Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1872-10-19
THE RECENT ELECTIONS.

The late elections, in the North, are
more calculated to create regret, dis
trust Of the peoples integrity and pa
triotism, than disappointment at the
lamentable result. 1t is true, that
many tried to talk and write them
selves into the belief that they saw, in
advance, the dawn of better day for
the Republic, but in doing 50, they
ignored certain stubborn facts, the
proper appreciation of which formed
n slender basis for hope. They forgot
that the President has, at his com
mand, sixty thousand ofice-holders
who, of themselves, constitute an army
as thoroughly drilled and as subordi-
nate as the best drilled troops that
ever followed standard. They for
got that each of these officials com
mands his squad, regiment, or Brig
adc, as absolutely as they, themselves,
are commanded by the President
They forgot that, in addition to this
frightful number of voters secured in
the interests of misrule, the Admins
tration has complete control Of the
peoples treasury which furnishes am
pie funds for the purchase of the tens
of thousands who value the franchise
no higher than the paltry sums their
votes will command in the election
marts.
In addition to these great odds held
by corruption over public virtue, the
too sanguine lost sight of-we among
othcrs-or undervalued the danger
Gus influences exerted by the power
full combinations created, fostered and
strengthened by the tariff; the formi-
dable Railroad rings, the National
banks and all other consolidated in
terests that have grown up under a
corrupt administration of the Federal
government. 1t is difficult for an hon
est man to realize the overwhelming
force of these combined elements of
mischief until startling results bring
before him the unmistakable facts
Then he feels how hopeless is the
struggle between virtue, crushed and
scorncd, and pampered vice, strength
oned by all the appliances at the com
mand Of corrupt and unrestricted
power. 1t is then that he is tempted
to despair of the Republic, and the
conviction is forced upon him that
universal suffrage is the immediate
precursor of universal ruin.
Well This is a miscallcd peoples
government and if they prefer it, as il
is, to its former condition of wisdom
honor and prosperity, it is their righ
being sovereign-to have it so, anC
the virtuous few have no rights which
the rotten majority is bound to respect
And if the said majority prefers tn,
erection of q dcspotism upon the
ruins of popular libcrty-if it prefers
political vassalage, groaning under the
weight of ruinous taxation and witt
no other privilege than that of endur
auce, or of licking the hand tha
snitcs them they will deserve all they
may suffer aud ought to suffer unit
The bittcrost experience teaches then
the full value of the blessings they are
now bartoring for few dimes, or foi
party triumph, or the possible gratifi,
ratiou of doylish sectional hate. Uni
Norsal suffrage, manipulated by almost
universal political yillainy, will, sooner
or later, he followed by its logical re
suits. 1t was the down grade upon
which the country Sided into civil
war, Then the brakes were applied
the engine reversed and we were car,
ried back to that point of new dopar
turc, whore intellect and virtue were
disfranchisod and barbarous ignoranc,
and intuitiyo vice were enlranchisod
From this point of new departure, the
wheels of government were set in mo
ton, down a FAR sleeper grade and
with constantly accolerating speed, i,
going headlong, to the devil The bra
kosmcn have deserted their posts, tn,
Engineer and Conductors are drunk
aud tho haplcss passengers are hope
Icssly doomed TO the wreck and ruin
of all that they once held doar-fre,
and honest government individual
and aggregate prosperity, nationa
honor and private virtue. This i
THE hand writing upon the wall'-fo
its Interpretation read the returns from
ths Northorn eleetions
VIZ. IL. SEWARD died in Auburn
New York. on 10th inst. lie was
man of Great ability and energy