Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-03-10
THE MEMPHIS AVALANCHE AND
EENATRR ERRPER

pAALA-ALE Ct- 4 Cbttrr F-4ACdsoA " SANS
Us a sublime idea Of its height and
dimensions, by representing men and
women as almost invisible specks be-
side it. No such deception is needed to
enhance Andrew Johnson's stature of
greatness, by darkenjag or belittling
others, as the Memphis Avalanche de-
lights to do in It's sneering paragraphs
at his colleague, Senator Cooper. Pos
sibly the AUalaEche may imagine that
MIR. Johnson's return to Washington
Is due solely t. its influence; if so 1t
would be more creditable to base It's
support on his merits rather than the
dement's of any one else. The new Sena-
tor would himself be the last man to IN
spire or approve such petty filings at
the gentlemen who jointly with him
represents the Statehood Of Tennessee
in the American Senate. Yet, at
time when the Democracy Of the State,
both press and people, are practicing
that supreme duty of the South to-day
to bear and forbear-and are quietly
allowing the old breaches to heal up,
here comes the AUalaRche, with its
prodding pothOOks to tear open the
sores of five years ago, when Mr.. Coop
er was elected ever Andrew johnson.
We need hardly recount the course
pursued IN 1869 by the UNION AND
AMERICAN. 1t advocated the ex-Pres-
ident's election as a rebuke to his Rad
zeal prosecutors. He was then fresh
from the Capital and familiar with the
dark and dubious deeds of the domi-
nants. Had he gone to Washington
then, the exposure Of Credit aIobilier
corruption IN its various forms, would
have come a few years earlier.
Nor were the times ripe for free
choice from among the talented sons Of
Tennessee, because so many Of them
were still under political disabilities.
During the recent struggle, We pursued
a different course, because, after the
hearty welcome accorded to Stephens,
Gordon, Lamar, and other ex-Rebels.
we felt that Tennessee was free to
choose from the entire feIdof her man
hood and intellect. In 1859, Mr..
Cooper was elected in q Democratic
Legislature by the aid Of Radical
votes; the same is true Of Mr.. johnson
In 1876; on that score honors are easy.
Yet, no one imagines that our new
Senator viii be the less useful to his
State or country, because he proved
fortunate enough to secure the support
Of the Republican element IN the pres
ent General Assembly. None of his
competitors would have declined sup.
port from that side Of the house. When
Office is the object, one members vote
Is as good as another's.
In 1869, the fourteen Radical men,
bers voted against Mr.. johnson, in the
belief that his defeat would cause a
split IN the Democratic ranks. Such
was their ann and intent. They were
wise IN their generation, as the uufor-
tunate campaign Of 1872 proved but
too well. We have reason to believe
that a similar motive and expectancy
d stCrmined the eight Radicals n the
present Legislature to vote for Mr..
Johnson, they believing that his cleo
ton would rend the party in twain
once more. Just here their calculations
fail; Democrats are not to be set by
the ears again through such transpa-
rent mauipulations. We were never
united in more solid phaIanz than now.
The political outlook was never more
cheering. The indications from North
and South, and even from Washington,
are most auspicious. Al our surround
ings, rot merely bespeak but inspire
the wisdom Of cor citation and harmony
What folly then, at this juncture to
indulge feelings Of petty spite
against a man who happened, through
an extraordinary combination Of Gil
cumstances, to be the successful rival
Of the ex-Presideut over five years ago !
Much can and ought to beforgigen and
forgotten amid the changes Of five
years. BIZ. Cooper has sat in the Sen
ate, and still sits there, as a Democratic
Senator from Tennessee. lie has been
sparse Of speeches, and we have heard
little Of his work in committee. Ger
tainly his four years have added nothing
to the brilliant record Of Tennessee as
a mother Of statesmen, but he has al
ways vo,cd right. Little as he has ac-
complished, 10 blunders can be laid to
his charge. In bare justice, We must
accord him that much. Although no
choice Of ours, We must protest against
his being pursued and prosecuted IN the
spirit Of puny malice that seems to
animate the poiRtless paragraphs Of the
Arglqachc. We know it to be as for
eign and distastefaI 20 Andrew John
son himself as it Is disgreditable to
journalism.
4 POINT OF FAIRY LAW.
There was a very pretty point Of par
liamentary las under discussion in the
Senate yesterday. The facts, as we IN
derstaud them, are as follows:
a bill to repeal the conventional in
terast law passed the House Of Repre-
ssutatives and went to the Senate.
There it was reje5ted on the first read
ing. A motion was entered to recon-
slider the vote rejecting the bill Pre-
vious TO all this, however, a similar
bill had been introduced In the
Senate and passed two readings.