Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1871-08-22
IS THE SPIRIT OF REBELLION DEAD 2

Under this CAPTION we sometime age
yentured q few thoughts, and gave it a.
our opinion that with a majority of the
Southern people it was. We meant ma
iority Of the masses, for we candidly be
lieve that, if such men as Davis, Stephens
Toombs, Breckenridge, Wade Hampton
Forrest, Isham @. Harris, and a host OF
others, could have matters their own way,
they would not hesitate one moment t.
organize q Southern confederacy. We
stated i'll that editorial that we had ne
doubt very large majority of the South
ern people were willing to acquiesce in the
present state of affairs, but if they cOulU
have things just as they wish, they would
much prefer seeing the leaders of the late
rebellion ruling and controlling this coun-
try. II is this feeling, which is somewhat
natural for ex-rebels, that such men az We
have above named would take advantage
of and educate up to a point that would
Islau them in any revolutionary attempt.
We mention this as a reasonable possibility
a. least, and not in the spirit OF an alarm
ist We believe that there are thousands
"
who, if they had any idea they were being
unconsciously led in this direction, would
rstract their course and denOunce those
who would plunge the country into an
other civil war.
Those who are willing TO precipitaJe an
other rebellion upon the country know
this; but they are men of ability, men
who have had much experience in shaping
public opinion, and they have too much
discretion to attempt it until their friends
are ready for it-uutil the Southern heart
is fired. They know at the same time, il
they can get anything like a majority OF
the Southe n people committed to such
thing-if they can once get them to pass
the Rubicon-they will then stand up to
the bitter end, as they did before If 10y
any possibility, circumstances should pre-
sent themselves under which there would
be the least show of success, their discOn-
tented lea lers would no doubt avail them
selves OF the opportunity thus presented,
and would, without doubt, have plenty OF
adherents.
We may be asked why we believe such
things possible, for remember we arespeak
ing of possibilities. We trust such state
Of affiiTs may never again be reached but
they seem TO Us just as probable as in 1856,
or even later. What means all this open
and avowed opposition to the people of the
North now, just because they are Northern
people? Why is it that such an effort is
being made in the South, TO introduce, and
provide for the exclusive use OF Southern
literature, just because certain literary
works are the production of Southern men,
without reference TO merit? We would re-
] ice at the success of literature in the South
a5 heartily as any one could, but we would
pat it on different ground than that of
geographical location. And is there any
ole Oh earth who can give a reason that
would satisfy thinking man, why some
OF the leading churches, composed of chris
tians, should be divided by geographical
lines ? Churches, identical in doctrine,
aud almost if not entirely identical in their
form of church government, are divided
on questions of geographical location, and
either maintain separate organizations or
o refuse to affiliate with their brethren ia
the North. And how many men are
there who carry such a feeling into their
Business? We know that there are large
number who do not, but there are some
who do. A gentleman for whom we have
t re very highest regard, personally, and |
who is a man of character and influence
made the remark that he regarded the !
pIoprietors of the CHRONICLE as gentle |
men and that personally he liked them, |
bit that he could not think of patronizing
them, and would rather pay money to
break them down. We have no quarrel |
with him for this, but cite it to show how |
little liberation some men Of character and !
Influence have, for anything that opposes |
their views of things.
Now all these things may be straws /
They point to what is possible, viz that
4 large number Of Southern people are dis |
satisfied with the situation that they will |
ACCEPT nothing that does not comport with /
their fixed opinions, and that having /
ia led to establish a Southern cOnfederacy, /
th " are determined to have what comes /
nelrest TO it. With the country judicious
" governed, we have no fears of this feel
ing ripening into open rebellion, but it is
very probable, that should the opportunity
present itself, the disconnected leaders
" ,uld attempt to kindIe fire in the minds
of the people, that could only be eXtinguish-
ed by anothercivil war. The peopledo not
desire anything of the kind, .and we al
lude to it merely as q possibility that
they may think of 1T, and not be led to
commit themselves unawares to that
" hich they would afterwards certainly re-
get,