Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1871-10-26
A WORK FOR THE PEOPLE.

The Tennessee Tribune, of this week,
brings us detailed account of the assault
made upon Colonel Prosser, at Nashville,
by some young sons and friends of Gov
ernOr Neil S. Brown, and the circum-
stances connected with it. The occasion
presents an opportunity for saying some
things on subject concerning which pub
lie sentiment is greatly at fault The cir
cumstances of this case are briefly these ::
Governor Brown, in introducing Mr..
Schurz to a Nashville audience last month,
in substance, said that tllerewere no Ku-
klux in Tennessee, and that he was skep-
tical as to there being any in the South.
This utterance was made publicly by a
public man and was fit subject for COM
ment in the press. In an editorial written
for the Tribune, Colonel PrOsser pro-
nounced Browns statement as false, and
that Governor Brown knew it to be So
For this statement he was set upon by
Browns sons and some friends and on the
streets of Nashville was knocked down
and would probably have been shot, but
for the interference of friends. Governor
Brown afterwards denounced Prosser in a
card characteristic of partisan, crotchety
old man-of one of which, we dare say,
he is ashamed now.
The point to which we wish to direct at
tention is the lawless, cowardly and un-
manly manner by which SO many men,
claiming high position and many qualities,
feel called upon to settle such difficulties.
Assaults of the kind referred to spring
from violent passions, and when once
committed, passions and prejudices are APP
pealed to to defend and justify them. The
courts are made the.arena for political and
passionate judicial contests, which bring
in their train long and serious catalogue
of evils. Lifelong enmities are created,
valuable lives are frequently sacrificed and
public sentiment encouraged which is
detrimental to all the best interests of So
ciety. Hr.a
In the case referred to, one part of Colo
mel Prosser's statement, at least, was true,
and no impartial mind will controvert it.
The statement that there are no Kuklux
in Tennessee is most certainly in direct
conflict with we'll established facts. The
existence of the fiendish band is too well
attested by blood and fire to admit of
doubt. We are sorry to believe that such
lawless bands exist, but then we can not
and dare not deny it, But, suppose, for
the sake of our object, that we admit Mr.
Prosser was hasty and wrong. The ques-
ton is, should public sentiment encourage
or justify these men taking the law in
their own hands for the purpose of resent
ing it? Are not such acts lawless, and
ought men in high position, and men who
have influence in forming public senti-
ment, to encourage or justify such acts?
We hear people, in deprecating such
deeds, say that we ought to have more
rigorous laws.p But the trouble is not in
the laws, it is with the people. just SO
soon as the public say such acts are not
brave, or chivalric, or manly, but, on the
contrary, are lawless and degrading, just
SO soon. will they cease. The men who
outrage society in these ways do it because
the public countenance them, and because
in the eyes of so very many such acts
make them noted as brave and chivalric
citizens. The fact is, that all such things
are evidences of too low civilization for
our day and people. Men who break the
laws deliberately, and bring upon commu-
mites broils and feuds, are criminals-ene-
mics of the public geod-and ought so to
be branded. When we get public senti-
ment SO fearless and just as, to deneunce
such crimes as they deserve, we will have
less crime, and in every way be more
prosperous and happy people,