Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1873-08-09
A LOOK INTO THE FUTURE.

on the subjects of which it treats, says,
authoritatively. that Houk is not in
training for the gubernatoriai race,
but that Maynard certainly is. 1t
seems then, that in once Conservative
Tennessee, the Radicals have appor-
toned some Of the leading Offices in
this wise. Maynard for Governor,
Houk for Congress from the second
District and Andy johnson for United
States Senator, he being relied upon to
secure in the scramble enough mem
bers of the Legislature to elect him.
And upon what do they base their
hopes of success? OF course upon
the gullibility of many conservatives
who once swore that Radicalism when
defeated, should never again triumph
in Tennessee.
Let us look, for moment, upon the
chances of the two parties and profit
by the facts chat may be ELECTED, The
compact negro vote belongs to the
Radicals, and is an element of strength
by no means to be despised. Add to
this, those conservatives who bolted
the Convention and voted for May
nard or johnson, and we have pretty
correct idea of the positive Radical
strength in the State. $50
On the other hand what is the
strength of the Conservative party?
Its positive strength. is to be measured
by the number of heightened and in
tellectual patriots who love their State
and are resolved, as far as in them lies,
to shield it from spoliation and dis
honor. What these lack of being a
majority, is the measure of its positive
strength. But apart from the weak
ness to be inferred from the limited
existence of this pure and exalted pa
friotism, there is ample cause for des-
pairing Of success in the threatened
divisions foreshadowed by the divided
opinions of the press upon certain
measures of State policy. The anti
funding party is made up in part, of
those who were Conservatives, but, as
Convention boilers, are now in antag-
onism to the Conservative party, so
far at least, as division can make them
antagonistic. These, of course, spurn
the imputation that they are not Con
servatives, yet fail to admit that the
schism they created, makes them, prac-
tically, allies of Radicalism. IF then
there is to be an anti-funding party,
an anti-eonvention party and new
State party, what is to hinder Radi
calism from winning an easy victory
over the disintegrated particles of a
once united and victorious organiza-
ton? 4 faHf
East Tennessee, the New England
of the State, priding itself upon its
loyalty, and indignant at any resist
anee to its ideas, its men and its meas
ures, is nursing the discOrdant ele;
ments, in the other two divisions, and
its mighty prophet is confidently re-
lied upon to convert the discontinued
of West Tennessee, into efficient allies
in the work of destroying the Conser-
vative party, that Radicalism may once
more rule and complete the ruin OF the
State. Has Middle Tennessee the
power to resist the combinations so
rapidly forming? We think not
There is dlscord within its own limits,
and even if there were not, it lacks
the numbers to overcome the com
bined strength of the two extremes.
If the Middle Division will pledge it
self to the new State movement, to
the repeal of the funding law, to repu-
diation of the State debt, to wiping
out the schedule and to the collection
of no more taxes, there may be har-
mony aud concert of action between
the three Divisions that will insure
the defeat of all the schemes of May
nard, Houk and johnson, with Brown
low thrown in. But the Conservative
who hopes to see this end accomplished
through the agency of true patriotism,
high intelligence and stern integrity
will be sadly disappointed-these ele-
ments are two entirely ignored by poll
ticians, to be relied upon for aid in
any struggle for good government
There are true men in every sec
ton of the State, but they stand, like
isolated green spots, in the great moral
desert, powerless against the storm of
corruption which is sweeping away
every vestige of public virtue. So
long asmen, confronted by common
danger. continue TO disregard the high
est interests of the State and to trifle
with their very liberties by splitting
into selfish factions, they will not
deserve, and ought not to expect,
success. There is no imminent dan
ger in thet funding law, none in the
Schedule and none in the new State
movement. such as to prevent all of
conservative sympathies from pushing
aside all differences upon minor issues,
until Radicalism-th real, pressing
dangers exterminated. Then we
can confer together about reforms, un-
disturbed by an insidious enemy in
our midst.
MoXA MORTON is reported as being
alarmed by the rapid growth of the
Oranges, and is inventing devices
whereby the movement be check
ed, or Invested of power to damage
Radicalism.
WATTERsoN. of the COurier-Jour-
nal. is making bold attack upon the
London Times. Whether he will sue
ceed in sileneing the thunderer by
robbing it of its electricity, remains to
be seen