Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-07-01
VOLUME XIII, NO. I55.
Lord BrOugham on Democracy and the

Lord BrOughRn GA Dem0crucy and the
War
t At the opening of the Social Science Congress
in London, on the 9Th of June, Lord Brougbam
made an Inaugural address, from which we quote
what he said about America:
The present unhappy state of affairs in lhe
new world is calculsted to withdraw our alter
tiOn from ali other countries ,Gnd fix it upon the
! fortunes Of our kinsnen, and the lessons which
| their Institutions or their errors are fitted 10
teach. A civil war has for twelve months ragged
! among them, far more dreadful than that the
prospect of which, on the banks Of the Rubicou,
struck horror through its authors limbs made
his hair stand on end, and stayed his steps a
! war wsged, not by few thousand soldiers ON
either side, but by the whole people, frantic with
/ mutual hatred, filed with a thirst OF vengeance
only 10 beslacked by each others slaughter. The
prevalence Of epidemic SANDER aud falsehoOd ia
all their forms makes it impossible 10 trust the
| accounts which reach US
Bat enough iJ certainly known to prove that !
the conflict, besides the misery its cTuelties IL
hict, must last long enough to impOverish the /
country in all its resources, and, whatever be its
results, to leave the people filed with bitter feel
lDgs which dtpuVe pt ace Of all the blessings
that good will can bestow. The affecting scene.
distant though it be, has been regarded with as
lively an interest as il it lay in our immediate
most favorable construction upon the conduct OF
all parties, and withthe fixed rsou.i JUS to take no
part in tie deplOrable contest
The government has not only maintained the
most strict neutrality, but withheld sllexDressjon
Of opinion upon the matters IN dispute, all init
nation OF wish as to the result and, in pre-
serving this passive attitude, enio.ned alike by
wisdom and justice, it has also been the faithful
representative Of the nation. The earnest and ,
universal desire OF the people is to see an end OF
tn's most miserable war, and the only sppTehen- ,
sion OF rational and rejecting men IS lest II |
should leave such e recollection OF It's dismal Z
horrors as may hereafter prevent improvement I
where further separation might be expedent, as
the remembrsnce of the reign Of terror in France
has for nearly seventy years made the people
submit TO everything rather than risk toe Iecur-
renee Of that calamitOus time
But az solemn and practical lesson is taught 6
by hese sad events, and the conduct Of the {
government on both sides is plainly TO be de- I
due d from its structure. The influence of Il j
multitude is supreme though sometimes dis
gused and occasionally overcome by the exer-
tons, most rarely by the eOunses, of the weal,hier
and more intelligent portions Of the community d
In all ages the tendency Of democratic rule has I
been to promote war; while sristocraiic states. Z
from Sparta downward, have been fond of peace
But the conduct Cf the operations Of war as .
well as engaging in that evil course is to great
degree IN tue hands of the multitude when their ID
voice prevails IN the cOunsels Of the State that .
Is to say, those who are wholly ignorant and Z
III n to advise are predominant over the skillfu y
and well informed. Does a general displease b
them, they require his removsl-it may be his
punishment 1t is in vain that the chiefs of the
State resist the demand; they are compelled to >
obey. This obedience, this yielding their Opin-
ion to the pressure of tie multitude is the
graveSt otfsnse that rulers can commit.
Lord BrOugham then referred to the cases Of Z
Generals Luekner and Cas:ine, in the French 9
revolution, to the sacrifice of the Maid Of Oleans
N obedience to popular cry, and TO the deliver t
ug up Of the Savior by Plate to the mob lie
hen addressed: =
And let it not be supposed that such extreme
and rare instances as we have been c0rtemp.at- Il
ng are the only ones Of criminal submission to IL
he influence Of the multitude The yraut Of II
many heads, Ike she sirgle ard ordinary one, g
tOes not always rule his slaves with rod Ct
not constantly exsct enormous sacri-
ice. But if the fist submission be not sloutly =
resisted the tyrannical power despises all
bounds, caprice is added 20 domination, while G.
submission becomes habit, and the reign Of is
reason and knowledge is at An end. Uabounded h
,alamities OYeTwhelm the State bent under the 81
yoke Of the multitude. aud that yoke cannot be o
shaken Ch withsut dreadful struggle. iavolv- Il
ing new and more painful suf=rings. a
The American civil y ~ has severely affected 81
his country as we'll as France, producing great
distress in sh these districts where the cotton
manufacture forms the staple trade. The sub b.
eet is too painful to dwell upon were va not re- b.
ieved by observing the truly adBlra5le beha- fr
7ior of those who suffer he most. The distress OF
las brought into view the hsppy advance of our L
artisan population in the branches OF knowledge b,
nest essential to their welLbeiDg. The hard is
ships which they are enduring nave not dis L
utbed their minds, shakea tEeir faith in prin- re
,iples which they h&d upon examination and re-
iec'ion adopted in prosperous times
They know the want of the raw material Il
which sets their industry in mOtioa would not P
ustily England in using her power 70 break the "
avs of nations for the purpose of obtaining it, IL
and they assent tc the wise and Just orbesrancs c:
If Oar government without a Inurmur. Their al
patience under suferings beyond all former ex- b
'eTience is truly affecting. They have made a th
noble sacrifice to maintain their position as self
Importing members Of the community How
mike thia to the blind fury OF their predeces- th
oIs. who IN their ignorance always rushed to re
he conclusion that every calamity undsr which de
hey suffered was brought on them by the "a in
aeity or the cruel csll0ps indifference Of their II
uperlOrs in social positiOn. ia