Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1871-06-14
mPoIrTrCXr PKosPECTsy

tiCieS OIL = IOnticuu ITOsptctSi Which VIC
think worthy of reproducing. Mr. Curtis
says: The new departure the Demo-
cratic party is not unanimous, and certain
ly not hearty. Mr.. Vallandigham's reso-
lutions were those of County Conven-
ton, not of his party i'm the State of Ohio,
and they were not warmly received by the
party organs. In the Pennsylvania Dem
ocratic Convention n resolution to recog
nize all existing provisions of the Consti-
tuition was adopted, by vote of seventy
six to fifty-three, after an angry debate.
This is what is called elsewhere hedging
Probably there is no intelligent political
observer in the country who does not
know that If the Democratic party had
carried Connecticut, rs it did New Hamp-
shire, the election of 1872 would have been
disputed by it upon the question of the va
lidity of the amendments. But the senti-
ment of the country is so pronounced upon
that subject that the hopelessness of such
n contest seems to be foreseen by some of
the Democratic leaders, and they are anx-
ious to abandon position which has be-
come utenable. But tho abandonment is
fatal. If, as the last Democratic Conven-
ton declared in 1868, the Republican re-
construction of the Union is unconstitu-
tional, revolutionary, and void, what has
made il constitutional ana, binding in
1872: If void then-not unwise nor even
unconstitutional, but void-what has
made it valid now? Does q party which
Processes such peculiar and profound re-
spect for the Constitution intend to ask the
support of the country upon the ground
that it acquiesces in the overthrow of the
Constitution and in revolutionary usurpa-
ton !? b..
IF, however, the absurdity be concealed
under the plea of accepting accomplished
facts and the Democratic party with
draws its protest against the Republican
settlement, and promises faithful en-
forcement of the usurpation,' its claim to
popular confidence must rest upon the pro-
liability of more honest and able admin
istration of the government by that party
than by tho Republican. What, then, is
the ground of such n probability? In the
State of New York the Democratic party
is i'll power. In the city OF New York its
dominance is supreme. What are the
characteristics of its action? The eleva-
ton to office of men of no character what
ever T; the most universal and unblushing
corruption a Legislature which is by
word of contempt ; consequent legislation
which virtually abolishes popular govern
nlent in the city in favor of an oligarchy
of four men, not one OF whom enjoys the
respect of the community the infamies of
Erie bills, and of the amended code, au-
thorizing corrupt judges to crush the free
dom of the press in one word, a vast and
skilful system of plumber, with profound
contempt and disregard of the principles
and the defenses of free popular govern
ment. ..-...
''This is the aspect of Democratic ascend
ency where the party is best organized,
most ably led, and of practically unchal-
lenged supremacy. And against this
regime there is no audible protest in the
Democratic party. In New York the
Tammany leadership is omnipotent
ain other States there is no word of dis
sent. A Democratic victory in the cleo
ton of 1872 will be the triumph of this
spirit, not because every Democrat indi-
vidually approves it, but because its ascen-
dency is indisputable, andits discipline re-
morseless. Now we ask any Republican
at the West or the East, in the North or
the South, is 1t any excuse for conniving in
any way at the success of such n party to
say that Mr.. Tweed and the Tammany
leaders are no worse than Mr.. Cameron
and Mr.. Chandler, and Mr.. Morton and
General Butler? Gran ting what is often
felt and urged in regard to the character
and leadership of these gentlemen, is it II
matter of indifference whether II. party of
the general character and tendencies of the
Democratic, controls the government If
certain leaders upon4both sides are not to
be respecttdnor trusted, tits only wise to
look further into the party. Now every
element of hatred of the government, of
disbelief in its principles the great mass OF
lSnOrallce, lAGs SuDSefAl 10 eCAleSlaSll-
cal dittauon-Ahe nHsttioubtful and per-
nicious dement's IN Il system like0urs-are
all combined in the Democratic party.
The general,ntelligsp ce,athe trueI eonser
vatsm of industry, faith in liberty and ed
ucatiOI-in word, the moral forces of the
Country, are with the Republicans. Is this
a consideration of Little weight, ~ ~. -,
AZ " x II ~ - Il 4 " " "
AS the season is Mt hand, when the va
rious Seminaries, Academies, Colleges and
Universities are closing their spring ses-
sion, She haze btali llRsI toEgiahes iatl the
field for thought thus presented. We have
'alarge number of good schools now, in
East Tennessee, which if literally patron
lied as their merits deserve, would soon be
such Institutions as would reflect credit
upon our section, and would attract hun
dreds of families to our midst. But what
do we see? We do not now think of a sin
gle school of the class mentioned that is
as well patronized as its merits deserve.
Our people do not take that deep and live
ly interest in thewelfare of schools of a high
grade that they should. a general inter
est should be awakened, and the hundreds
of youth of both sexes, who are growing
up without the ad vahtages ofan education,
rescued from life Of ignorance.
five could get IA good system of COM
mon schools I'm nnarotinn IL xUnulu ha Va hat