Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1866-03-15

"EFMPIRE- CEsT Ia PAX"
The Empire Is Peace" These words
Of the Third NAPOLEON, are among the
most remarkable Of u-tterances, and have
a reach and significance now, far beyond
what was dreamed CT when they were
spoken. They ~enunciated, in n brief
phase, the claim which the hereditary
Empire had 10 the submission and the
support Of France, and the claim has, 50
far, been recognized as valid. "The
Empire is peace" also, in Mexico; and
MACMILLAN is gradually and firmly
consolidating the foundations Of his
throne, notwithstanding opposition at
home, and the vague ena Of the
Monroe Doctrine'-which seem, how
ever, little to disturb his equanimity.
Peace is the first and greatest want Of
nations. a foreign war may not endan-
ger the existence Of a State, or even in
jure its prosperity, and may ever have
beneficial results that more than COM
pensate its evils. But domestic disturb
ances, deranged finances, aud threatened
anarchy, are unmilgated ills and deadly
diseases, If they are not speedily ended
Peace, al home and abroad, Is the most
valuable Of all the blessings Of good Gov
eminent blessing which We had en-
joyed so long as 10 have come TO attach
little value to IL; but upon which we are
certainly now in q condition to set a just
estimate.
Statesmen should observe and TeIlem-
Der, that at last, q people VIII prefer do
nestle quiet stability in fnancial affairs,
and consistency and p-ermanency in leg
islation, to mere freedom and when a
republican government fails 10 cur
these, men viii begin to ask n another,
0s they Hog0 do, if such a Government il
not a failure, OF a mere state
Of transition, necessarily and In the
nature Of things shOrt-lfyed. What
soever shall strengthen this IN
viction by h~abituating Che people 10
look to the interpositioH of-one man as
the only means Of ending confusion and
anarchy, tends 10 the subversion and
overturning Of the Government, aud pre-
pares the way for CESAR. To this end,
also, tend the proceedings Of all repre-
sentative bodies that usurp powers, des-
troy the peoples reverence for the Con-
stitution by i-mprOyident changes, and
embOdy fanaticism and folly in leglsla-
ton. It should not be forgotten that
men lose their respect for republican
government, when they lose respect for
those who exercise the powers Of govern
meut; for it is natural to suppose that
institutions Of government which habit
ually invest with its highest powers un-
worthy and incompetent men, are de-
dcient and a failure.
To this end tend also, that nepotism
that keeps the relations of Senators ia
Office, and the base appliances by which
legislaT ion is controlled, and perhaps
more the rank and gross dishonesty that
pervades and saturstes whole classes II
men, and seems 10 have become epidemic
among those employed by the Govern
ment during and since the war in collect
ing and dealing with cotton. When we
are officially informed that the hundreds
employed have stolen hundred
millions, and that the only difnculiy
seemed 70 be 10 fad one who had stolen
nothing, the people may well begin 70
realize the assertion Of NJ. ToosfBsin Che
Senate. in 1860, that this was "the most
corrupt Government on the face % the
earth" il would seem 10 be so, beyond
al question, so far IS Congress and the
subordinate executive officers are con-
cerned-nOr does there seem TO be, with
out a great ezeruon Of popular sentiment,
hope OF aEy reform. General dishonesty (
among those entrusted with public
money or property, seems to he lnsepa-
rable fromE republican institutions; /
for always the rascally officials will sus-
tain, and be sustained by the aQitstor
and demag0gues. Doubtless something
of the present decentralization, much Of
q, perhaps, is directly due to a war in
which it seemed % be considered by both
Governments, and all the armies, that
there wa no longer any private prpperty
in the South which any Va who desired
1t was bound 70 respect. The agents Of
each Government We'd with each other
IN stealing, and the armies plundered
everywhere, until it seemed impossible
that abstract and absolute honesty should
ever become & national virtue. tits not, |
even now, a disgrace to an officer
10 have been a thief and it is esteemed
an honor 10 have commanded and IT,
eensed marauders and c~ut-throats.
Commodore display as 0PiHia spolla oil
war, scores ofstolen watches. Ststuettes
from graVe-ysrds are set up in remote
e-onsersatories on Northern Lakes, and
living women wear jewels torn as " tFo-
phies" from the ears Of their southern
sisters, aud sometimes from their bodies
that have been longin their graves. The