Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-09-19
Very respectfully,
DIR. PLOUGH

ItEdINilllR d 7N1IIA4 VI OOFOA AAANhA
control and ownership of the tele-
graph, | have endeavored to show
that such interference would restrict,
if it did not destroy, the freedom of
the press, and through it the liberties
of the people.
This system of Government owner
ship and management belonging to
continental Europe, and more recent
ly having been adopted in Great
Britain, it is argued that the United
States should copy the European
model rs tending to greater perfec-
ton, cheapness and prOmptitude in
the delivery of messages. Looking
at this argument in general, from an
American or Republican standpoint,
it would seem to be designed to excite
our derision rather than our apprOba-
ton. The very essence or basis of
! American politics is that the Govern
ment was designed and created for
the benefit of the people. 1t matters
| not by what system Of suffrage this
| great end may be worked out, it is
our theory, and has been our practice
until evil days fell upon the Republic.
On the contrary, the European sys-
TEN has been that the people were
born for the benefit Of the government
| and the mobiles. 1t absorbed and at
tracted everything to itself and within
its cOntrOl-thc press, education, the
telegraph. Here private enterprise
and associated effort effected the great
| ends of the public welfare. There
the seal and stamp Of Government
despOtism was seen in every depart
ment Of industry and effort. What
| people have ever achieved more to ell
evate man and increase his comforts,
his progress and his knowledge in a
period less than a century, than the
| people Of the United States2
In Europe the traveller is permitted
to gaze upon magnificent and costly
achievements OF civilization. He
passes from one wonder to another,
! until the mind is beWildered with the
/ miracles presented to him. He sees
I art-galleries, cathedrals, castles, pala-
cps, fabrics and monuments, which ill
him with awe, or move him with de-
light. All is grand and Colossal but
one object. The masses of mankind
alone are dwarfed. They live in
| wretched hOvels, eat coarse food, and
| wear the scantiest clothing. They la
Dor YEARLY ten to twelve hours a day
to gain a nleager livelihood, with no
hope ever to better their condition.
Philosophers aud political economists
write f0liGs of learned treatises upon
the problem of ameliOrating the on
dition of the labOring masses, without
even touching upon the true cause Of
their Wretchedness, which is that the
end. aim and continual effort of a
| powerful Government is and has been
for centuries, to fasten upon them the
burdens, in order that the ruling
castles and classes might enjoy the
benefits of the system. Whatever adj
| advances may have been
made in England, France,
and Prussia, the pendulum
of memorable desp0tism has eOntin-
uallv OsciIlated back to this point,
with the certainty Of a physical law.
| Shall we look To- these governments to
furnish our models when we have adj
vanced so rapidly in that real c~iviliZa-
| ton whose blessings, ltke.the deWs Of
Heaven, have fallen upon rich and
poor alike, under our system? Shall
we grasp the substance of Imperial
ism while we retain only the shadow
Of Rcpublicanism Its mere echo,
| coming down to Us alOng the corridors
| Of time, from the days of Washington
and jefferson? If it he simply con-
| tended that the object proposed would
consolidate and strengthen the Gov
eminent, we admit the proposition;
| but viii this be a blessing 10 the peO-
pie?
Descending from great principles to
| particulars, it may safely be affirmed
| that, as the telegraph was invented,
and achieved its first successes in the
! United States, 50 IT has continued to
maintain its superiority over all other
countries on the globe, in the extent
Of It's ramiiic8tiOnS, the number of
people whom il serves, the amount of
information furnished, the prOmpti-
tude in the delivery Of messages, and
the cheaDnes5 of its tariff. In review
! inc this p%ropOsition we must not lose
sight Of the American idea of the
greatest grod to the greatest number,
| rs cOutradistinguished from the Euro
pean principle of caste or class leglsla-
ton and government. viewing u
| through this medium, we Wlsh
to illustrate Dur assertion by 4
single fact, which is the most
suggestive and pregnant that could
be presented TO the mind. Let
| the reader note the contrast, brought
to his mind by the following figures,
between the bOasted European sys-
tenn and that of the United state:
| Total number of messages transmitted
on the continent of Europe for the
year 1866, 1892, 53S; gross receipts for
| the same, Sll ,597 90 n; average cost
of kilograms in continental Europe,
81 cents.
Total number Of messages furnished
| to the newspapers Of the United States
for 1866, Il, 725,lSl; gross receipts for
| the same, 1921, sos; average cost OF
press kilograms in United States, -
cents.
Here are the figures, showing that
the telegraph in the United states
| furnished two millions more OF tele-
! grams in one year, for the press atone,
| than the whole European telegraph
| does Tor ali purposes: including ne
| Dress. at a cost of 0ue-tBentY-iOurth
the amount received by the latter.
| Europe may boast of her ancient
monuments, her architectural grand
eur and her miracles Of art, but after
| this startling exposition, she may not
Law claim to superiority in manipulate
| ing the lightning OF Heaven for the en-
Iightenment Of mankind. And all
who would work upon the European
model are forever estopped from urg-
ing a servile imitation Of her feeble
effort to grasp Jove's thunders, after
| the manner Of the young Hercules Of
the Western continent. And, more
over, let all public journals who
would impose on the American sys-
TEN, by grating from effete monar-
chies, forever hereafter hold their
peace.
Yours, truly, LEON TRoUsDALE.
Mrs. Gen. Stonewall jackson is to
locate permanently at Richmond, Vir-
ginia.
The Injunction recently granted by
| Chancellor East of Nashville against thS
| Mayor and corporation Of Chattanooga
| euioins each and all rom the further eX-
| ercise of any official duty In connection
with the corporation of the city OF Cnat-
tanoOga. including only In the injunction
those defendants OF whom II IS alleged
| that they have not a freehold interest in
the city of Chattanooga. aud against that
| defendant of whom il is alleged he has
removed from the ward which he pur-
ports to have represented. The Chancei-
| Tor saws: You will eujOin the Mayor and
Recorder from the issuance of any checks
or scrip, or other evidence Of indebted
ness by which the city of Chattanooga is
to be charged, unless the same shall have
been previously so ordered by the Board
| of Mayor and Aldermen. You viii also
| anioin the Recorder to nav all the moneys