Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-10-02

and all such periods in the history of
a commonwealth are fruitful i'm two
classes of public men whose counsels
we should heed with the utmost eau
ton. j allUdet to those who are immO-
Yably fixed in their attachment to the
past, to those old ideas and institu-
tons which a progressive age has out
grown, and also to those who forget,
or who knew that all progress
is not practical reform. True wisdom
and duty require US to recognize the
actual changes of the last few years.
These changes with US have been wide
spread and thorough, particularly in
social and political life. All great
changes are necessarily attended with
more or less laceratiOn. Lament as
we will, our repinings cannot change
the results, but our cheerful accept
ance of the inevitable will do much
to fit us for the actual duties of the
hour.
1t was Bolingbroke, 1 believe, who
said that "every nation must perpetu-
ally renew its constitution Or perish"
Had he lived until now he might have
INDUCED in a wider generalization. l
think that the greatest error of an
cient or modern scholarship is to be
found in futile efforts to bind pOsteri-
ty by legislation, by cOmpacts
and constitutions. All experience
has demonstrated the utter i'm
possibility of such a thing,
and sound wisdom loudly pro-
claims that were it possible it should
not be done. A just equilibrium in
the government of a young, vigorous
and growing State cannot be MAIN
tanned if we fail to adjust the delicate
machinery of government in acc0r-
dance with the requirements of the
altered condition of things-those
changes which are inseparable from a
rapidly increasing population, from
radical alterations in systems OF labor,
the multiplication of channels of com
mqnicatiOn and the many other re-
suits OF an advancing civilization, |
Old ideas, institutions and habits pass
away with the aust which gave
them being. / know it il difficult for
Us to ignore the prejudices of educa-
ton, the deep conviction OF a lifetime, |
but we should at least make the effort;
no such difficulties will affect those
who come after US. Born and reared,
a. they will have been, under different
influences, we might as well revivethe |
manners OF the second century as to
restore some of the ideas and institu-
tiOns which persisted in the late san
culinary war.
Public opinion has already marked
out a large amount of labor for the
Legislature; and though that body
may not meet the full demands of
public expectation, much, very much,
will be done to allay popular discOn-
tent. n Convention will doubtless be
called. That body will of course fix
the right of suffrage beyond all con-
troversy. Men will hold the elective
franchise by law, and not subject to
the Whims and caprices of interested
officials. 1t will no doubt impose sal
utary restraints upon the power of the
GENERAL Assembly to enlarge the debt
Of the State, 1t will inauguFate a
healthy and much needed reform in
our judicial system. That change
will enable all the people or none to
participate in the election of judges.
Ii will result in placing upon the
bench men of learning and ability
men who will be what many judges
in the State now are not, responsible
to the bar, and to public opinion. The
Legislature will abolish the censor
ship of the press-I call 1t so, because
existing legislation Is, in principle,
the same as that which was discon-
tinued in England in 1895. Since
then no royal imprimatur has been
seen upon any newspaper, pamphlet (
or book published in the kingdom.
Hereafter journalism in Tennessee
will be left TO the laws of Just cOmpe-
to flourish or fail, as its con-
dqctQrS may desire. There is no rea- J
son why a free people should be forced D.,
to patrOniZe a few Sickly newspapers
published in the Interests of a few Off
eial paupers. The p~enitentiary viii
be se~lf-sustaining, During the last
two wears it has cost the State nearly
hundred thousand dollars. | re-
peat, it must be made selfsuStaining,
after which you will hear of no more
threatened suits'against the executive
for alleged abuse of the pardOning
power. The militia-those tatterdema-
lions of tyranny-will be e upon
your streets no more. They were or
ganized in the interests Of oppression.
All such organizations are q nuisance 5
in a free State. Henceforth they cease I
20 be quartered upon the Treasury. =
4 ~ many dAAAANNAHSul " dAlu SOlIft /
times naIpeleSs Offices, Which have
been created since the war will be 4
abolished. | include, of course, the R
Commissioners of Registration. The
'O-called franchise law, with its eighty
lr hundred registrars, was a cum
devised engine of a wicked
of misrule. BY common con- L
ientit has become obsolete. All par 7
iA- in tho Gtagn hax-n ~ -,. A.
IFS crushing power. But it has
'Nploded before ls time. Many ofits
and builders haKe been bur .
ed beneath its ruins. They have no I
riend to indite an epitaph'o or TO prof
er christian burial. But why specify
particular griGyalces?- IhOpe we will
the nerve toapply the ak I'M
parlngly To the root of all existing
Wis. We should aim to reduce tax l.
tiOn to an amount sufficient only to
theexpenses OF the executive,
egisfativeahd judicial departments OF
he State government economically Il
administered. 10
FelloB-eitHens il there ever was a
to whom the Divine axiom,
Sufficient unto the day IL the evil
hereof most forcibly applied, we
re that people. The past, with all
good and i'll, its tFiaIaphs and dis
pp0lntments, Is gone-Orever gone.
he future is not ours; its ample pages
open only to the eye of the Eter-
But the present, the active, liv-
lg present is ours.
Its duties and requirements are am
le for the labors and energies of all.
hen let as go forth with hopeful
cart, with firm and Intrepid step, in
ne discharge of public and private :
uty, trusting TO heaven for that aus
lcious future which none but the [,
bod desire, and none but the brave :
tain, FL
1 thank you sinoer8ly for this cordial ar
'eeting, and bid you all a kind good :
ight. AZ