Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-09-16

EE""R Revolutions never go backward, .
and nter-rovoutions are just as sure
to 90 forward as any. Revolutions do
not stop of themselves until they have
spent their fury. But when the culmi-
mating point of revolution is reached,
when the people see the excess to which
the momentum il had acquired has car
ried them, intelligent men begin to
think, and say take care, and coun'
ter.revolution springs up and makes
Roadway against the old-the old finds
its bounds, the new goes forward. Fa-
naticism and frenzy, though irresistible
in their progress, have as certainly their
bounds, as the ocean is walled in by
continents, which il cannot pass. His
tory is full of examples that revolutions
do 60 backward, just as certainly as the
swollen torrent settles to the level Of the
surrounding waters, as calm succeeds
the tempest, as o vacuum commands
the rushing air They subside and
cease when their always limited
power has spent itself And
the more violent the revolution the more
certain and swift the reaction and
countsraction. Some human folly or
wickedness usually supervenes, giving
unusual atrocity, such as we have now
in going outside of the Constitution"
to do unlawfully what cannot be done
lawfully, such as the excuses of the
French Jaoobins during the French
revolution, such cruelties as the Puritans
committed before under Cromwell, and
such as their voice is for committing
now. The masses of mankind revolt at
an extreme of cruelty, even the rage Of
a mob may be glutted, and by u people
of pieayunes and pence, even when
drunk with rage, the cost of madness
will be counted. 1t is just that point
we have now reached in this country,
and it may be that, as in many ante
cedent examples, constitutional govern
ment will be restored We believe that
the acme Of radicalism was reached
when it ran into niggerism, that the body
Of the people are disguised with the
leaders, and that the sober second
thought and sense has set in, which
assures that they will insist on at once
returning TO the old landmarks.
Avery able and well-cousidered article
in the New York Herald Of the 10th,
expresses the opinion that, from recent
events and all the signs Of the times, it
may be safely ASSUMED that this great
revolution has reached its eliminating
point, and that counter revolution OF
public opinion sgains, the destructive
schemes Of the ruling Radical faction has
fairly tin" Ifthis was q mere opinion
of an editor, who, though likely TO be on
the popular side, is also likely to be
mistaken, We elOutu hVt haAt tHS - SNS'N
to quote it as having any remarkable
value. But he refers to facts which in
dictate Of themselves the truth Of his
conclusion. The elections in Connect
cut, Montana, California and Maine all
tell the same story-lhat a great reaction
has commenced, which cannot be without
the most decided significance.
In Maine last year the largest popular
vote ever given was polled in favor Of
Congress against the policy Of President
Johnson; and that it was a fair indica-
ton Of the voice Of the Northern States,
was amply atiesied by votes in every
quarter. That vote was FOR disfranehis-
ing the leading rebels, and left it TO each
State TO determine for itself the question
Of negro suffrage. This is what the peo-
ple iudorsed By an overwhelming vote
Bat Congress has since prescribed neS
conditions Of reconstruction, compelling
under military diciatiou, negro saAnge
and rebel Acknowledgement, resulting ri
necessity 10 nero supremacy. This is