Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1870-08-13
From the New York Times.
EsS IN THE SOUTH -
An Independent Republican News.
paper Talking sense.

The sea-serpent and the monster
gooseherry render periodical service
to certain class of newspapers.
There are Others, and those we are
sorry to say, of the Republican faith,
which, with marvellous regularity,
descant upon "the reign of lawless-
ness in the South" The heading ap-
pears periodically. We accept It as
sign, when Congress is in session,
that some eXtravagant measure is in
contemplation. AT other times, the
stale story Is intended to serve some
election purpose, or to afford SEM
blance Of justification for some extra
ordinary assumption of authority OF
the kind with which Gov. Holden is
familiarizing North Carolina and
startling the country. Whatever the
end to be served, we are quite sure
that usually there is an unavowed
purpose, the accomplishment of (which
seems to render expedient the awak-
ening of popular Indignation against
the South. Everybody knows what
firing the Southern heart meant in
days before the war. "The reign OF
lawlessness in the South" Is stereO-
typed expression, which is used tO
fire the Radical heart when the ten
dency I'm matters political Is to indif-
ference and stagnatiOn.
The devise is blunder; even in q
party sense. We do not say 1t is des-
titute of effect. Experience has shown
that an incessant repetition of sensa-
tional stories relating to crime in
Southern communities influences the
action of Congress, and Is effective as
an electioneering agency in the North
and West. The power that suppress
sed the rebellion will submit to no
trifling when any portion of the work
achieved is declared to be in jeopardy,
and a systematic reiteration of state
ments, exhibiting the temper and
conduct of the Southern people In an
unfriendly light, contributes not a
little to popular excitement on the
subject. The gusto with which these
statements are printed and read, i'm
plies n mistaken conception of the
real interests of the Republican party.
The supposition acted upon is that
that party has more to gain from
lawlessness In the South than from
order and peace. Only make II ap-
parent that crime begotten Of hostil-
ity to the Union abounds unchecked
at the South, and Republican major
tiles may be counted ON with certain
ty. That seems to he favorite hy-
pothesis. But 1t Is one that offends
against common sense. For contin-
ued violations of law, and continued
defiance of the authority OF law, i'm
ply more or less extensive failure OF
reconstruction. Aud reconstruction
being one of the distinctive results OF
the Republican policy, whatever inn
plies the failure OF reconstruction, as
n means Of restoring order and good
government, also implies the failure
of the Republican party to achieve
ono of its cherished objects.
If there still Is "lawlessness in the
South" on the extensive scale which
alone can justify the use of the cir
cumstance in political controversy,
then very important part Of the
Republican work has heen abortive.
This Is not the conclusion which the
party managers would wish the party
10 adopt.
or course. the truth is above and
before all party consideration, whrth-
er 1t hurts Republican Interests og