Clarksville evening chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn) 1886-1890, 1888-10-04
attention, COMRADES!
CONTINUED from First R,gs.

contention OF those who oppose them. The
srdlent lover OF the Union could hoar with
no patience any claim that Ii was compact
which might for any reason DO rescindcd,
and deemed secession the objectionable poll
tica sin. lie vino held the creed OF state
sovereignty regarded coercion as the gravrst
crime which could be perpetrated ngaiEst
American liberty, and the idea on which our
Government Is founded, aud believed rs ex.
ercise would be the beginning Of depotlsrn
Can 1t be Justly said that either had not good
reason for the faith that was In him?
When the American colonies, their efforts
for independence successfully accomplished
sought In union the strength TO furnish So
curity against foreign aggression aud that
community OF interest and feeling which
might 10 the best assurance OF domestic
tg1nquility,"it was found necessary to leave
a ch In allegiance In order that anything
might he done. Many governmental ques-
lions OF profound concern, and certain some
day TO press for solution, remained unfn-
ished and unsettled, that tho most impor-
tant OF all, self preservation, might be deter
mined. In order that compact might be
made which should "provide for the COM
mon defense and general welfare" definite
adjustment and even mention, was prefer
mitted OF many matters sure, in the course
of time, TO affect the relations OF tie several
States and influence largely the general poll
ty. There were matters OF substantial Inn
portance put In issue In the debate proceed
Ing the adoption OF the Constitution, which
were not concluded by the terms Of that In
strument there were issues yet in the germ
arising out OF interests yet only partially
developed and recognized, which could not
he considered or settled. The material for
sXubborn and dangerous controversy existed
vet In such shape and condition that ii could
not be dealt with and disposed OF. The Gle
ments of future dlscord were in the political
soil, but could be neither modified nor ELI
minated because they had not taken tangi-
bic growth and form.
All that men could have done, our fathers
did. They brought kindred populations
whose interests as regarded the rest OF the
world were identical, under one General
Government-in form and functions admira-
bly, suited to their genius and sentiment
which pledged the united energies OF all to
the protection of each, and which was well
adapted to "the establishment of Justice"
and the maintenance OF peace and order.
4uty EIONlhtu plb anu uhtIuhLB uluCulb-
cry for the exercise of necessary official
authority, and for the public administration.
They established the methods by which laws
kight be enacted and executed. They guar
WJd private rights against arbitrarJ and OPP
pressive Interference, and individual liberty
from unreasonable restriction. But they
sought not to do the work which OF right be-
longcd to later generations. They wisely
left to the care OF the future, policies not yet
possible, and problems ripe neither for inter-
probation nor attention. We can not accuse
them, but we can fairly claim that when all
these questions and antagonistic ideas came
down, unsettled and unreconciled, to the
generation which fought the great civil war
came clamOrous for diustment and no lon
ger to be put ofr--that generation may be
Justly relieved OF the censure rightly visited
on those who, for light cause, make or share
such strife. Not to the men on whom destl.
ny forced the terrible alternative OF surren-
der OF hereditary political tenants, taught
them ms principles not to be surrendered, or
WARRIOR so was the issue presented to the
men OF either sde-not to them should the
&Tine OF blood outlines be lightly imputed.
SGT II be FIRST shown how in the history OF
OF the race such issues have boon settled
peaceahly-how in the capacities Of human
nature,aye, In the providence OF God in-so-
far as we have been given to unporstnnd 1t,
they can lie settled without appeal to arms.
When tho conflict so long brooding, and all
the dircr because so long postponed, Mt last
came rushing like the tornado out Of sultry
clouds, the men upon whose heads IL burst
had as little to do with its production and
tho woe and have 1t wrought, as human
agencies have to do with the wrath aud dc.
yastatlon OF the tempest. They wore limo
cent or its cause but they accepted its re-
sponsibHitles with the uutinchng courage
and loyal sincerely proper to the blood Of
which they came. | contend, strangely ms
the assertion may sound, that both sides
were right, and each factor-although In
temporary uutagonism-of an ultimate re-
salt which was to make both better and
stpongcr. In the mysterious providence
<%hich has required man to achieve his social
salvation by blood, rs he has earned his
bread Ivy the sweat of his brow, the earth has
been made an arena OF combat. Union aud
liberty, both frmer and Gcarcr, have been
made "one and lnseparahlon y that strife.
~ believe that posterty will notconacnn-
on the contrary, It's hest judgment will vim
dicate-~the conduct OF those, who confronted
with political combinations utterly insolublc
By discussion or compromise but which de-
tnandoG and would not be refused solution,
engaged in STRIFE which to all human un-
aersiahdinE then and now, could not be
ayerted Let censure, repeat, he silent nm
iii Il can be shown how those issue, could
have been settled ~ any other Argument
than the sword. Unth some Philosopher
can demonstrate that war however and
Tor whatever purpose wa2ed, is criminal;
that tbs Creator, when he gave mankind the
energies, without which the progress ANA
Involvement, perhaps tile conservation OF
- Brace would have been impossible. ia
not foresce how they would lie craliuy ed.
Let harsh criticism be hushed Of a war
waged ~ neither OF the combatants t'r cou-
quest or oppression, Tut Tor each TO assert a
prlncIp,eund maintain right
Gould any statement which the ingenuity
OF man was capable OF deyising- AMY
fornula OF words however eloquent or Logical
have won consent To tho dissolution ot the
Ua,on rom men WAC had been taught as the
foundation OF their political creed, and be-
neved with religious faith and feryor that
the Union was at once the means ana the