Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1874-12-30
WHAT A DEMOCRATIC EDITOR
THINKS.


Henry watterson, the versatile
editorial writer of the CowiG-Jo''r-
nal, also famous for the free and easy
character of certain editorial cores
pondence from the French Metropo-
lis. has been In Washington Il short
time. taking observations OF the po-
litical horoscope. Tie recent Demo-
cratic victories have been heralded rs
the birth of new and pre-eminentIy
virtuous policy, marked 10y superior
intellectual strength, craftsmanship,
political sagacity, and honesty in the
management Of our public offices
The Democratic leaders have been
wont TO denomnate their Republican
opponents as the "bread and butter
brigade and to represent their own
party as too pure to go into n scTam.
BILE, merely for the loaves aud fishes.
Watterson has been acting rs an as
trologer and fails TO discover any sign
that augurs good for the future under
Democratic rule, and writes his hon
est judgment no doubt in strains NJ
mournful cadence, lie says;
The one rtgretrul circumstance which
has thus far shadowed the Democratic re-
action is is failure, through all It's achieve
mont, to add anything to the intellectual
strength Of the opposition; for. strange rs
you may think it. brains do count for
FgI
The outlook in this respect Is really dis
couraginV
He says that The Republicans have
come to grief for several reasons, but
that the Democrats have been "ad-
mitted on trial, merely" He adds:
The country says 70 them I'VE !, now,
let US see what you can do Ii honesty,
in the common sense Of the term, were all
that is required, the demand could easily
be filled. But We shall presently see the
Republicans, chasteDed by disaster, vying
with the Democrats in manifestations of
the same virtue. They have already thrown
many Of their rogues overheard. More
will follow After a little lille, We shall
ruption. On the contrsry. We shall need 8
policy Of our own; and, if this is 70 work
we'll, aud wear well, il must embrace, dis
tinctly nnd intelhgehtly, the many novel
problems which begin 70 press upon the
social no less than the political life of
America. Brains are indispensable TO this
business, and hence, repeat, that it is
regretful festuye n! the situstion, 10 note
the absence of any higher purpose at this
time than that which relates 70 bread and
butter
After speaking OF the spirit of the
partially victorious Democracy as fores
shaGnwed 10y tue rejection of such
men a. Senator Schurz, Of Missouri,
he winds up with this significant par
They say that 10 certain parts OF Texas,
where the dora j. most gorgeous and over
flowing. there j. never Il bank of flowers
that may not concca! u tsrantua. In New
York, Pennsylvania and Missouri the TO
raj displays this year fairly rival those in
Texas. But what shall they profit Us if, "a
the spring sun shines upon them, We see in
each the sleek figure of a political reptile,
differing only from those from which the
better sense Of the country rccoils in the
label with which IL is ticketcd?
1t is possible that Watterson, in PEN
ming these thoughtful paragraphs,
will lay himself open to criticism from
his Democratic contemporaries, aud we
may again hear that he has been
writing between bis sherry and
cham Paigu." The idea that Demo-
cratic "tarautula" is concealed he.
meath the flora which has been
displayed with much "pomp and cir
cumstance," and has been the occasion
of such wild rejoicing, is unworthy OF
a true Democratic journalist, and may
subject Watterson to the pains of ex.
communication.