Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1870-08-06
THE DANGER or DIVISION.

Tn q reported interview between
Rutter, Of School Fund notoriety, and
Barber Lewis, the "yaller" Radical
dog of Memphis, the latter informed
the former that the Radical party In
Tennessee is thoroughly organized,
and hopes to triumph by means of
fhestrength it expects to acquire from
the old line wings. Our first thought
was to denounce this as wilful and
malicious Islander. But knowing
something Of the weakness of man
kind, and weighing well certain in
dications Of an intention to disturb
the harmony Of the Conservative
party without regard to the aid such
action might give to Radicalism, we
concluded to await further develop
ments rather than give the lie hasti-
ly, even tos such man as Lewis. We
have been too long and intimately
associated with the old wing
party, to believe that it ever number
ed among its members, men so lost
10 the teachings of its great leaders,
rs to prove recreant to its purest doc
trines and loftiest aims, at time,
too, when the country most needs the
efforts Of the purest men and the en-
forcement Of the highest principles
of political wisdom-at time, too,
when the closest unity of those, prin-
ciples and the utmost harmony among
all who endorse them will barely
suffice to keep in check the fatal en-
croachments of ruthless and corrupt
power upon the rights and liberties
of the people.
The wing party once boosted of its
rigid adherence to constitutional law,
and its hostility to tyranny, whether
1t came with frowning brow and up
lifted sword, or in the specious garb
of iawning demagogueism. Whath
transpired during and since the war,
to lure its adherents from their form
er proud position of conscious power
and rectitude to become disorganizers
of people made compact by the pres
sure of common danger and mutual
interest? If their former elevated
sentiments have been swallowed up
in selfshness, and their wisdom has
degenerated into mercenary cunning,
they will do well to hide themselves
amid the crowd that stands outside
the pale of the virtuous, the intelli-
gent and the patriotic. But neither
the utterances of Barber Lewis, nor
even the petulant and hasty outgiv-
ings of wings themselves, shall make
us believe that even one of that glo
rious old band of patriots has so far
forgotten the teachings of Clay and
Webster, or so completely shaken Off
his own high and lifelong convic
tions as to be able to stoop to the
dirty work that can alone initiate
him into the party which dares to
claim him as q future member.
If the opposition to Radicallsm is
to he weakened by third party or
ganization, we venture to declare, in
advance, that the old line wings, of
the Clay stamp, will prove guiltless
of the fatal mistake. Barber Lewis
drew upon his fancy, or handled the
wrong samples before making the
statement above quoted.
The Radicals are organized from
the Lakes to the Gulf, from the At
lantic to tire Pacific, and backed by
the sword and the purse, present an
array of strength which nothing can
overcome, save unity of opposition,
strengthened by patriotic devotion to
liberty and right. Is this time for
dissention about party names, or the
former status of those who are TO be
prominent in the fight? Let us rather
turn n deaf ear to all appeals to pre-
judice and resolve to adjourn all de-
bate about precedence, or party desig-
nations, until we can sit down in
peace and safety, and calmly discuss
internal differences that should now,
and forever, he merged In one COM
mon agreement to have no party but
country, and no platform but its lib
crty, prosperity and honor.
-