Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1870-02-03
J RadicaE Leaders.

Inent snccess Of Radicalism in
tennessee, the leaders Of that
party IN this State have almost
universally been reckless and re-
vengeful, seeking to crafty their
own private purposes rather than
to subserve the interests Of the
State. Their conduct has been
such as not only to ALLEVIATE those
of Southern sympathies, but also
to drive from their party many
who approved the leading politi-
cal principles of the party. A
Radical writing in the New York
Tribune from Knoxville, sppre:
ciates the difficulties with which
his party has had to contend be-
cause Of the malignancy and cor
ruption of its leaders. We COM
mend the following extract from
his letter to the sober considera-
ton of his party:
If there ever were a people
cursed with a multiplicity of frivo-
lous elections, it is the people Of
Tennessee since the war. This
is, in some degree, the cause Of
the want of interest IN this one
which has Just been held. As be-
fore stated, the Republicans have
taken very little part in the mat
ter, leaving the Democrats and
Rebels to pursue, unmoIested,
undisturBed, the even tenor of
their way. We expect the Con-
vention to NEE. at the appointed
time, and to spend a few weeks
in so shaping the State govern
ment as to displace from their
present positions ell Republican
Office holders, and more especially
the judiciary, throwing the whole
machinery thereof into their own
hands, To this. end several i'm
portant changes Will be suggest
ed.in our organic law, q portion
of which may result in good; but
a large majority of the measures
adopted VIII really be for ousting
men from position Who do not
belong to the party in power
These measures are urged by the
Democracy as retaliatory to the
foolish policy pursued by leading
Republicans while they were in
charge of the State government
These foolish, not to say wicked
acts have been the downfall of
the party, have kept up domestic
strife, and furnished our enemies
means of using our own
weapons upon US. While the
masses Of Tennessee Republicans
are honest and patriotic, they have
been unfortunate in the selection
of their leaders from men whose
prime quality seem to have been
treschery of party and country
The consequence is that of Ten
nessee politicians-while a few,
very few, have been faithful 90
their party, and deseryedly occupy
an honorable position In the land,
many have turned recreant to
every principle of honor or patri-
otism, and, either from the use Of
or the inordinate desire
for place, have become the most.
corrupt men of modern times, in
to their natural abili-
ty. These are the men who have
passed and placed upon the books
statute after statute for the op-
preston of those who failed to
agree with them politically. They
have plundered the public treasu-
~, until we are almost on the
verge of bankruptcy, and our
free schools, which should be in
full blast, have been for some time
suspended. These are the men
who, when it was ascertained that
the scepter was about to pass from
them forever, commenced intrig-
ning to keep the ring in power, or
10 break up the Republican party
,f the State. These are the men
who now, having turned their
packs upon those with whom they
,nce acted, and having succeeded
n placing their enemies in power,
prate about prescription, and speak
If the policy of the Republican
party as being too proscriptive.-
[f these treacherous men had
proved true TO their professions.
pursued the line of duty, instead
ot being led BY their inordinate
the Republican party
of our State would have been in
power now, and would now com
nand' the respect Of the nation
and Of the State. As it is, We
are degraded in the estimation of
BUR friends and utterly. deSpised
by our enemies, who willspars no
opportunities during this Conyen-
lion to keep Us down. The only
hope we have Of rising is to re-
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