Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1867-05-19
THE MEMPHIS APPEAL
MEMPHIS:
SUNDAY READING.
CHARITY.

CHARITY.
The want of charity in our political
controversies has been one great cause OF
our misfortunes. Where there is 30 much
asperity in the conflicts Of party, and
slander end vituperation spare none,
and respect neither age, nor purity OF
character, nor long and faithful public
service, bad men must of necessity 1eo7nl
themselves into power, and
Having orawled to the top
! Of this huge mouldering monument OF Rome,
! Hang kissing at the nooler men bsloW'
Some one has well said, that "if the
strict rule were applied universally,
mover to accept unreservedly what is
good in q man, and praise 1t accordingly,
without minute measuring Of what may
also be condemned for evil, with detrsc-
ton at least equal to the praise, there
would be altogether an end, at LIT, to
all lust judgments, and wOful general
confusion of right and wrong" And he
adds. in the words of STEELE, that " the
heather world had so little notion that
perfection was to be expected from men,
/ that among them any one quality
OF endowment in heroic degree made
a GOp. HERCULES had strength, but it
was never objected to him that he
wanted wit. APOLLO presided over VIII,
and IL was never asked whether he had
strength. Those wise heathens were
glad to immortalize any one serviceaole
pift and TO overlook all imperfections in
the person who had it. But We are only
too eager to reject many manifest vir-
tues, if we find them accompanied with
G sins-l- --rr----+ -
ment, in our country, as to political op-
ponents. ceased at 8 very early day
and charity for their errors would have
been considered weakness or tFeachery."
1t is a great pity that it is not always
true. that " Ics chienS dc BlOTdent guere,
sans droir DIES cOups de 6dston." When
dogs bite men, they should be soundly
beaten. It makes one sad to remem-
her how cur noblest men have been Will
fed, not only on account Of the rank in
Justice, not chiefly for that, but because
it goes so far to prove that the moral ele-
walton of humanity is in the inverse
ratio of knowledge and scientific attain
ment. STEELE well says, The low race
Of men take a great pleasure IN hnoihg
an eminent character levelled to their
eonditiou by q report of defects, ana keep
themselves in countenance, though they
are excelIed in a thousand virtues, II they
balieye they have in common with
great person any one fault" II the re-
suit finally shows" another writer adds
u that the man who has taught US all SO
we'll what our own eOnGEct should De,
has unhappily failed in such wisdom Tor
the Guidance of his own, the general
complaeenee and satisfaction are COM
nlete.,' "H," he says again, "st all
times to do were as easy as to teach what
is good 30 be done, chapels had been
churches. and poor mems cottages
Princes palaces"
What with unjust censure and rnde-
served praise, it is quite impossible to
recognize the Statesmen, living or desd,
nv their portraits. What, for instance,
we're the real characters Of HAMILTON or
BCRR, or even that of WAsHINGTONF
On the ID of October, 1850, HANILToE,
writing to Miss SCHUYLER, whom he
afterwards married, said, I urged a com
nliance with ANDRES request to be shot,
and | DO not think it would have had an
i'll effect. But some people are only sen
sjble to 1aotires daG poliey, and some
times, from a HdTTOtC disposition, Lals-
rake II. When ANDRES tale comes to
be told, and present resentment is over,
the refusing him the privilege Of choos-
ing the manner of his death viii be
branded with too much Obstinacy. II
,ras proposed to me-" he says, 10
suggest to him the idea Of sn exchange
for ARNOLD; but knew l should have
forfeited his esteem by doing it, and
therefore declined it. As a n1GIl Of honor,
Ls could not but reject 1t and l would
not for the world have proposed to him
thing which must have placed me n
the uradBlidble light Of SuppoStng nan ca
pable Of BleaHnesS, OR OF NOT FEELING
MYSELF TIE ISIPRoPRIETY OF THE
MEASURE. / confess TO you, | hsd the
weakness to value the esteem of q dying
man, because ] revereEced his merit"
Was it WASHINGTON, whose "nsrrow
disposition " made him "only sensible
to motives and [qu. of p policy y :
Was it WASHINGTON who proposed to
HAMILTON TO suggest to ANDRE the idea
Of an exchange for ARNOLD "a pre-. ISL
ton which HAMILTON stigmatizes IS
unfit to be made TO 8 men Of honor, as
presupposing him capable OF mesnness,
and as arguing the proposer too 0btuse
and too devoid Of feelings Of honour to be
sensible Of the improperly Of the meas
ure Is it HAMILTON himself, or
WASHINGTON, who should be lowered
NHN