The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1870-04-28

WHAT CONSTITUTES A RADICALLY is
question which has been agitating the
public mind somewhat, during the last
two weeks, in this town, and it is one
about which there seems to be some
difference Of opinion. We have paid
considerable attention to the subject,
and our views of the matter are found.
cd upon our knowledge Of the nature
OF the Government, the rights of the
States, and the duties Of the citizen.
IDEAS RULE TIE WORLD. Govern
ments are nothing more nor less
than ideas, or theories, in prac-
teal operation. The idea of States
Rights was the foundation stone Of the
Constitution which WAS made by our
forefathers and handed down to us-ir
was the idea tba prevailed in the Arti
clees Of Confederation between the
original thirteen Colonies, and carried
the people with their liberties unim-
paired through the terrible struggle
with Great Britain--it is the idea to
which We are indebted for seventy years
Of unparalleled prosperity MS nation---
and il is the idea which Northern poll
ticians sought to overthrow in the late
var under the pretcxt Of aboiishina
African slavery, The Southern States
realized the great truth thst their wei
fare was indls5olubly lound up in The
preservation Of this great principle
Tie North was growing stronger and
more ilso!oht year Ivy year, the Consul
tuition was nulliicd with Personal Lib
erty Bills, the compact between the
States was broken, and the South felt
that she must unsheath the sword and
throw away the scabbaid il she would
not iguobly lose her birthright Of lib
erty and independence. In this hour
OF her extremity an appeal was mdde
10 the gallant sons OF the South to rally
10 the rescue, and from the tanks OF
the Potomac to tue waters of the Rio
Grande the young man and the gray
haired sire were TO be seen weeping ms
If their hearts would break upon the
bosom Of wife, mother, or sister, and
tearing themselves away from the cm-
brace of loved ones to battle for the
eternal principles OF Truth and Justice
and pour out their blood like water up
on the altar Of their country. The
great heart Of the people was moved !.
But there were some who stood by and
looked coldly on. Creatures whose
patriotism was measured by dollars
o d cents They did not think that it
would pay. They were resolved to lie
as wise as serpents aud harmless as
doves" They would not hold up the
hands of an outraged people in their
appeal to the God of battles for vic
tory! THEY would be neutral-give no
aid nor comfort to the South, nor fight
for the North--and stay on both sides
OF the fence at the same time. But the
great idea for which ee were contend
ing formed fence between the North
and South too high for any man to sit
astrde of and touch the ground with
pOth feet That was time that tried
the hearts of men! Neutrality was
absurdity. He that was not for us was
against us. The very moment that q
Northern man aided and abetted the
North in its crusade upon the South he
became Il Radical; and the very mo-
ment that q Southern man ceased to
sympatnize with the South in is ardu-
Gus struggle for Constitutional liberty
he became Radical of still deeper
dye. We can have respect, even admi- |
ration, for an honest, bold, and fearless
enemy, but for lukewarm and deceit |
ful friend we have nothing but pity and
contempt. 1t is not our province. how
ever, 20 traduce the private character
Of any man. This we never did and
never expect to do. But whenever a |
public man presents himself before the |
people as candidate for Office and i,
one of the milk and cider sort, half one
thing and half another; a kind Of am
phibious creature, who Is. capable OF
living in two clements, like q frog.
then be may try to jump whichever wa.
he pleases, but our ballot will never en-
able such man as that to jump into
lice. 80 much for Radicalism -Aara
shell and son shell.