Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-05-18
rHE PAcLEIc

The completion of this great high
way of commerce and social inter
course has been made the occasion of
much public rejoicing in different
places, and is indeed a legitimate
cause for the expression of National
pride. Planned and begun, as it was,
in time of domestic troubles, it exhib-
tied a faith in results irrespective of
the stability of the Union, and ac-
knowledged a reliance upon the laws
OF trade and social culture whichmake
and ummake parties and governments.
It Is an achievement creditable to the
age in which we live, and in the tu-
ture history of this country will be
classed among the events that distin-
guished the nineteenth century. The
application of electricity and steam to
useful purposes belong to this our day
and country-falling easily within the
remembrance of many of the readers
of the APPEAL; and behold the re-
suits! The bowels and bosom OF the
great deep are literally freighted with
the mental and material intercourse OF
peoples widely separated, whilst the
mountains are made low, the valleys
high. and the rivulets from ocean to
ocean with joy.
When we consider the length OF the
road, the difficulties to be overcome IN
its construction through an undevel-
oped country large portion OF which
was overrun with savage tribes-the
mountain barriers to be oyercomeand
the cautious responses of materialald
from sources already burdened with a
mountain of responsibility, the sue
cessful construction of this road seems
a marvel even for this wonderful age.
But after all it is only a legitimate re-
suit of faith, energy, education and
capital applied to practical ends, and
may be taken only as an earnest Of the
march of events for the next half cen
fury on this and parallel lines of en-
deavor.
How much better is it, too, that our
country should be bound together by
ribs rather than blades of steel-when
all between the oceans on the East and
West and the guls, lakes and bays on
the South and North are indeed our
people, in the enjoyment of such rights
and privileges before the law as to be
protected in life, liberty and the pur-
suit of happiness-thus unifying us as
a people-oNEin all that makes human
life desirable.
Rome spent her wealth and power
in the construction of highways forthe
missionaries of the cruciied Galilean.
Every thoroughfare is a civilizer; and
one like this, which binds two sideSof
a continent together, will do much to
secure the fulfllment of the prayer
that all may speedily become one in
civilization and religious liberty. We
look especially for a purer develop
ment of Christianity in Utah, and a
more enlightened rule among the saw
ages of the prairies; a development
of mineral and agricultural lYealth
cclipsing all previous history.
With such high hopes, excited by
this grand achievement, it is but nat
ural for us at this time, under the cir
cumstances which surround US, tOlook
with interest upon the action of the
Commercial Convention just about to
assemble in our city. Called together
as it IS from all parts of our common
country, its action will be of special
importance. In surveying the feldas
to what has been accomplished in the
development of the country, it Is eX-
pected of them to canvass the posi-
bilities and wants of the future of our
march to commercial greatness and
consequent political power. Whilst
New York and San Francisco have be-
come neighbors, and are clasped in
fraternal embrace, and those..alOng the
line are clapping their hands in joy,
let us profit by the example, and seek
to bind other sections by the same
strong ties Of interest, commercially
and socially.