Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1876-05-13
SALUTATORY.


After a long retirement from editO-
rial duties, l find myself most unex-
pectedly at the editorial desk again.
A very few days ago, state of seclu-
sion, not only from such duties but
from all occupations likely to bring
my name before the public, was not
only my apparent destiny but my de-
liberate choice.
Fifteen years ago / was editOrially
engaged in the fercest political con-
troversy which has ever infamed this
country, and perhaps the tragic termi-
nation of that controversy has, more
than anything else. contributed to pro-
duce that indisposltion to any inter-
vention in public affairs which has
been the instinct of my later years.
By the fattering invitation ef the
proprietors of this paper find myself
called upon to take part IN another
controversy. have accepted the in
vitation, not without shrinking, not
without misgivings at breaking the
long rest which has followed the era
of civil war.
But my reluctance has been over
come by my convictions of the mo-
mentous Importance of the new con-
troversy in which the country is now
engaged, both in State and Federal
politics; and the aattering opinion ex-
pressed by so many of my friends that
l could contribute something by my
pen to the prevalence of right over
wrong in this new phase of party con-
fict, has decided my course, and it is
only now left for me to define my posi-
ton in reference to the political ques-
tions at this time under debate.
Before doing so l feel that | should
apologize for the apparent egotism of
the above personal explanations. l
thought them indispensable in this first
appeal to the public, but promise that
after the present number they shall not
be repeated, and even now in com
mencing my programme of political
definition will retire behind the dis
guise of TIE first person plural.
In taking the position we expect to
occupy both in Federal and State pol
itics it would be sufficient to say that
we endorse heart aud soul the prinei-
pies advocated with so much ability
by our lamented predecessor, Mr.. h.
w. THOMAS, whose name we cannot
mention without tribute of venera-
ton and regret. This. we say would
be sufficient avowal, but that, since
the time when his invaluable aid was
withdrawn from this journal, first by
sickness and afterwards by death, the
specific forms in which the great strug-
gle has to develop itself have become
more definite, the opposing forces are
deploying into line, and taking up their
positions in a manner which calls for
corresponding marshalling of our own
forces in new forms and in more def
mite order; we are now enabled to fore
see where the stress of the battle will
concentrate and measurably what will
be the strategy of the enemy: So that
even had our illustrious predecessor
survived, a new manifesto would have
shortly been called for, and that mani
festo we now proceed to make, deeply
conscious of our disadvantage in tax
ing up the lance which has fallen from
the hands of so distinguished a
champion.
1t is a curious coincidence that in
both State and Federal politics we
have the same lesson to enforce, the
same delinquency to denounce. In
our Federal relations we have to en-
force a strict and now unwonted integ-
rity in the transaction of public bust
ness, and to denounce corruption and
and in State affairs the
is precisely the same. At
Washington men have gone into public
life for the purpose OF private pecu-
lation, and in Tennessee men are ad-
vocating public peculation as means
of their private advaZ cement in polit
zeal life. Our programme is implacable
hostility towards both.
Let us consider the two departments
of political warfare separately. No
one can take the most superficial no
tice of Federal affairs at this time
seeing that the all absorbing
topic of discussion will be for n long
period the administrative corruption
which in the present day has assumed
such astounding dimensions; but our
public men cannot learn too early that
mere defamation on this theme cannot |
carry them far on the road to political |
Dreferment. Denunciation of all this |
has unfortunately already become trite
and common place: we are so unani-
nous on the subject here South that
We are apt to misunderstood the feel
ng North. 1t is true that, except in
iome of the most profigate of the ad-
journals, the populations
If the government are as vigorously
there as here, but they do
lot all make the same inference as we
10; ours is very simple-beat the Rad
Gals and establish Democratic gov
rnment and all will be we'll. Mems
minds in the North do not work quite
o directly as this; it is no doubt true
hat a great many votes which have
hitherto sustained the Republican par
y will, in all probability, be given to
well chosen Democratic candidate
tut even those, and still more so the
many who still hope to carry out the
olicy of the Republican party with
ut its corruption, demand something
nore, and that's security for the future.
len in the North do not think as we
% that a Democratic government is
an honest one; indeed even
ere we frequently hear shrewd mis-
wings expressed aud apprehensions
hat, at least with some of our Demo
ratio orators their zeal 10 st;pnuIatad |