Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1867-06-06

II W
How is it that the people Of the North
ern States are unconscious that they are
living, telling, scheming, gambling and
becoming every day more and more cor
rupted and demoralized, and every day
resembling more and more the treacher-
Gus Byzantines and the degenerate RO-
mans Of the decayiug Empire, in what is
no longer q Republic, but a mere incO-
herent anarchy the prey and spoil and
dupes Of an association of reckless, I'M
bilious and greedy demagogues; and that
there is already rising above the verge Of
this weltering social and political chaos,
the shapeless and gigantic shadow pro-
jected upward by the coming and newt
able Military Despotism, in which lies
the only salvation from the infinitely
worse evils of this hideous anarchy full
OF crimes and murders, and OF every
thing that has heretofore cursed, afflicted
and dishon0ured humanity &?
Is il because Of the hollow and delu-
sive prosperity that the war created, and
the actual bankruptcy Of the Nation yet
continues, by mems Of its immense is
sues Of an inflated paper currency that
makes all prices unstable, has created an
untaxed aristocTacy Of bOnd-holders,
makes speculation and gambling univer-
szi, tempts thousands into dishonesty,
and is in the end the fatal weakness as
in the beginning it was the strength Of
the Nation? Or is il rather the apparent
-permanency OF the power and present
tyranny Of the majority, whose impa-
thence and follies increase equally with
its power, and which rushes to its ends
and madly seeks its fate, over all him
ORANGES Of law or Constitution or human
rights OF obligations Of good faith or re-
moustrsnces Of wisdom OF the expostu-
lati0ns and warnings Of the wise, whose
feeble voices are drowned in the uproar,
OF ifheard are unheeded and despised?
Perhaps it is both, and the insatiate
vanity Of our people, their s~elf-conceit
and the furious passions Of which they
are the slaves. For surely the signs Of.
the approaching despotism are as plain
as the evidences Of the actual anarchy.
HENRY WINTER DAVIS, Of Maryland,
was a map Of singular ability and force,
perhaps the ab'est member Of the House
OF Representatives at the memorable
session Of 1901. lie was a Republican,
and therefore neve confessed by the
Southern members 10 be as great as he
really was; and his political faith gives
additional weight to the picture Of the
condition Of the country, which be
painted in q speech made II the House
on the 9Th of February, 1861, and for
which, also, we are indebted TO the
Souahern ReUieUU.
"Mr. Speaker" he said, as If he were
-pronouncing the funeral Grafton Of
American freedom, " we are at the end
Of the insane revel Of partizan license
which for thirty years has in the United
States worn the mask Of Government.
We are about to close the masquerade
bv the dance Of death. The nations Of
he world look anxiously to see II the
people, ere they tread that measure, will
come to themselves. Yet In the early
youth Of our national life, we are already
exhausted by premature excuses. The
corruption Of our political maxims has
relaxed the tone Of public morals, and
degraded the public authorities from the
terror to the ~aecOmplices Of evil-dOers.
Platforms for fools-plunder for thieves
offices for serviee-pOwer for ambition,
unity in these essentials, diversity in the
immaterial matters Of policy and legisla-
tion-charity for every lrailty-the voice
Of the people is the voice Of GOD these
msxims have sunk into the public mind,
have presided at the administration Of
public affairs, have almost efIaeed
the very idea Of public duty.
The Government, under their dis
astrous influence, has gradually ceased to
fertillze the fields of domestic and useful
legislation, and pours itself, like an i'm
petuoss torrent, along the barren rayine
of marty and sectional strife. Ithas been
shorn OF every p~rerogative that wore the
austere aspect Of authority and power.
The President, no longer preceded by the
fasees and the axe, the emblems OF su-
Dreme authority, greets every popular
glamour with Wreathed smiles and graz