The Union flag. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1865-187?, 1865-12-29

It vsqaired no prophetic ken, but reasons
sway, to see the Spartan legions Of the South,
after driving back the ruthless invaders In
confusion and disgrace at every approach,
the masters Of the last battle field Of the rev.
%olution, the golden sunlight ofpeRee and vic.
tory cleaning in full EadisncS upon their in-
vincible banners. Z
AL, whose VisionI were blinded BY the elm
ofUnionism TO these dazzling achievements
OF Confederate valor, and those whose prov
incc II was to prevent theE, we're special
victims Of the Withcrins csnSareS ofthe South
era press. The stalwart freemen Of the North,
who patriotically renowned the rewards and
pleasures Of peaceful industry, and rushsd
with the im~petuoSsneSs Of new. bora zeal, to
the reacue Of the iupsrilsd honog an. inteE-
rity Of their Sountry the Union men Of EAst
Tennessee who would not bow, ia coward
self negatIon o. their inhcFCn. rights to the
"Gesler Cap > ofrebel domination, hut chose
rather to leave their cherished homes to tho
pitiless repaci!V Of their enemies, aud join
tho advancing standards Of freedom aud de-
liyerAnce All, who were GGhlisg for the
rightful umpire Of the Union, the Coustitu-
tion and the Laws, were dsRouAced as an ar
my OF myrnidons, pillagers, incsndiAricS and
indiscriminate mpTdeFers, more 10 be dread
ed, II not successfully combatted, than the
tea plaques of Egypt. The Official course Of
The revsred Lincoln, free from malicious rig
or and yiadic;ivSness, was s,igmAtizee as AT
an6roksn series Of despotiC Rrrogations, and
be WIS srraignsd before the izdiEuan, South
FOR the high misdemeanor Of converting III,
Capital Of the nation, that bore the sacred
name o; Washington, ard WAS conseera,ed as
the Mecca Of American liberties, ir,o = ral,
lying nuelsns Of abolition bigotry nad prop
sgaudism. lis the self same press which
commended martha! vigilance aud rnicisncy,
in high-wrcrgh: phrase uhen East Tsnnes-
sees aoL!ss. patriots we're o.tFscisej, incar-
ceTatsd, and hung, that now speaks, at grea,
length, Of the heaEtls'Gnsss and injustice Of
brasS-6atton commissions, which proplaims
WIZ, thai revolving Incarnation Of modern
barbarian, who directed tie c~rucliies Of the
Anicrsouville slaughter pen, a martyr, though
hC was executed as 4 dog which ia so sR-
Gricret At the captivity CT the NNgaaI Ap-
polio Of arch-,rcSEon, and the s,tict ~sarysil.
lance to which Il. is subjected. And to this
sell shne prCgi is the South mainly indebted
!O' that b~!iHdiay iGf,luatisn aud dclusion
which yelled tie terrible Consequences ether
suicidal !soi hardness.
Tic press is tie teacher All examp,ar Of
the people, Il moulds aad shapes public
ssa,iueut, as the potter his ycsacls Of clay.
It's parity aad freedom frou iibertln, excess
IS, arc a.,ssted in tie %saln;ary sad placid
conl:ioa Of sociriy. IS lS1ity and ;orrup.
zion Efe Nuts!ed in the genera! lAIi,y and
disregard cfnioy.i Fcstra.ats. a pGreslycain
canno; emulate from an impure fountain, nor
an imPdge stream from a pggs fountain. tn,
press OF tho South mast be s1purg4led Of
every ,aiat Of ~disloynl;y, before her people
can be regenersted from the nbaseaent Of
sectional seryility. The beg: Initiation TO
'Ais correction, ia diEcouu.enancs Of the
petulsnre, dissatisfaction and ehagrin which
Ts constantly vented through the columns
o. the press. This disconn,enance will be
Intensified into cordial reprobAtion, when
''ent shall make NANTES: the aapros,suls.
assJ AID self injury CT L" kicking agsiol, ,ho
pricks.' Thea there vii! Le Of necessity, q
thorough rcformS,ioa ia Tie tone aud sp.rit
Of Soaihrra Journalist which viii have The
bsppy elect OF fra.sFuiIing the jaring Gle
meats Of our national CoEledcrscy, sad ban
iSh from Al &Eeptic minds, the ~illpSory pos.
sibility Of is d~isiu,sg.atioa. Then the South,
no longer tbs victim Of ambitious demagog-
ism aud political ehicansry, will assert aud
maintain her true manhood and destiny, and
rejoice over The suppression Of tho morsirous
rebellion, into which wicked and designing
men begailsd her. Thea will she make rap
id advances TO the goal Of greatness, glory
and renown, voucbsafed to Der, only by. an
answering feality TO tbs eovenau. OF the
states.