The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1872-02-08
d" The Leaders,"


published at Paris, West Tennessee, bui
find the following in an exchange cred.
tied TO that paper. We think it possible
that the writer is mistaken to some ex.
tent as 70 the motives that are governing
the action of the Democratic leaders al
/ Washington; at least we prefer waiting
"a little longer before agreeing altogether
with his conclusions. Our only hope OF
restoring the government i, in the De-
mocracy Of tie North and West, and
unless we can count upon their good
faith and united strength it would lard
iy be worth while to make the fight: ~
We have been anXiously expecting to
see some definite action taken hy the
Democratic leaders in Congress that
wOuid at least indicate to the party,
throughout the country. the character OF
their deliberations. and point ont, at
least in an advisory and suggestive way,
some policy which looks to the ultimate
defeat OF Gmntism in the coming clrr-
ton; but mp 10 the present We are not
appriScd Of ANYTHING having been done
in that direction. We Iygin to think
that the ambitious aspirations of would
he leaders in the North .about to over
SHADOW every other consideration, and
subordinate the very existence Of the
Democratic party to individual promo
ton.
II the so.callcd leaders of the party
are uuabl" to rise higher than this: if
no noh'cr or more patriotic motives
ihTn the mere promotion OF these as
pirants TO place, arc TO be The main
srring that moves the machinery at
Washington, then the sooner the people
know it, the better for the country.
W Ith the present prospccra, indicat-
ed by the outcroppings al the capital,
there is every probability that these am
bitiOu, traitors to the country will con
tribute largely to the assured success OF
the Grant party, and the country be lcf,
another four year, TO grOan under their
burdens, and may prepare TO wear the
chains OF political bondage 90 an in
definite period. From present indica-
uonS there appears to be nothing like
that mutual confidence among the rep
rcScntativGs of the two sections which
characterized the Democracy in her
purcr and better DAYS, and which is
really sine g"0 nan Of success. II there
hc good grounds for these apprchcn,
7ionS, let ihc people, whose interests and
welfare are At stake, rise in tlcir maics-
~ and Nigh. and throw every political
Jonah overheard, and save ourselves
from fatal shipwrcck. We would sac
riiice every politician in the way, as
quick az Abraham did the sheep on the
mountain, to save the country.
City Destroyed by Earthquake.
Information has been received of a
terrible calamity which has ovcrtaken
the town Of Shamaka. situated in the
Trans Caucasian Territory of Asiatic
Russia. The town was visited by Sc
rics of violent shocks of earthquaSc,
following each other in quick success
sion, causing the greatest Consideration
and terror among the Inhabitants. a
panic seized the people, aud general
exodus commenced. The shock con,in-
ucd some time, eliminating in an cx-
plosion, which shook the earth for miles
around, involving the city in mass of
ruins. Not building is left standing.
Thousand, are believed to have per-
shed. Tie calamity causes profound
sensation throughout Eastern Russia.
Shamaka contained about 10000 inhab-
itanis, and was famous for its manutac-
ture of silks.