Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1866-01-19
srUSFR AND

The last number Of the Round Table
olives an analysis Of the mentalandmOra
Qualities of a brace Of WORTHLESS, now
he recognized leaders in the National
Congress. We extract the following:
q" These gentlemen have a point Of re-
srmblance in their want of mental bal
auce. Sound Judgment results from a
patient survey OF al sides OF q question,
and the careful weighing OF conflicting
considerations. A pedant who needs
not 10 weigh aud consider, but
10 gather materials for display,
l. quite as likely 10 20 wrong as a con
temner of learning who does not read at
all. Both Mr.. Sumner and Mr.. Stevens
hold the uarrowest views OF the narrow
est men in their party. Any man i'll
spired with intense malignity toward
the South would easily reach their opin-
ions, no matter how feeble or confused
his intellect. Mr.. Sumner lends
bis learning, and Mr.. Stevens
mis- s-hrewdness, 10 the advocacy Of
views which it required neither
learning nor shreWdness, but only hatred
and bigOtry, 10 form. To hUmiliate the
Southern people, ~conh-cate their prop
erty, strip them OF political privileges,
and make their late slaves their equals, l.
a policy which the meanest intellect was
competent 10 ArN41rr NloNI AGl tllAN AAALEA-
lect was inspired by intense malgnity.
Nothing IS easier than 10 drift forward on
a strong current of passion. And when
men can crafty the worst feelings Of hui
man nature under the mask Of public
virtue. pleasing themselves with the idea
that hatred Of their cOuntrymen is COM
passion f0ran oppressed race, they satisfy
their craving for reputation at a much
smaller cost than if they were, at every
step, 10 consult theirreasOn or Onscience,
in a lahOrious inquiry after truth and
right.
Whenever the negro question is taken
out Of politics, Mr.. Sumner Will sink into
in~signffeance. Asa scholar, he has pro-
duced No original work as d statesman,
he has preached no important Measure T;
as a political leader, he has no gift Tor
acquiring ascendency over other minds.
His natural employment Is literary
research, and the repetition, in
smooth or stilted phrases, Of the
thoughts Of ADLER minds. He has
judgement enough 10 see that the
abolition Of slavery is one of the great
achievements OF recent times, andh be has
the ambition 70 figure in history as the
leading apostle in this worthy cause. He
hopes 10 be remembered AS q ClarksOn
OF a WilberfOrce. But conscious that he
mas no solid claim 50 such a distinction,
he seeks 10 make up in extravaganza
what he lacks In merit; just as in his
other character Of a literary man, he
tries To conceal poverty Of original
thought by tricks of style and a parade
Of erudiJiOn.
Mr.. Stevens Is a naughty, disappointed
spirit, self-suhicient and impracticable,
VINO feels that his success IN public life
has not been equal to his abilities and,
with 8 touch Of eccentncity and scOrn,
and the peevishness Of old age, he wishes
10 wreak upon somebody the pent up
passions Of q lifetime.
The prominence Of these gentlemen in
the public eye i no measure of their pO-
litical importance. Since the close Of
the war the passions il kindled are grad
uEIly subsiding; and with the settlement,
on the basis Of justice and moderation,
Of the questions that remain, these men
Of Irregular passions and i'll balanced
judgments viii sink into merited OBJ
scurity."