Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-02-24
PUBLIC LEDGER
M IL M PHIs /,
"wednesday Evening. Ecb,ry "a. 1899
The Coming Revolutionary War In
Europe.

Modern progress IN Europe indicates
coming revolutionary storm--a contest
between the remnants of teudalism on
the one side and the growth of liberal
ism on the other. The present enormous
national debts of the different European
Powers have nearly all been created in
the interests of retrogradism. Whenever
any great upward movement OF the
masses has taken place armies have been
marshaled, loans levied and all the
national force brought to bear for the
purpose of crushing the movement and
giving the monarchial, aristocratic,
feudal element longer lease of power.
10 Europe the people pay taxes or a,
debt 10 crush them. II is quite the OPP
posite in the United States.
We pay taxes on debt created in the
interests and in the defense of civiliza
ton. The consequence naturally follow
that in Europe the people feel The taxes
TO be an ihsupportable burden, while on
this side the water they are freely met as
a payment for the privilege of having our
progress uninterrupted. Europe is be-
ginning to make this comparison. The
result is naturally very unfavorable to
monarchial institutions, and conse'
quently these institutions are DESTROYS,
by every possible method, to force the
public mind along the. WORKOUT feudal
channel, with the hope that some retro
gade step in civilization, some second
"middle age" period, may give oppor.
tunity to reform monarchial power, and
extend to it another lease of life.
Such is the language as held by the
New York Herald, in an editorial to its
readers. What say our people south of
Mason and Dixon's line? Do we pay
taxes iu the interest and defense of civ
ilization By way of answering to the
question, we will for moment hold up
the condition of the country and COM
pare it to what it was previously to war,
and before the people we're overburdened
with taxation. Under slavery and Dem
ocratic rule there has been no country or
people since the first organization OF
society that made such rapid strides in
Improvement of material wealth and ed
vocational advantages as did the United
States. From thirteen little colonies her
territory had been extended to thirty six
populous and prosperous States, with
system of laws that protected all alike,
whether on land or on the bosom
of the great ocean. Wherever tie
flag of the United States waved, II was
siga OF liberty and not oppression. Every
citizen of the country could be protected
in bis rights. But, oh what falling
off there has been, my countrsmen. Ask
the people of Tennessee, Arkansas, Geor-
gle, and, in fact, the entire South, what
they think and feel the present taxes to
be-ifin the interest of civilization. The
reply will doubtless be, that the people of
these States can scarcely be said to own
set down to them that their
land, the little that has been left them,
has been virtually coa6seaiei 10 the fac
,ious party in power, the rule of which
is more tyrannical than was ever any
feudal system that had its growth in the
necessities Of European civilization.
Would to HeaEen that our present mon
grel government could be metamorphosed
into a French empire or an English king
dom. That the debt was created in the
interest Of civilization, is reckless
assertion, regardleszof truth. Under the
most advantageous circumstances, it will
require at least hundred years. il not
more, to place te country back to It's
once glory and prosperity. Republican
ism to-day is under the bsne; has few
advocates even among those here in this
country that have heretofore been most
forward in its support The cry is for a
stronger government, 10 put down petty
tyrants all over the land. II would be
better to have one lord aud master than
to be subject to the control Of carpet.
baggers.