The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1869-07-02
Is the Republic in Danger?

IuutnoIIl., tuc peTpclUdllOn VI power,
with its concomitants, have given to
history an Alexander, a Hannibal,
Cesar, Cromwell, Bonapal'te. Let
American freemen see to it chat the
name Of Ulysses Grant is not added to-
the list Of those who have been immor-'
talizcd By'the death throes of nationali-
ties. The fact that,,a weekly journal de-
voted TO, the advotacy of Imperialism.
flaunting as its insignia h'rrown and
using every argument a'deviish ingc-
nuity can invent against Republican in.
stithtions, unmoleStcd by the sworn
guardians of The Republic, is most sig
niticant 6fa danger which should arouse
the nalion. 1t has been openly charged
by q portion of the press for weeks
gone by, that this exponent of mon
| archy is sustained by those in high au.
thority. Thus far, we believe, it has
met with no denial. Well may we ask,
what means this silence? is it because
the effort is regarded by those in au-
thority as too trifling to merit attention? ?
| Will man quietly allow the foul
breath OF SANDER TO sully the fair name
of his wife or mother? Would the in
significant source of calumny be re-
garded as any excuse for his silence?
The crevasse which lets in the inundat-
ing and destructive flood, overwhelm-
ing in its turbulent and resistless course
thousands of acres and oblitcrating the
work Of ages, often starts from some
scarcely pcrceptiblc crevice in the dyke,
which timely attention would have en-
ablcd a child to stop with handful of
earth.
The first efforts of the arch-conspira-
| tors of the late revolt, which cost this
country hundreds of thousands of lives
and billions of money, were laughed at
as ridiculous: the organization of the
| plotters denied; the" knights Of the
Golden Circle regarded as 4 fancy club
of political mountebahks as harmless as
Don QuiXotte.' Many people forget that
a single spark may kindle confagra-
tlon which shall envel lopa city i'll flames
If sod Hickory" as the stern pa
triot and heroic statesmen, Jackson,
was fdmiliarly called, was now Prcsi-
dent, does any one, for a Iiione,it,
suppose that the Haunting insultto the
Republic which is weekly. isSuGd from
! the commercial metropolis of the Uni
ted States. would be permitted to utter
another editorial of treason! The law
of existence or MISREPRESENTATION supe-
rior to all statutory cnactments, which
justities a man in 'usihg all mdans at his
command whem life is impei'iIled, both
ordinary and extraordinary. even to the
| Staying of his adversary. applies to ma
tons as fifty rs to individuals. II
The csEutchCon Of the nation should
be guarded no less zcalously than an in
dividual defends the purity of his own
good name. The President Of the Uni
ted States who fails to do this is re-
creant to the best interests of the com
monwealth, untrue to the traditions of
the past, unworthy the high trust con-
tided to his keeping, and justly liable to
suspicious of the gravcst character
touching his fidelity. 1t is time the
alarm was being sounded by all good
men and true, who have in Keeping the
legacy OF the fathers and would be-
qucath it unimpaired to posttritv. It
is our duty TO protect the interests of
I ourselves and children We should al
/ low no squeamish fear of ridcule to
! prevent Il full expose of the lurking
danger which, unseen by many, is in
sidiously gathering strength and threat
ems the verylite Of Republican institu-
tions. If President Grant does not ap-
| prove the tenets of the New York I'M
! peri0liSt, copies of which it is p3bltcly
charged are PricatelJ disseminated by
himself and members Of lis Cabinet,
lwhy does he not say so? If one of his
! Secretaries did not furnish money to
start the enterprise, why is il not dis
avowcd? ? ). a.
q Fellow-C -Countrymen. Shall this Re-
| public--with all its faults, still the nur-
| scry Of Freedom the home Of Liberty,
the asvlum-of the oppressed OF all ma
! ltions-where the humblesu child NAV
! by dint ofthis own industry make a'for-
tune and name,' where merit aided bv
! virtue is alone Sufficient TO attain any
degree of honorable eminCnce-shall it
! be oycrthrown ?'Arc the descendants
of the heroic men who found d and de-
! Tended with their lives and fortunes
| this free government, PREPARED to re-
| gard it rs II failure? Will You, children
of honorcd sircs; will'you, Soldiers of
the Republic: you, fathers, brothers
and sons of the fallen brave. i9nomin-'
iously surrender the Republic and be
manacled, that your children after Won
may be slaves to the military hirGlings
of despotism! Then wait not until the
chains are forged. Let not the admira-
tion of General Grants countrymen, the
confidence of the masses in his patriot
ism, prevent them from suspectin"
treachcry. His frequent visits TO New
York, his nepotism, and overweening
'confidcnce in the military, all betoken
4 danger we sincerely trust may not be
realized.
1t is natural for Americans to indulge
in dreams Of matchless splendor, to be.
licve the futureprogress of our people
will far surpassthc most sanguine hopes
of the past May God avert the fearful
calamity of another life struggle to this
nation upon the ensanguined field
Fbrother engaged against brother. Av.
should it come, less fortunate in its is.
sue than the latcappaling contest. it
may prove-engulphing foreverrhe Ea-
gle and the e'Stars, and with themuour
liberties in irretrievable ruin!
- q ~ nrn REDNANELA.
DslS" Can any one tell how it is that a
man who is too poor to pay four cents
a week for good weekly paper, is able
to pay fifteen cents day for tobacco
and cigars, to say nothing of an occa-