Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-11-23
NO TIME TO LOSE.

when parties were nearly equally divides
and honest men entertained Opposite
opinions as the result of their investiga
tons and of the motives and influences
surrounding and controlling them, it wa
not uncommonly the case that question
arose as to the proper responsibility fol
public acts. Neither party being able tC
control perfectly as it would all the de
partments and management of the gov
eminent, responsibility was always partly
shifted to the shoulders of minorities, and
an excuse was ready to hand for the fail
ures to come up to the sanguine promises
of reformation usually made by MAORI
ties in the preceding canvass for power
and place in the administration of public
affairs. Andyet parties were held to the
strictest responsibility, and men were
ousted from office very often, for failures
to redeem the pledges and come up to
the programmes laid down by them as
platforms in securing control in the gov
eminent And indeed it was often made
the argument in favor, and the boast OF
republican institutions, as comparing
them with the despotisms of the world,
that clashing opinions and existing par
ties were their life blood, and rendered
sure the eternal vigilance which was the
price of liberty. In the day of national
virtue and integrity of public men, there
was no little force in this argument and
reason assigned for the more liberal, as
compared with the monarchical forms Of
government.
Is there still public virtue enough re-
naming to hold public men to the old
tests2 If there is, we have now q plain
case. The Congress has been in such
majority as to have no excuse for any
shortcomings or NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 1t
has had an absolute and overwhelming
control, not only over its own legitimate
department, but more, also over the
Executive and Judiciary, for more than
two years. 1t has met no check and
worked its will without restraint 1t has
promised the country reforms In every
thing, reconstruction, and uniform, uni
versal and perfect liberty, accompanied
with new life and prosperity in the
mechanical and manufacturing, the ag-
ricultural and the commercial pursuits
of men. But how have these promises
been redeemed. Even the manufaetur-
ing interest, which has been most fos-
tered, is dwindling, Improbable and
orving ont for a change. Commerce is
prostrate.. And from having the largest
tonnage and the greatest commercial
marine of the world, in this respect ex'
ceediug that of Great Britain itself,
ships are now rotting at our wharVes' OF
are sailing under foreign owners and
foreign Gags, and we have now fallen TO
third rate importance. The mercantile
interest is dwarfed at the heart, and
almost dead in all the extremities OF the
country. The agricultural interest also
lies low, the profits of the agriculturist
with the wages of labor are reduced all
over the country. And in ten great
States which were making, rapid strides
TO wealth under the old administration,
and where we were promised that
change from slave to free labor would
bring cheerfulness and renewed vlgor
and industry to the laboring population,
we have now insufficient labor to sustain
life in the whole population, and land
teeming with Migrants, thieves, robbers,
murderers and heaihens. A more marked
or more universal change for the worse,
even from what existed during the war
itself, and at its close, after all its losses
had been suffered and its hardships had
been endured, never was seen upon earth.
The taxes of the coustry now actually so
far exceed all profits of its use that cap
ital is hid, waiting time of more safety
for investment, and the majority OF men
who have means are turning to brokers
and shavers, while wasteful extravaganza
goes on. Is the party in power, under
whose administration all these evils have
come upon the country, when they had
promised to make it a paradise instead,
responsible and to be held responsible
for these results 2
War, and especially civil war, is great
destroyer. Famine, desolatiOn and death
stalk in the track Of armies and navies.
With the best management, the greatest
economy, the utmost industry, vigilance,
vigor and good fortune, it takes long to
rebuild the waste places and bring back
,be luxuriant harvests and abundant
plenty and prosperity Of smiling land.
BAT when was there war before that
peacs brought no beginning Of good
thinrs7 When was it known before that
sf,sr two years Of profound peace the
psople Of q country we're in a worse con
s;,;ou thar in the very heat and strain,