Bristol News

The retirement of Mr. E. Fowler from the News has been duly chronicled in our last issue. It may, or may not be permanent, for the future of Bristol is too promising as a field for the exercise of journalistic functions to be permanently foreclosed to an aspiring mind already familiar with it. The Senior Editor deems this occasion a fitting one for the declaration that during the fourth of a decade of his association with the retiring Editor there has been a harmony of political opinion which almost amounts to identity. Viewed in a personal light their joint efforts at the promotion of the public good and private virtue have not been unfruitful in developing between them a degree of regard and affection capable of battling together through life against every adverse influence we could possibly encounter. Even a temporary severance in the field of labor is painful to both, and unless stricken down in the morning or noon of life; it is not likely that the two brothers, whose identity of origin has thus far been typified by identity of effort and association, will fall far apart on the field of life. Born on the rock of toil and educated in the avenues of activity we will probably labor on for the common good, so nearly in view and sympathy with each other that death will seek and find us in the same harvest-field.

For the present the late Junior Editor goes on his contiguous parallel with our whole being radiant towards him with all those impulses and affections which are alone worthy of special bestowal.

For Mr. Bingley many of our readers need no word of commendation from us. They have seen him as an active, enterprising, punctual, honorable citizen. Those who have not known him will doubtless behold in the News the evidence of his fitness for a position at the head of its columns.

Coming, a few years since, from the city of Petersburg, he has impressed himself very favorably upon our community, and we will leave him to that farther favorable acquaintance which we are sure will be the result of his present position.

As heretofore there is no departure from that part which must follow the future of the News. Its Editors are discolored by the Confederate stain. In the Confederate cause we embarked our all, and we were prostrated in its overthrow.

When Bristol, Abingdon and Blountville were pillaged and burned, we mourned. Neither the lash of reconstruction nor the stripes of disfranchisement have made us ashamed of our record or untrue to those who suffered with us.