The Sweetwater forerunner. [volume] (Sweetwater, Tenn.) 1867-1869, 1868-08-20

your Masonic brethren, or any other hon
est men.
You did not dream of enfranchising the
negro.
Now, these things are not alluded to
with any other intention than to show to
thinking men of all parties that it is idle
to predict what course u revolution will
take. All that we can tell about them
before they are over is that they are ter
rib!e things.
One other idea and l have done with
this head:
Sometimes matter is to the interest of
one man and injurious to his neighbor.
But this rule holds only on small scale.
To illustrate: 1t is perhaps to the interest
of a tsw office holders that the Radical
party be continued in power; and to the
interest of few would-be office holders
that they should not.
But, as regards the great mass of our
citizens, although they do not see alike,
the measures that would be beneficial to
one party would be beneficial to the other.
The All-Wise Creator cast our destinies
together, and intended that we should live
together in peace, and aid and protect
each other. He has so blended our in
terests, las He does those of every commu-
nity,) that whatever is beneficial to any
considerable portion of us is beneficial to
the great mass. whether Radical or Con-
sentative and whatever is injurious to
any considerable portion is Injurious to
the great mass.
Is it possible that any man can believe
that policy which would he beneficial to
half the people of the State would be in
furious to the other half.
If the acknowledgements of "Rebels"
would ruin our State, it would ruin Gre
bells" as well as Radicals. But if it
would be beneficial to "Rebels" by a
change of policy for the better, it would
also benefit Radicals. If a man who has
read history can separate the interests of
half of the community from those of their
neighbors; or if the man who has read
the Holy Scriptures can convince you that
every man was made to live to himself
and die to himself; then the writer of
this communication is in error. But if
his recollection is right there is no such
Scripture. He has some recollection of
having read verse or clause some where,
to the effect that "No man liveth," &C.
but he will not attempt to quote the Holy
Scriptures lest he should quote them
wrong. Examine for yourselves.
DUTIES OF CONSERVATIVES.
Mr.. Editor, if you ever sat down-as
know you havo--to write a short commu.
nication, and found ideas crowding upon
you for uttcrance, yon can appreciate my
condition.
But although this communication has
been extended beyond the intended limits
| cannot close without word directed specially
to my own party, although nearly all that has
been written applies to some Of them. For in
addition to what is suggested as applicable to all
good citizens, majority, perhaps, of the Con
servatiyes are connected with some Christian
Church or with the Masonic Fraternity. More
over, considerable portion of what crowded
upon the mind of your correspondent and was
set down in speaking of the duties of Radicals,
applies with equal force to Conservatives. The
question recurs What is the duty of Conserva
tives
In answer to this question, a few propositions
which are by your correspondent deemed self
evident will be submitted, and also the conclu
sions which seem to follow.
LIST. Under the present franchise law, as it il
administered, we cannot hope to carry the State
in the approaching election.
I'd. If we are suffering oppression, MS we be-
lieye we are, it cannot last long, if Republican
institutions are preserved.
Sd. If Republican institutions 60 down in thu
United States, they go down in our State will
the others, in spite of all that we can do.
4th. Whether Republican institutions are pre-
served, depends upon the Northern States.
9Th. A conflict Of arms in Tennessee would no
strengthen the Conservative party in the North
ern States.
9Th. One Civil Wa., has, as we believe, nearl,
wrecked Republican institutions. Another on
will be almost certain to finish the wreck.
7th. We believe that the only object in callin
out the militia is to insure the vote Of the Stat
for Grant and Colfax.
The conclusion which your humble correspon
dent has drawn from the foregoing proposition
is, that it would be best for the Conservativ
party not to nominate an electoral ticket, but t
let the election 20 by default. This will save u
from the impending strife. If free government
is sustained, our citizens who are distinguishes
by their exalted intellectual and moral worth
will not long be deprived of the privileges whicl
are granted to negroes. The negroes themselve
will not suffer it when the excitement coos. Blu
if free institutions 60 down, we go down witt
them. Let us wait and see the result. W.