Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1876-01-15

EX-SENATOR TRUMBuLL, of ILL
nois. in a published letter. has this to
say about the true Issues before the
country:
"Of course I am In favor Of sound
currency. though / differ with others
in the opinion that the financial ques-
ton is the leading one in our politics.
/ consider administration reform and
the limiting of the Federal Govern
ment to its constitutional powers as
the paramount issues of the day."
The ex-senator is, doubtless, right
in defining what should be the leading
issues in our politics, but seem to have
forgotten that since the war this has
been the primary question with every
patriot. the theme of every writer and
orator who loves his country; yet the
self-evident truth of the proposition
has been presented in vain to the ig-
norance and prejudice of the northern
masses, whose selfish and corrupt
leaders have cheated them into the
belief that error is truth and wisdom,
and the grossest corruption the highest
manifestation of patriotic virtue. We
admit that "the paramount issues of
the day." are reform in the admins
tration of the government and the re-
striction of the government within the
limits of its constitutional powers, but
this has been the platform of the Con-
sentative element ever since the close
of the war, and what has been the re-
suit? Corruption, usurpation,. ignor-
ance and fanaticism combined have
uniformly triumphed over the Consti-
tuition, enfeebled patriotism and weak
ened public virtue. Is there better
prospectth year, than heretofore that
truth and political justice will triumph
over foully corrupt despotism? II
may be that revolution is going on
in public sentiment against the domi-
nant party so hostile to free institu.
tions and their wise administration
but we are slow to believe that the
usurpations of power by that party are
the exciting causes of such revolution
which is clearly traceable to that sor
did selfshness which places money
above every other consideration. Thi!
grovelling passion, stimulated into &C
tivity by the wholesale robberies o
the people by the Radical leaders, ant
the war waged by capital against pro
ductive labor, are doing more to revo
lutionize public sentiment than al
the warnings of the most earnest pa
triotism against the dangers impending
over the safety of the Republic.
1t is a Illuminating reflection tina
love of liberty and the blessings it be
slows has so feeble hold upon thu
hearts of the people that they can b.
induced to array themselves agains
the spoilers of their rights and privil
eyes, by no higher consideration thar
the pecuniary troubles growing out o
ceaseless depredations upon the Treas
ury Ly their own trusted officials. /
is this unworthy feeling that has giveI
the currency question priority among
the issues of the day. To degrade thi
question into a mere incident in thu
platform, as suggested by Mr.. Trum
bull, might weaken the opposition ten
fold more than it would be strength
ened by all the wise political axiom
that can be crowded into the next plat
form of the Democratic party. Pa
triotism is lost element in American
character, and if the Republic Cal
be saved only by appeals to unworth.
motives, we must make virtue of tn
necessity.