The Sweetwater enterprise. (Sweetwater, Tenn.) 1869-187?, 1870-02-24
THE ENTERPRISE.
.EETwATER, THURSDAY, FEB. "A, $50
The Political Situation.

The Political Situation.
The Courier Jourual says: "The stu
aJiou Of tue eonntry at this moment is not
encouraging, although it is tranquil.
That which is most needed is public con-
Gdeace; and this the Republicans seem to
be unable to establish for the simple reas-
oil that they are themselves so divided as
to- be sur0 Of nothing beyond a moment.
After reconstruction, whatl After the
Fifteenth amendment, what2 Are we to
have q hill of''paius and penalties" and
fresh distribution of military powerl Is
there 10 be a "new departure from the
basis of consolation already laid down.
Or, Will the Radical element grow weaker
and weaker, and the people at large turn
their attention to tariff aud finance, leav-
irg the war and its issues and its passions
to vanish like the disembodied spirits be-
fore the ceySs crow of perfect restoration
OF The Uui6nl Upon queries of this sort
hang u multitude of hopes aud fears which
beget universal suspense; aud the people
are not quite sure whether they stand up
on the edge Of spring or whether they en-
JOY Only a little CLEAN of sunshine in the
Underwater of their discomfort.
Tho Yirginians, taking advantage of the
lull, are debating the feasibility of con-
structing a new party. They think that
an organization occupying some middle
ground between the contending extremes
which control the action of the Republic
eau and Democratic parties is essential to
the proper development of the political re-
sources Of the Old Dominion. They know
hest what is best for themselves, and need
not be reminded, 50 far as the country at
large is concerned, that "third parties"
and "middle men" occupy dangerous
ground. We are yet a nation of parti-
sans. Complicated as our system has be-
come, it is hardly yet sufficiently compli-
Gated to enforce, as an absolute necessity,
the existence of an organization designed
for no other purpose than that of holding
and preserving the "bdlance Of power"
TIE situation of Mississippi is simple.
We have the authority of the Hon. Hiram
r. Reyels, who cannot be accused of
'much cry and little WOOL" and whose po-
litical complexion has plenty of color in
it, for stating that the Republicans have
a pretty sure thing for the present, and as
Mr.. Royels thinks, ''fOr the next five
years." Calculations of this kind are not
of inspired origin aud do not carrythe au-
thority or the blessing of the divinity with
them. But by the aid of Congress, they
partake Of the nature of assurance, and.
whatever else we may hear Of, we are not
likely to encounter a response to the lu'
ginia movement from Mississippi. The
two conflicting interests will probably fight
it out squaroly on an alignment to be hi
upon hereafter, but with their present ell
emcEts.
In Georgia it is the same. Violence OF
the one side creates violence on the other
Before the Georgians have done with Bull
lock they are likely to be thoroughly or
ganiGed against Radicalism.
throughout the North parties are stag
nant. The people of the North are not
so directly affected by the play of politica
events as the people Of the South, and SC
they move slowly. There has been moth.
ing to stir them into action. Nor is any.
thing likely to occur just now. The pres.
eut condition ofbusisness must first Geyel
OF its real drift and meaning.
Meanwhile the Radical leaders, conscious
of the danger Of the situation, are looking
over the military chess-board to see how
the commanders and districts may be re
arranged to the best advantage. There
to be a new deal. But what it will be
and how it is going to influence the course
of things at the South, may hardly be fore
told. We shall wait and see.