Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-08-07
oo.auetlng the Cnnva.s.

gallant neighbor Of the 4rafdnche
down ON fuss and feathers" and GU
venerable neighbor of the Appeal advise
TO "set the law at defiance" As to th
intention of their utierances in these re
spects both are misconceived. And 81
both are right and both are wrong. Ant
both are approved aud condemned, a
they happen to suit one class and an
other. The Ardlanche is right in op
posing all waste Of fluids, and all mer'
"sound and fury, signifying nothing,
without that earnest, determined, individ
ual effort, which the successful issue of the
canvass demands. This is what it aims
ct, and what we should all aim at, and II
is right. But it is wrong in condemnine
anything, so far as we know, which has
been done thus far in the canvass, to
arouse the masses of the people by such
means as are the ordinary resort OF
parties and the ordinary and natural ex-
hibitious of an existing fervor and en-
thusiasm among the people. We re-
member the campaign for "Tippecanoe
and Tyler too" and how that campaign
was conducted to a triumphant issue.
There had been waste, extravaganza, and
some Encouragement by the preceding
Van Buren, administration. The doc
triue had been proclaimed that Ito the
victors belong the spoils," and the old
Democratic party bad been too faithfully
acting on and carrying out the sugges-
ton. The masses of the real Democratic
people became dissatisfied with this con-
dition of things, and demanded change
of rulers. The moral sense of many
was shocked by a sense of supposed
maladministration. And the natural
result was that the virtuous, intelligent
and we'll meaning people were aroused,
as to great necessity. And the whole
land famed with an enthusiasm, ear
nestness and determination to put down
great wrongs and remedy great evils,
such as was never seen in this country
until now.
The natural manifestation of their will
to clear out the Augean stables" as
il was then called, and have a change
of rulers aud restore integrity to the
administration of government, was pre-
cisely and in kind that which we have
now. 1t is the natural manifestion Of q
fervid enthusiasm, when it takes hold OF
the masses Of American mind. And it
must not be discouraged or checked.
Let the whoorsh 60 on, and rise
to the magnitude of the overpower-
ing tempest, which purifes all ma
ture, and in the workings of mind,
as in nature, gains might in the
overwhelming exercise of its unre-
strained power. In the Harrison cam
psign the grea. ball, which Mr.. Benton
said solitary and alone" he had set in
motion, was taken up and rolled over the
country from Maine to Florida. The log
cabin, with its latch-striug ont, the hard
cider and the insignificant coonskin was
borne onthe shoulders of earnest, deter
mined men, against the poor shrivelled
and dropping Democratic rooster, until
the tremendous ball crushed down oppo-
sition. the cabin vas Glled with the
friends of good government, and the
coonskin was raised in triumph on the
Wing banner over the bones of the dead
rooster. These things all seemed child
ish and Insignificant enough. They were
heartily laughed at by the sedate and
grave. But they ssiblemized the
triumphant result. Simple as these
things were, aud as the very greatest of
all, whether in the works of God or man
are, they were the ontspoken voice, the
natural indications, the inyariable har-
bingers Of the great and coming result
So too, now we see that men are begin
ming to exhibit the fervor oftheir earnest
souls against oppression and wrong.
Under such circumstances, and when a
great and victorious movement is on foot
men do not 60 about with long and vinegar
faces prating that mer should do this or
that. But every rssolute patriot springs
with the yigor of Achilles to the wheels
of the triumphant chariot, and rolls it on.
No such man stands on his pa and q's,
careful of dignity and his coat, standing
back like an owl, with grave advice and
remoustraaess against seeming follies,
which are innocent ct least, and beget
power. But he strips for the con-
test, and. with his sleeves rolled
up, rolls on the car, and strikes till the
last armed foe expires" careless Of APP
pearances, and undisturbed. because at
times il seems ludicrous to do great
things by simple, effective and appro-
pirate means. We say, "hurrah for the
vhoorah." We are not careful, ike Mr..
Greeley, about how TO do it. The great
work has to be done. and, il disagreeable
things come in our way We mqst not
be fastidious about the manner Of their
clearing out, in order to the great over
throw. In music and banners, bOn6res
and examinations, torches, rockets,
guns and bella, We have the manifesto
tions Of the determined public spirit,
without which no political contest, and
no contest for liberty, was ever carried