Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1874-12-26
PROSPECT AND RETROSPECT.

Thisis our last issue for the year 1874,
and we would forward it TO our readers
with far greater pleasure, could we in
vite them to look back over the past
Twelve months, upon such scene OF
widespread prosperity, public virtue and
happiness as are the legitimate fruits
of our institutions, when guided by
integrity and wisdom. But, We may
extend the retrospect over more than
ten years, and End no green spot upon
which memory can dwell with single
emotion of pride OF pleasure. Such
review recalls only an extent of official
corruption unparalleled. in any age,
Ut country since the dawn of civlliza-
ton. Government precept and ex-
ample have demoralized the people IN
Ill individuals and communities have
thrown off all allegiance to that high
integrity, without which government
is curse, and society, combination
of the vicious and the criminal. OF
course we do not Include in this cate
CORY the exceptional cases of incOr
ruptibility which, here and there,
stand prominently above the disinte-
grating mass, aud whose proud eleva-
ton affords the only hope for the ulti
mate redemption Of government and
people from the snares which the
wicked have set for them, and bait
ed with the allurements of gilded vice.
The sectional government establish
ed by the North, fifteen years ago, has
far exceeded, in usurpation, tyranny
and corruption all that was charged
against England, in the Declaration of
Independence, the occasion Of which
ia to be celebrated, in 1876. with all
the mock patriotism of the Radical
party, and all the avarice of Radical
rings. The civilized world isinvited-
for the sake Of ring prolific partici
pate in the centennial celebration of a
Republic already rotten to the core; to
gaze upon Constitution mutilated By
the bayonets of sectional usurpation
and perverted to the ends of base OPP
preston; to look upon States, SOW
reign in their origin and co-equal in
the rights of free government, under
military rule and their destiny hang
ing upon the will of one man; to see
a government, created by, and for, |
white men forced by the hand of
usurped power, under the control of
the descendants of African slaves col. |
onized in the South, by Old and New
England; to look upon ring thieves,
clad in purple and fine linen and hon.
est industry in rags-in short, to be |
presented to Grant as the successor of |
Washington and Jefferson. The lesson |
which the representatives of foreign |
governments, will learn from all they |
may see and hear, on that occasion,
will be, that governments, TO be stable,
must be more or less despOtic, and that |
the assumed capacity of man for self |
government, is theory now thorough
~ exploded under test the most |
thorough that could possibly nave been |
applied.
This glance into the future when in
viting retrospect of the past, is not |
out of place, because this centennial
i fraud of the past, fastened upon
the future beyond the successful in
PREVENTION of the reform inauguarted
on the Bird of November. The politi-
cal aspect presented by the closing
months of 1874. will be the aspect OF
the opening months of 1875.
The Radicals, though beaten in No
vember, have still lease of power
which will expire only by limitation.
The Supreme federal Judges hold for
life and will continue to uphold tyran-
ny and injustice during Radical supre-
macy-such being the terms on which
their appointments were made. The
Radical President has two years yet /
III which TO curse the country. AMI the
Senate can only be purged, one at
time, as limitation or accident may va
cate their seats. Still, if the opposi-
zion will stand shoulder to shoulder.
and lose no opportunity to strike
telling blow, all these "cusses can be
removed, and the Democratic majori-
ty, in the next Congress, may do much
10 nutralize the vindictiveness of those
who will take pleasure in devoting
their last days TO the infliction of all the
wrong they can, upon the country, and
TO embarrass the Democrats by the
enactment of infamous laws which it
will require years 10 repeal. With
this prospect ahead, the only remedies
that suggest themselves are patience
and wisdom-patience 10 exhaust all
legal and constitutional means of re-
dress. and wisdom to anticipate and
defeat the Vaccinations of q party
base enough to ruin people they are
not permitted to rule and rob at their
own will and pleasure. This picture
may be too dark, but better so than
anticipate blessings. which Radicalism
is incapable of bestowng, and add dis
to other ills.
THE civil rights bill, reported by
,he Committee, differs from Summers
IN the following particulars: Itstrikes