The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1876-10-26
The Political Situation.

Whatever Importance attaches to
the late State elections. and however
elated our party friends may feel at
the result, the conscientious advo
Gates of reform in the administra
ton of national affairs must not
permit Il relaxation Of their energies
in behalf of Tilden and Hendricks
In comparison with the great battle
of November, when the hosts of
thirty-elght States will marshal for
the contest, the October elections
sink into comparative insignii
canoe. They are but the skirmish
preceding a great battle. 1t will
not do to rest upon our laurels or
intermit our exertions, for we might
find that we had "won a victory at
Ligny only TO be overwhelmingly
defeated at Waterloo" We have
now but little time left US in which
to prepare for the great battle, and
we can not safely allow our watch
fires to burn less brightly or have
our forces less thoroughly discip-
lined.
We may depend upon it that Til
den and Hendricks are stronger
than the local candidates in any Of
the States; and in November we
shall have the advantage of closely
drawn political lines and the desire
for reform and the disruption of
Grantism which pervades the hon
est masses of the people. The curse
of corruption and misrule which
rests like a pail upon the country
has aroused q determination unmis-
taxable in its significance. Local
issues and personal prejudices will
lose their potency, and the ques-
tions OF national Importance will be
considered. The result in the Pres
idential contest is placed beyond a
peradventure, and the success of
the hosts of reform assured, provid-
ed, as we have said, our efforts are
not relaxed and the advantages
within our grasp allowed to slip
away by reason of over-confidence
and consequent apathy.
But the Radicals are preparing
for the most desperate struggle for
success in certain Congressional
districts that they have ever made,
and we must not unloose our grip
in this State, lest we wake up to
one Of the bitterest disappointments
that ever came upon a people. They
are under peremptory orders from
Washington to stake everything up
on the Congressional fight. They
are given to understand that Hayes
case is hopeless, their policy must
be TO let the electoral ticket 90 by
the board, and make any and every
trade to secure strength for the
Congressional candidates. We APP.
peal to our friends everywhere to be
on their guard. We must not, in
our zeal for the national ticket,
overlook our Congressional and
Legislative nominees. If the Rad
icals should hold the next Congress,
Tilden's hands will be tied Our
friends must work, and watch, and
take nothing for granted. They
must keep constantly on the track
of the Radicals, and not lose sight
of them one moment. We must
follow them to the end of the race,
and give them such a drubbing as
will settle them forever. To do
this, there must be no illusion, no
over-confdence, for we have a
strong foe, made more desperate by
recent defeats; and defeat to them
in November means starvation or
hard work for nearly n hundred
thousand fat officials. There is no
weapon they will not employ to
whip us. Let us be prepared for
them.