Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1874-04-18
SHOW US THEIR FRUITS.

many centuries, and we have been green
enough to believe that, though in its
origin it had reference to subjects the
illogical, it has the same fitness of ap-
plieation to human conduct, whether
in religious, ethical or political mat
tiers. 1.-The Shelbyville Commercial"
however, gravely questions our right
to apply that universal text to the
works of Andrew johnson, and those |
who sneeze when he takes snuff. Be !
it remembered that we have never in
tended to charge that johnson and his |
followers are professed Radicals-on
the contrary, many of them would
spurn the imputation as libel upon
their political creed, yet we believe
that the most prominent among them
knew, when johnson announced him.
self, as an independent candidate, that
Maynard would be elected. johnson
knew it, as we'll as he knew that he
could not, under the circumstances,
beat both of his opponents. The Com
mereial asserts, of his knowledge, that
his followers are democrats of the
purest type. We shall not deny it,
since we are forbidden to know them by
their works; but would like to see the
Commercials discrimination between
those who work for the Radical party,
whilst protesting to be Democrats, and
those who, protesting to be Radicals,
do no more for the party than its pro-
fessed enemies.
We know johnson men who affect
TO hate Radicalism, but who would be-
lie their professions and crush the
party to which they nominally belong,
if by SO doing, they could attest their
allegiance to their lord and master.
Indeed. we heard more than one say
they would vote directly for Maynard
rather than the nominee of a Demo-
cratic convention. Still they say they
are good Democrats or Conservatives,
and we must admit it however Radical
their practice.
The Commercial rather intimates
that we ought to try to bring about
union of discordant elements, rather
than drive them farther asunder. We
admit this to be the duty of every OPP
position editor, and so far from being
an intentional disorganizer, We would
vote for Andrew johnson, tomorrow,
if by so doing. the Radical party could
be crushed. No personal considera-
tions, beyond the fact that we are an
atom in the great mass of American
citizenship, influence our opinions and
actions as a journalist. Our quar-
rel with Andrew johnson is political
not personal. Upon the same footing.
stands our hostility to Radicalism-
the whole tendency, of which has been,
to break down constitutional liberty,
by means of corrupt practices and
dangerous usurpatiOns of power. An
drew johnson. as Radical Governor
of Tennessee and President of the
United States, was, as his record shows,
both tyrant and usurper-enacting
both parts to make treason odious and
wreak his vengeance upon the people
whom he hates because he betrayed.
Up to this time, he has not had the
grace to repent of his monstrous acts,
but proclaims, in his speeches, that he
has done nothing which he. would not
do again. And this is the man whom
the Commercial rebukes us for not en-
dorsing and lauding as first class
Democrat. 1t may be that he has re-
pented, though too selfish aud self
willed to. confess it. If so, let him
prove it, not by dividing and defeating
the party to which he processes to be-
long-not by working for Radicalism
under the mask of Opposition-but by
confessing his sins and proving his
faith by his works. Belonging TO no
party. save that which takes for its
creed. honest government and consti
tut;onal liberty, we are constrained to
measure men, not by what they profess,
but by what they do-a Radical is not
known bywhat be says so much as by
what he carries out in action. Take
their say so for it, and Judas was a
good Disciple, and Arnold a patriot.
When the Commercial points out what
johnson and his men have accomplish
ed towards the restoration of the gov
ernment to its primitive purity, by
abating the Radical nuisance in Ten
nessee, we stand pledged not only to
give them full credit, but to cooper
ate with them in their future efforts in
the same directions. We want facts,
not professions. We can not accept, as
proof, the stereotyped barney about
packed conventions, in the interest of
some survivor of those who sealed,
with their blood, their devotion to lib
erty. in Tennessee, when johnson was
its tyrant.