The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1875-08-13
The Future of Our Country.

there are so many things bearing upon
and ehecting it, that it seems to be gem
orally considered too,big aud too remote a
thing with which to bother our brains,
especially since the present. with its
pressing wants and necessities, is claims
ing our undivided thought and considera>
ton. Although public opinion does not
always shape political events, yet, in a
representative government it becomes
eventually the great rectifisr of politi-
cal wrongs, and has often to intervene
and counterfeit what has been done to
advance the interests of party rather
than that of the country. "The sober Sec
ond thought of the people is seldom
wrong and always efficient, hence govern,
ment is what we, the people, make it. Bat
the peoples representatives often tax C
the bit in their mouths and run away 10
the interests of party, and, through par
tisan legislation, lay the foundation of
untold future evils before they can be
brought up under the firm grasp of pubs
lie opinion hence the difficulty of al
ways having the public will enacted into
law. Even the people themselves often
psrtake of these exciteme nts affecting
the interests of party alone, and when
this feeling degenerates into local preiu-
dice, hostility and hate, then are we in
danger Of having the irresistible power
ola tyranical majority used for the de-
structiOn of the entire political rights of
their countrymen, or even for the de.
struction of cOnstitu tional liberty itself.
Should the government be strong enough
to administer crushing injustice to a part
OF its citizens, instead of giving ,protec-
ton to all, the wrong has to be borne by
the suffering class until that sober seq
ond thought" spriEging up from the
ashes of burnt out passion and prejudice
shall return, and reason once more re
sumo its sway in the breasts of a domiA
nant majority. After reign of twelve
or fifteen years, in which the govern
ment has been run almost entirely in the
interests of a sectional party, the people
OF this great country are just beginning
TO return to their sober senses Hostil>
ity seems to be giving away to kindlier
feelings, and injustice and wrong to an
awakening sense of the long triumph of
party over the constitution and the peo>
pie under it.
We believe that much wrong has been
done through partisan leg isIation during
that period, not only to the minority, but
to the government itself, by warping it
from its legitimate sphere of action in
using its power and sanction for oppres~
siVe legislation, and in violation of the
common bond which makes US a United
people. The people are awakening to
this unnatural state of affairs, and we
rejoice to think that new era is about
to dawn upon u.s. Evidence of returns
ing good will is everywhere manifested
throughout the broad land and hostility
has died for want of material to feed
upon, and the man with the bloody shirt
is no longer the arbiter of the destinies
'of the Southern people. The Ramsey
snifles have played out. Our Northern
brethren who have come among US now
wonder that they should have given cre-
dencs to, and been influenced by the
slanders and sensational lies propagated
by those who lived upon the grists
that fell from the outrage mill.
But what will the sober second
thought" this returning sense of justice
do for much of the Legislation enacted
under the partisan spirit Of the las
twelve years2 Where it is in conflict with
the constitution it will be repealed. We
do not propose, at this time, to discuss
measures that have violated the proVis
ions of the constitution, nor the wrongt
that have been inflicted upon a patient
people; nor those measures which, al
though not in direct conflict with tina
combinations of rings, and corrupt mon
led influences, at the expense Of peoPl,
for the benefit Of favored few. W.
simply charge that the party who havr
controlled the government so long hav
proven themselvs unfit to manage it fO
the good of the people. That having
barely escaped the loss of republican
government through the inteTposition 0
al indignant people, we find our psOpl
anything but prosperous or contented
Our government is felt by its oppressiv
exactions more than its blessings. Ever
with the enormous taxes We have beef
paying our public debt is but little d:
minished our finances in a most ruinou
condition; our currency below par, an
the property of the whole people within
the power o it's contractions and expau
sions; the precious metals driven tror
our borders; the Industrial pursuits {
the country languishing, and labor un
employed the balance of trade agains
us; the powers of the Federal Govern
ment enlarged at the expense Of tn
States aud To people, are some of tn
fruits of Radical rule for the last twely
or fifteen years,
The people have evidently becom
tired out with this party, and mean
s1bstitute for it the old reliable, trus
worthy Democratic party, and when full
established in power they expect 1t
conduct them again to prosperity ar