Knoxville Whig and chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1875-1882, 1875-07-07

of influence refuses to cheerfully &C.
cept the situation under which we are
placed, 1t would be q difficult task
to convince an intelligent foreigner,
who might be visiting our country,
and who had read nothing OF our
history in the last fifteen years, that
during that time we had had a terri
bic and destructive civil war. So lit
tie is left now among the living. and
our recovery from the losses o. the
war has been so rapid. that we would
have to take such an one to our com
eteries, where sleep so many brave
men who fell on either side during the
sanguinary struggle, or point him to
our large national debt, for evidence
that such a war had existed. His
tory furnishes no parallel, where a
nation has 50 completely and in so
short a time recoveredfrom such a dis
aster.
That the country has recovered its
prosperity and is much Weather
than before the war, is gratifying,
but this Is not the most gratifying
feature by any means. That which
fills all our hearts with JOY and
gives good cheer to the friends of
free government, is the fraternal
spirit which now characterizes the
intercourse between the North and
the South. Never since the ques-
ton Of slavery became q questson in
American politics, has better feel
ing prevailed. The animosities en-
gendered by the war are almost for
gotten, and will soon be eliminated
entirely from political discussions.
Whatever remains of the wounds
given in the past, bid fair to beheal-
ed during this our centennial year.
This state of affairs goes far to-
wards solving the question Of mans
capacity for self government. The
enemies of a Republican Government
long ago predicted the failure Of the
American Republic, When the dark
clouds Of civil war burst upon us in
all their fury, and the stability of
our institutions seemed thing of the
past; when the noble old ship of
State which Americans have pictured
in their minds with so much pleasure
seemed to be among the breakers,
ready to 60 down, these prophets
were ready to exclaim: Il told you
So" and to gloat over our misfortunes
as furnishing evidence of their fore
sight. But in the future we see
brighter sky and more peaceful
waters. The foundation of our po-
litical structure has proven to be firm,
and the fabric itself has bravely with
stood the fury of the storms of civil
strife.
Now to make our future perfectly
safe, the people may turn their minds
towards the exposure Of corruption,
in all parties and sects, and the
breaking down Of everything that
stands in the way Of our national
prosperity. We have passed safely
the rock of discord upon which our
vessel was in danger of being wreck.
ed, and think we have nothing to fear
from that source. Our next danger
is from corruption in those who have
immediate control of the Government
in all its branches, State and
National. We are not of those
who believe man IS corrupt
because he happens TO hold an Office,
but we do know that corruption has
not only crept into high places, but
has stalked boldly through the land
When we become fully aroused on
this subject, and none but the pure
and the upright are clothed with trust
or authority, then will we move on TO
that high prosperity, which nature in
tends we should enjoy.
rvITr- -,r~nnr,.Fr> ,,y,y,-