Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-11-20

who love the country, who love good and
honest laws, who want reform, and who
appreciate the rapidly with which our
country, for recent years, has been travel
Ing downwards and hellwards, {applause),
and they have determined, in their might,
intelligence and virtue, that they would
give Lus relief, and they have thus rebuked
the men who stood, rs Mr.. Butler did, the
representative Of these bad things, and the
results achieved by these elections, insure
to the people Of the whole country an era
of Deace-real, generous, national and fra
ternal peace. [Applause-1
Let us realize that we are citizens Of a
great country; that Tennessee cannot suffer
unless Indiana also suffers; that Louisiana
cannot be crushed under the iron heel of
oppression without bringing sorrow 20 the
doors Of men Of Indiana, Of Massachusetts,
Of California, of the entire country.
Now came here determined to talk to
you, men Of Tennessee, as woulk talk TO
my friends, my constituents in Indiana.
think may therefore tender TO you, out Of
the fullness Of my own heart, and out of
the fullness Of the hearts ofthe Democratic
and conservative men of Indiana, my own
and their hearty congratulations over the
recent triumphs. fApplause.1 Their hearts
/
Fived and strengthened nationality. We
have a thousand reasons for being united,
and for eherishing your rights and your in
terests as our own.
The right Of local selfgovernment is the
only safeguard to free institutions, and l
think the recent elections promise more in
that direction than anything which has
happened in this country since 1860. But,
gentlemen, remember, and / have no
doubt all Of you remember in the midst Of
| your rejoicings, that these recent election
results present to us sober side, and il be-
comes us well, as intelligent men, to con-
slider the great duties and suggestions of
this sober side. Remember, men Of Ten
nesSee, that these elections have not settled
much. They have changed few officers,
but they have not done much else; yet they
have brought TO us a precious harvest OF
grand opportunities. If we fail to improve
these opportunities, all these victories may
turn to ashes in our grasp, and only serve
to prepare the way for our signal discom-
fiture in the future.
This victory has come TO US freighted
with
| SOLEMN RESPONSIBILITIES,
and it becomes every man elected to Office
| whether he be elected to a position in
the general government, State or local
Othce-it becomes every man to look well
/ to his conduct; to even consider well what
he says, because there are hypercritieal per-
sons all about him 10 watch and talk and
point out the errors, the mistakes, the
| blundeTs Of these new men who have been
vested with power. / appeal to you all,
hOweser high or low may be the place to
/ which you have been chosen. TO realize the
| delicacy and importance Of the duties
/ which have been cast upon you. Each one
! of you has, in a sense, become the guar
| dian of the honor Of the great Democratic
and Conservative party of this country.
| [Applause.1 II in this spirit all the men
whom this election has brought to the
front will perform their duties, my
| judgment is that when two
| years have rolled around and the people
come To the polls to express their judgment
anew, our Reimbursement will ne complete
and emphatic, and that in 1S76-the great
| centennial year Of our cOuntTy's history
we will enter upon a new era of peace and
prosperity, of growth and development, of
national honor and glory. LGreat ap-
plause.l If we remember these duties, we
may be able in that year-in spite of all
the efforts for a third term Cor any other
sort of a term for Mr.. Grant)-we may be
able TO place in the chair Of the Executive
Mansion 4 true and lOfty-minded Demo
crat, devoted to re-esi ablishing Justice all
over this country. We care not who he is,
provided only he is a true, tried, eOmpe-
tent, honest and trustworthy man. ZAP
plause.l We will not attempt 10 say now
who that man will be. One Of the dangers
against which we must guard will be over
confidence.
1t is my conviction that the results of
the recent elections are, in every sense,
conservative and not revolutionary. The
people have risen up, and demand at the
hands Of the leaders Of our party, reform.
They ask at the hands Of the rulers Of this
country, good faith in all thinss, faithful
execution Of every promise, full protection
to the people-white and black-in their
civil and political rights. [Applause.1
That reform should be comprehensive in
its range. 1t should embrace the great
subjects of legislation that have been dis
cussed during the canvass Of this year.
There are many great questions upon
which the public Judgment Of no party is
settled. We are much at sea. There is
harmony and unity in no party upon
a few Of the great questions now before
the country. On these it is our duty, by
kindly discussion and unsel6sh pursuit of
great principles, to struggle for the attain
ment of harmony. 10 was the chief source
of the brilliant success aL1 long ascend |
ency, aud the pure and proud record Of the |
old national Democratic party, that it was
firmly anchored in enduring principles, in
the science Of civil government, and had |
established amongst its members great |
unity and harmony.
Since that time, We have passed through |
a great revolution In many respects, |
the party have lost their anchorage. They !
have become unsatisfird in their minds, and |
in the face Of this position, it does not be- |
come us to make boasts over what We are |
going to do. We are invested with only |
one Of the great citadels of the Govern |
ment-the House of Representatives. |
We cannot control the Senate, nor
the Executive; we can merely make |
suggestions in the House, and if |
we fail in securing their adoption, |
we can accomplish nothing. Let us look /
then to the practical. Let us endeavor to /
do that which is in our power to do. Let /
rs, as far as we have possession aud power, |
show the people that our principles are ex-
cellent, that our purposes are in harmony |
with the best interests of the country. The
people have shown their willingness to in
vest the Democratic and Conservative men
Of the country with the complete control of
the country; but it was not in their power
to do it this year. If we will prove true TO
our trust, we will have won their conf
dence anew and they will be willing 10 en-
trust us further-tO give us more power
and finally to put in our keeping all the
departments Of the general government
and the control Of the domestic affairs of
the various States. [Great applause.l
The party that is now in power have no
regard for the constitution; they rather
hate its curtailing of power. They want to ]
exercise the most dangerous, latiludinarian
construction Of power that it is possible
for them to exercise. Out Of this line of
conduct on their part have come allthe suf-
ferings OF the South. Men in authority
should be compelled 20 respect the laws,
and the laws should be required 20 be
in harmony with the Constitution, and
then the laws should he faithfully and
honestly executed in tie interests Of all the
people, of all the country. The trouble
has been, the laws have been made for a
few-for the pets Of partisans in office, and
too often have they been enacted for the
of the fes; in one word, to the
building up OF that most hateful of all in
situations,
nENfOCp TITO ARrSrOCRA0y