Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1871-12-06
FACTS ABOUT EAST TENNESSEE.
HoBogenousness of the People. |
80. xLvIII.


Unwarranted and untruthful reports
have gone abroad with regard to the ex-
istence of feuds and acrimonious relations
in our social economy. 1t has been our
aim, on sundry occasions, to correct these
false statements, and thus disabuse the
public mind at distance regarding them.
Candor, of course, compels us to say that,
at the close of the late war, there was much
bitterness of feeling prevailing among the
two classes that were arrayed against each
other on the war question. This was ma
tural, and struck no one with astonish-
ment. Everybody expected it and looked
for it. It was simply the result of causes
which were obvious, and, at the tine un-
avoidable. Happily, all this has given
away and an era of good feeling now reigns
everywhere throughout East Tennessee.
There aye no malicious prosecutions dis
graeing our court records, and no disposition
to harrow up the ufortunate past. Both
parties, sick and tired of these things, have
abandoned them and now seek, by every
just means, to cover them with the gem
erous mantle of oblivion. With these
views and feelings, we do not see how it
is possible for any social disturbances to
exist among us. Where toleration con-
cession and forbearance predominant there
can be no danger or fear of such results.
1t is also true of our people that they are
profoundly impressed with the necessity
of keeping strict and rigid oversight over
their motions and actions towards each
other, in order to repress any ebullition of
anger or malice that might possibly arise.
Thus far we have been contemplating
the social relations of our own population,
with not one word concerning the strang-
ers in our midst. What is their condition?
How do they stand towards the great body
polite? We have Germans, Irish, Swiss,
French, Northern and Southern people.
Are they ostracised, socially? Are they
cut off from our sympathy and our friend
hip? Do we exclude them from our par
lors, and from our social gatherings? If so,
we have no business inviting them to
come among us. We would be doing them
the greatest injustice. What greater in
dignity could be heaped upon high
minded and sensitive nature than to os-
tracise him, socially? Such a condition
would be about as desirable as the fires of
purgatory. No well bred man or woman
could submit to it for a moment. 1t is at
war with all the better and nobler feelings
of our nature, and we shrink from it with
horror.
This, however, is not the condition of
society in East Tennessee. Very far from
it, in fact. Indeed, the reverse is true.
Our people are the kindest in the world.
This sentiment we utter from personal ex-
perience and observation, based upon a
long and intimate acquaintance with them.
We have been represented as especially
averse to the Yankee race settling in our
midst That is not true. Here and there,
perchance, there may be a Southern ex-
tremist, with more vindictiveness than
common sense, who would rather this peo-
pie would not come here. Wherever such
an one is found he is more an object of
pity than contempt. H1 q
AS far as our observation goes, there is a
strong and prevailing desire to have them
come, and we want Northern people to un-
derstand this. At present there is no in
considerable element of this class already
in our midst. They are scattered through-
out East Tennessee. Easily have they as
similated with the native population, and
the most pleasant social relations have
been formed. Ii is very common thing
to see the rebel and the Yankee arm in
arm. They laugh and joke about the late
npleasantness," and move along as
smoothly as if nothing had ever happened
They attend social gatherings together,
meet and worship at the same altar, and
work together in the same secret organi-
zations, such as Masons, Odd Fellows, &c
We are strictly homogeneous, and we are
destined to give to the country the noble
example of living together as band of
brothers.
AS we have said above, there may be,
here and there, narrow-minded individ-
ual who has prejudices toward Northern
men, but they are men of no character or
influence. They are not respected by any
outside of their own contemplate little
circle. and can never do any harm to any
one. We desire to see men of capital,
skillful mechanics, farmers, laboring men,
&C., come among us, and to exercise their
own independent judgment upon all ques-
tions, and we pledge ourselves to defend
from un warranted attacks every such man.
whether his political or religious views ac-