Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-06-25
WANTED A BLOODY SHIRT
LEADER.

Leadmg hepubIlcan pOuucians are
greatly disturbed at the peacefulness
of the political situation. The COM
mingl.ng of the blue and the gray in
the late funeral decorations at Bunker
Hill was distasteful to the element
known as the E1orton wing. The Sen.
ator's organ thought such joint demon
stratlous IN honor of the valorous dead
was me highest disrespect to the Fed
e.cal soldiers and a species Of disloyalty
to the Union. But the recent cor
dial welcome given to the cit
izen soldiery Of Virginia and
South Carolina at the Bunker
Hill Centennial has caused still greater
alarm among those preachers and
teachers of the gospel of hate, who
assume to lead the Republican party.
Grants organ, the Washington Ma
tiOHai Republican, is evidently afraid
that the party viii lose much of its
campaign Ammunition if the fears Of
the North are not kept constantly
aroused. It says:
''The memorial day ceremonies, the
Centennial celebrations, and current
public demonstrations Of a similar kind
have lately had the effect to lun the
fears Of many earnest and thoughtful
men regarding the condition of the
South, and at the same time to deceive
Othres into belief that the results of
the war rest securely upon a lasting or
ganic foundation"
And, in order to prevent the North
ern public from falling into the belief
that all is q1iet south Of the Potomac,
1t announces IN terse and emphatic
terms: 'The political situation is
fraught with as great danger as it was
In I860-6l. The temporary absence of
campaign excitements secures compar-
tive peace and quiet IN the turbulent
States, but it is the quiet that precedes
the storm and the ill-feeling which lies
, dormant and only requires the begin
ming Of a political contest to give 1t
new life and cruelty criminal vigor."
Here is blood and thunder for you.
The "bloody shirt" is the only banner
under which these Republicans hope to
conquer IN the next canvass. That
sanguinary garment is to them what
the cross was TO Constantine and his
followers: In hoe signo vincemus. "
The Republican calls for a leader Of the
Bloody Shirt brigade. Hear: I've
earnestly believe a necessity exists that
s)me man Of sterling worth and of ac-
knowledged foresight should grapple
with these questions and arouse The
people to a full appreciation
of the actual facts" Again:
What member Of the Repub-
Ican party will be bold enough to step
forward now and stem the current of
public opinion which may be in danger
of drifting upon dangerous political
reefs? Such a man, perhaps, Is Mr..
ex-Speaker Blaine. But this perhaps"
is coupled with such ambiguous
givings-out, such pointed illusions to
Mr.. Blaine's failure to see his duty
when the bill to protect electors was
pending IN the House" that 1t Is ap-
parent he will receive nothing
but back-handed icks from Grant
and his supporters. We respect
fully suggest Morton as the
man fer the Outrage" business. But
his financial record would not suit the
"bloated bondholders" and money
sharks. of New York and New England.
Ben Butler would answer remarkably
well. He would be a most eminent
commander, if his financial views were
not substantially in accord with Nor
toms. Who, then, is the man to lead
in this hour of the country's danger
s'as great danger as it was IN ls60-6l5
Who but Grant can save the country