The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1875-01-20
SATRAP SHERIDAN.

1
SATRAP SHERIDAN.
When Oliver Cromwell, with ruf.
fan rage and buster, dissolved the
parliament of our mother country,
great was the Indignation among the
more thoughtful and sober minded of
her sons; but it was as naught when
compared with the patriotic wrath Of
the great body of American people,
when apprized of the late outrage
at New Orleans. Probably no event
in our history has met with a con-
domination so general and deserved.
In this respect, the Republican press,
with few ignoble and cowardly ex-
ceptions. has done itself great honor.
A few there are, whose vision is so
bleared and jaundiced by partisan
hate, as to be unable TO perceive a
wrong in its true colors, provided a
Democrat be the victim. But gener-
ally, in this instance, they were among
the first to recognize. in the unpre-
cedented conduct of the reckless SOL
der, deadly menace to the little
that is left of constitution liberty in
this country ; and right nobly did it
sound the tocsin of alarm. Amid the
general and disgraceful apathy which
prevailed, it rang out like fire bell
by night. The contagion is rapidly
spreading among the people. who,
from rartisans, are become patriots.
and are expressing. in unmistakable
terms, their sense ofthe late outrage.
And well they may. The revolution
airy tendency of the times, culminat-
ing in that browning act of infamy,
is calculated to arouse the gravest
apprehensions for the ellbeing of
our common country. The mere pos
sibiIity of such thing, at this time,
indicates one of two things either a
criminal apathy in the people, or the
rapid decadence of Republican prin-
ciples in this country.
A few years since, had the militia
ry satrap in unhappy Louisiana at
tempted his late performance, both
he and his armed minions would have
been ground to powder beneath the
heel of an outraged people, and the
nation, with one accord. would have
risen up and said, "AMEN !" But
perhaps it is better as it is. The
people of our sister State have ex-
hiblted patience and a forbearance
under their multiplied wrongs, which
must commend them to the sympa-
thies ofthe liberty-loving everywhere.
It needed some such monstrous out
rage, that the country might be stun
ned, as it were, into Naturalization
of the drift of the times. 1t had
seemed insensible to the shameful
fact that a sovereign State lay in
letters; that she had been deplored
Of her liberties, and that the iron
heel of the tyrant and robber was
upon her throat.
In this exigency, an all-wise Prov
ideDce seems to have had hand in
transferring the doughty Sheridan to
the scene oftrouble; for in one sense,
it must needs prove a blessing, not !
merely to the afflicted State. but to !
the country at large. A more sup
pie and super-serviceable tool, for |
the execution of his royal masters
revolutionary edicts. or more sat-
isfactory witness could hardly have |
been found. OF brutal instincts, and |
with little intelligence save that
which pertains to the camp, he is a
worthy emissary of his Imperial
Highness at Washington. Under
the dictatorship of such an individ-
ual. matters could not long remain
stationary. Nothing but coup
Ct etat could satisfy his warlike spirit;
and already he has accomplished it.
But-in doing so, he has not only made
ridiculous in the eyes Of his
men. but he has pnt an ineffacea-
BILE stain upon the proud name Of the
American soldier. Should he contin-
ne as he has begun. his name will be-
come a by-word and Kissing in the
mouths of men. High in rank and
as he stands. he also stands
before the bar Of public opinion a
convicted liar, peyond all hope of
palliation. The continuance of such
a man in position. after so signally
demonstrating his unfitness for it,
betokens an obstinacy of evil pur-
pose which foreshadows the most
direful consequences.
Illegal violence" says Hume. in
a Not dissimilar event,
. with whateveI pretence it may be
covered, and whatever object it may
pursue, must inevitably end at last
IN the arbitrary and despotic gov
srnment of single person."
Let the people take warning in
line T.