Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-03-19

,
liant Macedonian empire, and from thu
noble Bruius to the imperial Caesar, ha
been all to6,sudden for history toinspir'
mankind with any oyerweening conf
dence in the theory Of popular sell
government.
TO an this our forsfaihers were keenl,
alive. In the experiment instituted b,
them they pro6led BY the failures o
other republics, aud endeayored TO place
the American system upon a more sole
aud Enduring basis Avoiding the crude
and unwisldy Democracy OF the one
nation, the arlstocratic tendencies OF an
other, the ecnlralizing features OF
third. and the anarchial elements OF
fourth, they took Counsel OF experienced
and wisdom and perfected the most com
plete sysiem Of republican government
with which man was ever blessed. A
representative democracy, in complex
system OF general and State govern :
ments. seemed TO give assurance that the
republican alembic had at last produced
the long sought philosophers stone. With
heir haudiwork finished before them the
founders ofthe American republic might
well exclaim, in equal pride and confi--
dence of spirit Esto perpetual And
for more than three quarters OF CEN
tury the issue seemed fully to justify the
anticipation, for never before did country
prosper as ours has done until within
the last few years. With perfect liberty
for the people, the nation waxed mighty
and powerful, our commerce whitened
every sea, and our flag was respected in
every port. Prosperity and freedom
prevailed at home, aud honor as one
among the greatest nations OF the
earth was freely conceded TO US abroad.
Happy would It have been for us,
for liberty, for civilization, II all
our own people had been content that
things should remain thus. But as time
went on party spraug up in the land
having for its principles tenets antago-
nistic to the theory Of the government and
fatal TO republican institutions. At hrst
weak as the stream from some icy
glacier Of the Rocky Mountains, 1t
grew in power and volume as 1t went
on until in the end it becomes mighty
as the Mississippi's food, and destroy
ing as the molten lava that flows from
the volcanoes side. From this, formerly
the Abolition, now the Radical party,
the noble work devised by the fathers is
in present danger Of destruction, the
great experiment instituted by them in
imminent peril Of at last resulting in dis
astrous failure. 1.-THE people be not now
found true to themselves and republican
ism the time must soon come when the
American republic will take its place IN
history with the other abortive expert
ments in self government
We canhot believe the citizens Of the
United States any more ignorant of the
crisis in their national affairs than were
the men of the Eternal City when they
saw the chief Offices of the republic put
up for sale to the highest bidder, or than
were the Athenians when the fierce phil
lippics of their great orator rang in their
ears; but, alas that we should have cause
to say it there are signs among our peo-
ple OF the existence of like fatal apathy.
II. having the power to save themselves
and republicanism from the fate with
which radicalism menaces, they tamely
submit, their case is no better, and is even
less honorable, than if they yielded
to some resistless coDqueror. Ne right
thinking man but would infinitely prefer,
if our republican institutions are to be
overturned, and despotism is to take the
place of freedom that it should be the
work OF too powerful foreign conqueror
than of an ambitious and unprincipled
home faction; for as in the one case we
should feel, after futile resistance, that we
but yielded to an inevitable decree OF
fate, so in the other we should have the
of knowing our misfortune
to be our own fault. And yet We do not
despair of the republic. We trust that
the fires of liberty still shoulder in
the breasts of the people, and we
are not without hope that those fires
may yet-feap forth into conhagration
that will consume alike the treason
and the traitors. Perhaps, after all, the
apparent indifference of the people to the
mons.rous usurpations Of the Radical
is rather apparent than real,
rather due to the want OF efficiency and
boldness on the part of the Executive,
than to want of spirit in the people. If
this be so, and there is much reason to
induce the conclusion, then are the
Jacobin traitors heaping up for them
selves wrath against the day of wrath.
Let us hope that the proud republican
government established by the fathers
will yet be fully vindicated by their sue
cessors, Notwithstanding the impeach-
ment and all kindred projects.
" L fo,l A ha
will be bold man that will hereafter
urge another trial of it either on this
continent or elsewhere. We owe it alike
to ourselves and to mankind at large that
we should resist the revolutionary
schemes of the Radical demagogues.
The people-especially the American
capable of selfgovernment.
Let them vindicate such capability, and
put to confssion the enemies of free