Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1882-06-17
AN APPEAL TO YOUNG MEN.


The following extract is taken
from a speech by Major VIM. J.
Sykes, of Columbia, Tenn, on the
State debt question, delivered at
Knoxville, Tenn, In July 1873.
The solid truths of wisdom uttered
in this eloquent, fervent appeal to
the young men of the State, to
come up to the duty OF the hour,
though spoken nearly four years
ago, is even more forcible and appli-
cable to-day. The Convention to
assemble at Nashville on the 10th
will be composed largely of the
young Democracy of the State and
it would be well if every young
Democrat could read this appeal to
his patriotism and moral coura. e
and bravely stand forsthe mainten-
ance of the recent honorable settle
ment of the States Indebtedness.
Maj. Sykes said:
TO the young men of East Ten
nessee, and may say OF the whole
State, make an earnest appeal TO
you to come to the rescue of your
noble State in this her hour of trial
and of danger. You are the hope
and the pride of the country. You
must share the deep modification
and bitter pangs of ruined reputa-
ton and blasted character when
those OF us in middle life, or beyond
it, are gone. This is question
fraught with most momentouS con-
sequences to you. From q destruc-
ton OF their credit and a loss of
their character States never recover,
and therefore make most earn
est appeal to you to arouse your
selves before ii is too late. The loss
OF money or of property does not
make a man poor; energy, indus
try and economy may repair this
loss, but when man loses his pride
OF character and his regard for his
good name, he is poor indeed. A
good name, says the wise man, is
rather to be chosen than great
riches, and loving favor rather than
silver and gold. When the people
of State cease to value the charac.
ter and reputation of their State,
when they denounce those who adj
vocate il and Willy their character
that State is i'm truly lamentable
condition. Let me say to you, my
young friends, there is a courage
higher than mere physical courage,
a courage loftier and more to be adj
mired than that which carries q
man to the field of battle amid
the beating OF drums. the sound of
cannOns and the bursting of shells,
and that is the courage which ena-
bles him to do his duty, to uphold
what is just and right, regardless of
popular clamOr, despite the sneers
of the uDthinkibg and the denuncia-
ti0ns of the depraved. Here / take
pleasure in repeating the sentiments
recently expressed by one of Ten
nessee's purest and ablest living
statesman and jurists, a man whose
name is the synonym of truth, hon
or and intellect, Hon. Ed. III. Ew-
ing, who said, now is the time for a
truly brave man, man of fore
sight, to make character. Ii this
world be worth living IN, truth and
honor cannot be kept down long.
The sacrifice of to-day will but pre-
pare ore for the glorious resurrec-
ton of another and brighter peri
cd. Would that our aspiring young
men could thus look at this matter.
l cannot close in more appropri-
ate manner than by using the Ian
guage OF Cardinal WOolsey, which
lhOpe you young men will make
the guide of your lives and the rule
of your conduct
"Be just and fear not let all the
ends thou aim'st at be thy country's,
thy Gods and thruth's; then if
thou 1all'st, o, Cromwell, thou
talPst blessed martyr"