Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1864-04-05
The Tide Turning.


We find the following fearless and significant
article in = recent number Of the Philadelphia
Mercury:
Two incidents have recently occurred, sad
been duly recorded in the newspapers, which
although they have elected but little interest and
remark, are full Of peculiar significance, in the
fact that they give signal indication that tie
American people are growing Iesentfnl and reatiVe
under the ''reign of terror" to which they have
submitted for the last two years like so many
abjeet and crouehing slaves.
We allHde to an occurrence which trxnspiTed
in San FTancisco California, where Govern
msnt official obsraded himself upon meeting
called for the purpose Of protesting against the
passage of law by the Legislature placing
greenbackS upon par with gold in point of
value, but was forced to seek safety in flight
from the popular indignation that was aroused
sgeinsi him On account of his unWsuantsbie
interference; and to smother in Lancaster, Ohio,
where the establishment of the Esgis, q paper
devoted TO peace principles and to Democracy,
was destroyed by soldiers, iusGigAted by AbOii-
tionists, in retaliation for which outrage the
Democrats arose, snd attacked aud Quilted the
dwellings Of the leading fanatics Of the town.
These, Nc reiterste, are very significant de-
mons trations 1t is the last hair that breaks
the eamePs back The Americans have always
been patient, lsw-sbiding people. Ths-Anglo-
Saxon element, 50 largely Infused into their
veins, makes them slow TO anger, and to forbear
violent and bloody resistance to wrong and op-
preston while peaceful remedy lies anywhere
near their grasp. Bat this very characteristic
makes thsm, when once aroused to fury, and
under the goading spur of heated and uogoV-
ernsble passion, terrible as an army with ban
uers"
Possibly it would be veil for those most di-
rsc:ly interested to study this feature of our
people, and not count too largely and too surely
upon that tolersfion which, wo confess, has al
ready shamed the American character abroad,
aud provoked deEision and mockery all over
Europe.
Nobody would dsplore more deeply than our
selves the reigu of anarchy and social chaos in
our midst. We have the example Of France be-
fore as, that in the wild mssstrom Of revolution
and populsr pbreDzy humanity blesds OF every
pore, and that no dove comes from the ark thst
floats upon its hsaVing and turbulent waters )
that the good suffer with the bad, the innocent
with the guilty-thss al alike are overwhelmed
benssth lis yeasty and remoTs sless waves. And
yet there is something more terrible than this to
contemplate. 1t is the paralysis Of = great peo-
pie struck dumb and motionless in the presence
of gigantic despotisun-fearful to speak, lest
some hired miaion Of the prevailing aud Ebound-
ing tyranny shall strike tho audacious utteIer
lest press and writer fall under the ban Of mziled
and gaunsleted power-fsErful to move, lest
some tale-bearing informer shall whisper a sus-
pieion of disloyslty and treason. Oh what
mental ageny % live in such Tayless and star
less night Of bondage as this, to one who has
once tasted the sweetness OF refined and en-
lighiOned liberty
To break such bonds whole BseAtombs fliyes
have been sacrificed, and the werld's history is
illuminated with the chivalric deeds of those who
have died in msrtyrdom to the holy cause Of
trRih and justice.
What has been may be again. Z" History Is
philosophy teaching By example" Hezce We
say, let those most interested profit by the
warnings Of the past, and beware how they tax
too much the patience and forbeArsncs OF this
people. Even worm will turn when trodden
upon; is less expected of man, fashioned after
Gods own image, and bearing about him At
least some of the inefsb.e attributes Of his
Makeri And may we not hope that the retAlia-
tory incidents We have cited viii have thar due
effect in checking those disgTaceful exhibitions
of lawlsss and usurpsd authority which have
become almost chronic, and teach their Rzthors
that it VIII not do to play, with that volcanic
IRE which flames in the popular heart, ana Is
constantly fed by the enjoyment and luxury Oh
popular liberty.