The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1876-12-20

would sooner sink the Government,
and crush out the last vestige of
Constitutional Liberty than be now
thwarted In their reasonable de-
signs. They dare not hu0e their mis-
deeds come to light! They are play
ing a game more determined than
imperious Cesar when thwarted by
the sword Of Brutus, and are as
reckless as the wicked BeltshaaZar
whose impious revelry was checked
by the inscrutible handwriting upon
the wall.
A dark, impen ding danger hangs
over the Republic at this hour, and
threatens to shrowd in gloom the
happiness, prosperity and liberties
of our people. Every event that has
transpired by these bold conspira-
tors since the recent election but
confirms the worst fears the patriot
can have OF their dark designs upon
the good Of the country. They mean
evil in its most horrid form. They
mean to pervert our liberties or to
destroy our Government. They en-
tered the last Presidential contest
to win at every hazard, and unless
checked by the uprising Of an indig
nant people, they are determined to
consummate their villainy. They
force the direct issue that must be
either crushed by the condemnation
Of patriotic people, or, If submit
ted to, the overthrow OF our liberties
and the destruction Of free govern
ment will be the inevitable and una
voidaoIe result. The usurper cares
naught for law, and smiles contempt
uously on constitutional restrictions.
These they defy and spit upon.
But this contest, If forced by the
conspirators to an issue, is one in
which the South-the poor down
trodden, poverty stricken South
must stand silent, bleeding specta-
tor; and if the country Is lost, they |
can only weep over the degeueracy |
of the times, and with sorrowing
hearts bow submissively to the de-
crees OF a fate which must consign |
them to a widespread desolation Of
ruin. If the conspirators succeed,
the country Is lost and our liberties
will take an everlasting fight. II
they succeed in rushing the country |
to revolution in the contamination |
OF their wicked schemes, it will be 8 |
contest which no Government that |
has ever existed can encounter and |
survive. The question, then, must be |
met. Are the patriotic people of the
nation who fought to preserve and !
perpetuate the Government of our
fathers willing to stand idly by and
see this reasonable work OF de-
struction done? Let them pause
and think, and then, like men and |
patriots. act. Not by force Of arms,
but, by the more potent and power
full means of rising in their majesty
and power and demanding that these
conspirators be hurled from the posi-
tions they are dIshonoring and dis
gracing. and that our dearly bought
liberties and our institutions be per-
petuated free and untrammelled for
ever.
AS Democrats and Republicans,
we may honestly differ in politics
and as to the choice OF our rulers;
but our liberties are endangered,
and our free institutions put in peril.
AS honest men and patriots, all must
band together as one man. 1t is
not the honest Republican North, or
South, who would willingly lend a
helping hand to such 3 work. but the
and profigate politician, who
dare not--lose control
of the Government he loves but to
mob and plumber, and have his acts
Of corruption and villiany exposed
This would raise no question or
North and South, but a question
which must unite and consolidate on
1ne side, every honest man and pa
riot In the land, and bind them as
common brethren, In q common
cause, against the corrupt and I'M
conspirators who are plot
ing FOR the overthrow Of our Gov
eminent, the destruction of our
and the ruin and desola-
ion OF our homes. May God. in