Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1872-12-18
STERILE AGITATION"

In one of the last editorials Mr.. Greeley
wrote for the Tribune, he used the follow
ing language "The South must live and
she cannot live on sterile agitation" In
making this remark, the great Journalist
showed that he had studied the wants of
the Southern people, and that he knew
one of the fruitful sources of their troubles.
1t has always remained problem to those
who have never exercised their minds for
its solution, why the Southern people, so
highly favored with profusion ofnatarc's
bountiful gifts, should fall so far behind
their Northern brethren, upon whom
these gifts have not been so lavishly be-
slowed. We honestly believe that
the thought so forcibly expressed by Mr..
Greeley tells the whole story. We have
attempted to live on "sterile agitation
of political, questions which we ought to
have known were settled. For more than
a quarter of a century the great question
and almost the only question discussed in
the South was the relation of the African
to the white race. Political leaders sought
for long time to convince us that slavery
was divine institution and would conse-
quently be perpetuated. Not only did
avowed political leaders attempt to palm
off this absurd doctrine upon US, but theo-
logians-men who exercised the sacred
functions of the ministry, used to desecrate
their pulpits by trying to prove from Gods
word, that,He had ordained the institution
of slavery. When the Shareholders re
bellion was agitated, these men openly
proclaimed that God was on the side of
the South, and with solemn mockery sent
forth sacrilegious petitions for pestilence
and the sword to scatter and humble the
hordes ofLinconites who were penetrating
the Southern country, carrying withthem
the stars and stripes, the then hated en-
blem of ''Yankeen domination, All. this
agitation was commenced and keptup for
the purpose of more thoroughly "firing
the Southern heart" Who will say now
that such agitation was not worse than
sterile to theSouthern people?
The close of the war found those lately
in bondage released from the shackles of
slavery. The people of the North could
see no other way of treating them under
our form of government than to make
them citizens, with all the rights and
privileges of freemen. The minds of the
Southern people were fearfully agitated by
their leaders and the fought negro citizen
ship-negro enfranchisement-to the bit
ter end. But it was unfruitful as usual for
by the logic of events, they were forced to
acquiesce.
Now, how much better it will be for the
people of the South, if they willonly accept
the situation and accommodating them
selves to the new order of things, goto work
to build up the country. The negro is a citi-
zen why not give him all the aid neces-
sary to render him wise and a good cti-
zeY. instead of frowning upon him al
ways and keeping him down as far as pos
sible? We believe this to be the DISPOSE
ton of large majority of the Southern
people, if their impracticable, selfish lea
ders will only let them alone. The South
ern people are naturally kind, generous
and hospitable, and it will be much more
natural for them if they areallowed to forget
the prejudices of the past, to exercise these
noble attributes of their nature towards
the colered race than otherwise. But while
we have leading and influential newspa-
pers, advising the people to cease giving
employment to eolored laborers, because
they have voted for Grant, we may expect
to see the results of this sterile agitation
Capital will shun us-immigration will
pass by us-our cotton and corn fields viii
remain measurably unproductive and oul
minerals will remain undeveloped.
We hear great deal from certain quar-
tiers about prescription and persecution o
the South, but the fact is, the South ha
never been so fearfully prosecuted from
any other source as by some of he
own people. These narrow minded, hide
: bound leaders, who never entertained
generous sentiment toward a political op
/ ponent, and whose whole life is wrappe,
} up in self; these agitators, would force tn
people to believe that which is palpabl,
untrue, in order that they might maintain
a little cheap notoriety by such 'steril
: agitation" The sooner the people of til
= South turn their backs upon all such I'll
better will it be for US,