excellent national currency" The
question naturally suggests itself, if "the
system has proved the best ever DEVISED"
aud if, as they pretend, the country has
grOwE great and prosperous, under it, why
abandon it, and go out into the shoreless
sea of experiment?
Sirs, it cannot be disguised, aud the Re
publican party cannot escape the fact, that
the country hrs well nigh dIifted iIi,6 the
vortex Of bankruptcy and ruin under this
National bank system and the Republican
financial policy. A favored few have con-
t.olled the Congress By a money power
that Legislators would not reSis', andnow the
wall Of the poverty -Stricken masses, both of
the South and the North, the depreciation
of real estate all over tie land, even in the
crowded marts Of the great commercial me
tropOlis of the nation, the prOstTetion ~f
trade and commerce aid the financial ruin
everywhere staring us in the face, have
alarmed even the leading Republicans for
the safety of their party.
The Democratic party since 1866, have
by all means in their power, denounced the
system, but they were In a meagre minority
and were powerless. That party is crow
ing in power and strength in The North and
West, and the Republicans see the hand
writing on the wall and hence their new
departure.
On this question they are coming to the
Democratic party. The people have de-
manded that the government Of the United
States shall no longer pay .S25,0O0Ono ne
annuin TO sustain tha National bank cur
rencS, when that circulation can be substi-
tuted for legal tender notes without cost.
And the time is fast approaching when
their demands will be heard. The Repub-
lican party have Snuisd the gathering
storm and are preparing the sa,i5 o. their
sinking Graf accordingly.
THE CIVIL RIGHTS BILL.
The third plank III the Republican State
platform, reads:
8. We are in favor Of the full and equal
enjoyment Of accommodations, advantages,
rights and privileges by all citizens and
other persons within the jurisdiction of
the United States, without regard
to race, creed OF color, and at
the Same time We deem it I'M
necessary and unWise to attempt, By
Congressional legislation. O. otherwise, to
compel - het-t cen such races, creeds or
cOiOrs, the joint exercises of such accOmmo-
datiOns, advantages, rights or privileges.
But We recognize the principle. which is
older than our CONSTITUTION. that every
mans house Is his castle, and thai under
our Government, every citizen, white or
black, has the riEht 10 bear arms in confor-
nifty - law, and to express his opinions
without interference or nOlestatiOn.
This is an anomalous position. The
Republican party o. Tennessee declare the
ius..te oil certain demands by the cOlOred
race, and that it is in favor of certain rights
claimed by that race, "but deem it unwise
to grant the demands or secure these rights
10y legislation" And in the same eUnnec-
ton declare, that ereTY titan White or black
has INC fisht 20 bear arms in conformity to
law, and to express his opinion, without III
reference or mOlestatiOn.
What relation has the latter TO the
former subject? The sssoriatltn IF IDEAS
is pecu'iat; but let us not suppose
that the insignifcanoe is not what the
reading might reasonably imply. But
aside from this, we NAV congratulate our
selves that upon the much agitated ques-
ton of Civil Rights the Republican ,;arly
of Tennessee IS also in alliance with us.
That is, they are (unlike us) in favor Of
the Civil Rights bill, but (like us) are OPP
posed to its passage. This was done TO
satisfy white Republicans (and they are
numerous) who ao opposed TO the Civil
Rights bill. hut Tie i,oriinee Tot Gov
errot is \ friend 6f tie Civil Rights bill,
and will vote for its passage next winter
in the House Of Representatives.
This was done to satisfy the negro, and
by this sort of patchwork they hope TO &C.
ment their ranks and maintain the integri-
ty of their party. But il IL an insult 20
very .aany honest men Of their party, who
have less self-reSpect and independence
than / give them credit for, if they
brook it.
The Civil Rish,s Bill is well character
lied by the distinguished Tennessee Re
publican Senator as 'the sum of political
viilainies." 1t is the sum of villainies. 1t
was conceived in sin the most diabOlical,
and when brought forth it will be an i'm
EQUITY Of hellish origin. But IL Is cruel
and unjust to blame the rtgrO Tor 1t. The
great mass 81 the negroes 10 not wish
1t. They never suggested it. 1t had its
origin with Radical agitators and political
tricksters. The Republican party was
born of the agitation of the negro question.
1t grew and strengthened on the events
which followed the mortal attack upon the
institution of slavery, as leech-like it drank
the pnrest blood that ever annOinted an
Anglo-Saxon heart. 1t gloated over the
ruin and desOlation of the paradise Of a
continent and the Eden of the world. 1t
held the reins of power by unmaking and
making States, with the same arrogance
and presumption that Henry VIII. fnades
and ilnmade Princes. II degraded the in
telligent and refined master, and elevated
over him the ignorant, deprayed and vici-
- Ia IL. a