Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-05-08

OoAS VI twenty years dbO " ASOA
fanatics, and the polished Geo. VIM.
Curtis Celebrates elegant leaders for
the intellectual wing of the party of
great moral ideas. The picture side of
the paper does not always accord with
the editorial side, but that matters lit
tie, as it is a drag net designed to catch
all sorts of gudgeons.
The leading articleon the intellectual
side Of the current issue is evidently
designed to strike the keynote of the
Presidential campaign. The import
ance of the Republican State conven-
tions in Ohio and Pennsylvania, which
meet early next month, is dwelt upon
as of national Importance, because they
will show the spirit and purpose of the
party. The truly faithful are warned
that vigorous denunciations of the
Democratic enemy viii not suffice.
"'There are positive discontents, i'm
patience and determination in the po-
htical world" Reform is wanted not
merely in the details of administra-
ton, but IN it's tone. The Weekly
argues that "the battle Of 1876 is first
to be won within the Republicanparty;
if the influences and tendencies under
which, it has lost prestige and has de-
clined in power continue to be domi-
nant, the Presidential election is al
ready lost" Here we have open CON
fession linked with direful prediction.
The Democratic arraignment of "the
influences and tendencies" of the DOM
inant party, is more than confirmed.
And what are the means proposed by
this Radical oracle for averting the
calamity he threatens! Here it is: at
must be distinctly understood that the
third term Is to be opposed at any
cost, that military force is to be en-
ployed only in strict subservience to
the letter and spirit Of the Constitu-
ton, that men Of the best character
and ability are to be sought for ap-
pointment to office, and that the Office
holding control OF political action is to
be discountenanced."
This is stealing our Democratic thun-
der, and if the rank and file of the Re
publican party can be brought to adopt
this platform in its full and sincere
meaning, we shall welcome them as
seekers in the Democratic church, far
advanced toward full membership.
But how is Grant to be disposed of?
The Weekly touches him tenderly, yet
firmly. He is 'the individual who
could do most for the party both by his
words and his Deeds" but it bluntly
adds: THE President will evidently
do nothing" The onlyaccusation ven
tured against Grant is ga mistaken
good feeling and a misconception Of
the moral and impcrsonal obligations
of official position, but "the fate of
the Republican party ought not TO be
left to the Whim of one man." and
waiting for him is mere drifting, and
drifting on a lee slOre." The party
must not be allowed to drift; the war
against a third term must begin at
one and find emphatic expression in
the State platforms of Ohio and Penn
syl7snia. En- PEASANT we may here note
the wonderful identity of the policy
advocated by the self, styled Indepen-
dent Cincinnati Commercial with that
here urged by Harper's Weekly. But
it will not be found so easy to
get rid Of Grant. Every leading
feature Of lis policy has been
endorsed, not only by the great mass
of the party, but also by the vast ma
jority Of its intellectual leaders.
Sumner stood almost alone in opposing
the San Domingo scheme. A Carpen-
ter denouncing the Louisiana outrage,
and a Poland coming to the rescue of
Arkansas present exceptions, notable
only for their rarity, to the universal
rule that Grantism and Republicanism
have been for years identical IN both
theory and practice. The Weekly de-
mands that the military be employed
only IN strict s~ubservience to the Con-
stitution; but its picture side has not
yet ceased its bold defenceof S~heridan's
raid on the Louisiana Legislature and
his bandiCti telegram demanding for
the military supreme power Of life and
death over a whole people. The honest
men who slough off from the Grant
party this year and next will find
thems Ives unable, like those of 1872,
to accomplish any reform within
that party. They will find them
selves powcrlcss without Democratic
cooperation, and if they bait half way
they will obstruct political reform in
stead Of helping 1t. Whatever may be
done in Ohio and Pennsylvania this
year-and very likely the one State will
offset the other On this third term is.
sue, as Connecticut offset New Hamp-
shire-the present indications are that
the reform clement Of the Republican
party will Iot stand a ghost of a show
in controlling the National Convention
which viii nominate the next Republi-
can candidate for President. That can
didate viii be either Grant OF the nan
chosen by Grant, and supported by the
influences which are o being exerted
in favor Of a third term.
CONCERNING THE INDEPENDENT
VOTER
TLo N~-. Y0rE SIM baliavas IN tho