Clarksville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1865-1867, 1866-01-05
For the CHRoyrcLr,

=
healthy public sentiment in community, is par
TALLY defeated by the peculiarly depending mna-
-ner in which its views ae expressed
The CHRONICLE, certainly, is honest Whatever
else may be said Of IL unmanly trickery and p-
litica sycophancy are not among its characteristic.
For this purity of purpose and independence Of
action, much credit is due 1t.
But II is despondent reserved, cold; and, as is
common in all cases Of public journalism, the
thoughts proclaimed by the paper are impresscf
upon the reader. The anms with which they art
spoken permeates and influences the minds which
digest them. The opinions and feelings Of the
editor fall upon the hearts Of his readers like dews
on flowers silently imperceptibly; but are drunk
in, absorbed, and become the very fe-blood of the
plant. The brilliant jova writer fills his readers
soul with life-while the stern logic of the man
who feels himself wronged without means of re-
dress, chills the emotions and leads the heart to
despair.
Life, in this lower world Is cherries enough,
without unnecessarily adding to its gloom. II
there are any bright spots in it. we may as well
enjoy them; al least, it can do no harm to look
them up; for 1t Is extremity pleasant, when one is
cold and weary on a journey, to run upon streak
Of sunshine and bask: II but for moment in its
inspiring warmth.
| The CHRoSicr, in looking out upon the political
prospect, sees nothing but storm-clouds, whose
black volumes breath oppression and death; huge
ice-bergs floating down upon us from the north
east, kept cold and ngly by the breath of SrEvrSc
and piloted by the genius Of SUMNER; while a
whole nation of fanatics stand by and clap their
hands with joy. .rr n .-.a
Feeling thus; honestly believing that ruin stsres
us in the face; that nothing, save radical change
in the political elements, can save US from going
down with the cities Of the plain-the CHRONICLE
plainly tells its readers So. But why give up the
ship so soon1 We are adiift it is true and oul
rigging not in the best trim but "whle there |!
life there is hope"
Never was people more depressed; never mar
moro justly detected; never a proud people NOR,
thoroughly humlated than these, our countrymen
But now when the public pulse beats so feebly
the life-current running cold and dead-all our en-
Igies paralyzed, we need encouragement; we neet
something 70 cheer our tagging Spirits something
10 stimulate us to hopeful action something t,
inspire MS with hope that one day, at least, VI
shall all be on our feet again. Nothing NOR
essential to the nations life than this.
We look to the public journals for relief. w
devour their crowded pages for mental nutriment-
for something 70 encourage and lift usup. But
to the CHRONICLE we look in vain. Its teaching
are cold as the north Wind. When reading il
cherries columns, our hearts almost freeze withi
us, and we might be driven to dsspair--did W
not think It pnssible the paper may be mistaken
and too much disposed to despond and think all Il
lost
We see the storm. We hear the mutterings
thunder in the distance; we sec the darkenin
clouds filed with destruction; but as they multipl
and magnify themselves, we think We see the
, outlines tinged with gold; and, behind, where W
see not, there may be lurking stream Of th
: purest sunlight. When the cloud has burst an
spread its fury-when the thunder has shake
a the earth to It's center, we may find ourselves
r trained and purified by our sufferings- -suddenl
c transplanted into sea of living light. We al
. now in the darkest period Of our hi tory. I'll
= clouds are nearest the Garth The last act in ii
drama of our troubles is being played, and, whe
It the curtain falls land may smile again in Il
y plcntude of her greatness, while our people sha
e thank God that he has been our pilot through Il
r storm. Our condition certainly is deplorable-
saddening; but is there nothing, absolutely notl
a a ing, to brighten the prospect Then well migl
: we pray to go down in peace to our fathcrs-f
10 life would DO curse, and death boon to
ID sought after. But there is a cause for g. all OF
- woe" and that cause is being removed as fast as
Of can reasonably be expected to be. Don't despair
H. hold on to the wheel.
10 Wars are all waged for purpose. Tho work
d arranging into measures of public policy Il
ye achievements Of a war, begins only after the a
tual war has ceased; and this often requires mo
" :, time and skill than the prosecution Of the W
p itself. The war of the revolution was virtual
terminated when Lord Cornwallis surrendered !
ne army at Yorktown; but the absolute independen
,, of the United States, for which the war had be-
4. waged, and the entire withdrawal of British !
y, raj years aftcrward-not unit, the talents Of o
!; wissst men had been long at work. The sar
in may be said of all other great wars
u The'conaict of arms is sudden, impulsive; for
az av arrayed against force; the struggle continui
" until one side or the other gives way. During t
y, contest OF arms, there is but thing at issue
the relative power Of the contending armies. 7
g. 9, measures ofpolicy for which the war was wag'
er and all peaceful methods for their settlement,
Oh laid aside the moment the sword is grasped not
I'M be taken mp again until the fate Of war has decd
~ who shall yield. Hence, 1t Is that when a v
nd is ended, the parties thereto, so far as I
50 matters originally dividing them are concerns
nd are placed precisely where they were previous
~, the commencement Of hostties, save that all NJ
to- agree where the power liesi all now know "
IN, mus, submit; all are now ready 10 aoqulesee In
eu result and 10 submit to the dic,a,ions Of the c,
y quering power. by the surrender OF one Of I
ed armies, the great sue, whatever Il may be, Ia
BILE cidedi tina, Is, II Is decided yea OF nay but
Ai...si.u .uH aKraua.taeUf af the Ka-ftlla