American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1867-07-31
The Honest Men ofTennesses.s

A few days since the New York World
! published long communication from
MIR. John Lellyett. Chairman of the Mid
die Tennessee Executive Committee 1t
was full OF the fiereest deunciation of
Governor Brownlow and the Union citi-
zens of the State. They are bloody
thirsty, and Mr.. Brownlow is monster
Of tyranny and iniquity. Buff pens
sive public wished to see mild, manner
ly, forbearipg, humane, and law,abiding
citizens, devoted to the Government and
to the fundamental American principles
of liberty and equality-in truth very
lambs-it must inquire for Middle Ten>
nessee Conservatives. The name is sug-
gestive. Mayor Monroe's thugs who
massacred Union men last summer were
Conservatives" and the men who held
carnival of murder and crime in New
York four years ago at this time were Of
the same great "Oonservative" party.
On the day upon which Mr.. John Lei
lyett's communication was published, we
also received communication from
citizen ofTennessee, who served through
out the war upon the side Of the Union,
against which the CONSERVATIVE" party,
which the World calls ssthe honest men
of Tennessee" was arrayed. These hons
est gentlemen are in fact the ex-rebels of
Tennessee organized into political par
ty, controlling fifty newspapers, while the
Union men have not half dozen, carry>
ing on the campaign with determines
tion to succeed at all hazards, their lead-
er and candidate for Governor, Emerson
Etheridge, declaring that any man ought
to be shot who says that slavery is abol>
ished, and the rank and file of the party
following his advice to the letter. Such
is the terrorism that these "honest men
of Tennessee" have established that
Union men art consciously in constant
peril; and Governor Brownlow, who ful>
ly understands his State and the spirit
and purpose Of "the honest men of Ten
nessee," has taken military measures for
the preservation of the peace and the
protection of the Union men. "None
but a Brownlow," says our correspondent
"could meet the emergency now upon us
in Tennessee; and underlying his scorch~
ing rhetoric there is a reliable basis of
truth, virtue, and patriotism.
No man in the country needs to be en-
lightened upon the character of the ex-
rebels in Tennessee. They hate the Union
and the Government just as cordially as
ever, aul the lost cause is the unknown
god whom they worship. Even the mild
Mr.. LeIlyett, who calls Governor Browns
low monster of tyranny because he will
not let rebels ride rough shod over loyal
men, is much less mid at home than
when he addresses New York public
Batter, so to speak, would not melt in
his mouth in New York but in Nashville
II in Hispania Our correspondent
writes "Governor Brownlow can not
surpass in fiery iuvective the published
card of the Honable John Lellyett in the
Nashville Banner of few days since, iE
which he says that every man, white or
to be marked and ::discountenanced, not
patronized or encouraged in any thing.
and that the ground he walks upon should
be accursed.' His advice is being car~
rled out literally"
What that means in a semi rebel State
every sensible man knows. The hope
and purpose of Mr. John Lellyett and
his ''honest men OF Tennessee" is to make
the State too hot for the devoted and
faithful frie nds of the Union and Of equal
rights. That is the issue Of the August
election. If Mr.. John Lellyott and his
friends succeed, the situation of loyal
men in the State will become lutolerable.
-HarperS s. Weekly