Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-07-26
49, REEoRM Mosr NEEpED.

stitution.
THE REFORM MOST NEEDED.
Editors appeal: It is an almost appaTl-
reflection that everything in creation
is immutably fixed and stationary except
the progressive orretrograde march of hu-
man reason. The suns heat, sky's blue
ness, the freshness Of the mountain air,
the oceans solemn grandeur, the birds
plumage. the beavers dwelling place, the
bees honey and lark's melody proclaim
that man alone ofall Gods created things
has an inherent progressive and changeful
capacity. Without change there could be
no progress or perfectibility, and with it
that advancement is achieved contempla-
ted when Creation was approved by On
niscience. Say what we will, in
view of these facts, Governments
though not the best, are infinitely
improved as theya are m~oderniZed. Europe
is freer than ever before, and though our
burdens are great there is perfect individ-
ual freedom. He who dares restrict II
NAV enjoy supreme authority for a time,
but a people once addicted to every vice
and curse and blessing of freedom viii
never patiently submit to despOtism. In
capable as Ireland would be of maintain
ing free government, and hopeless as we
must deem the contest between the OPP
pressed and Oppressor in Ireland, Poland
and crete, the poor people have inherited
r love of freedom, with only shad-
owy memories OF its delights.
incurred dangers and subjected them
selves to calamities such as Americans
hpve never known. We pirate about i'm
perialism. 1t is sheer nonsense. With
some it is a sort of affectation, and in
wolves a share of personal vanity. The
imperialist would have the idea self-sug-
gested that he is one of the true nobility
of earth and would naturally stand near
the throne. 1t is this selfish arrogance
which induces shallOw-pated people to
tWitter and display their glittering plum
ace while " gOose-gabbling" about impe-
rialism. Bad as partizans and states
men have pronounced U present
condition there is not an Americanized
European who does not deem this the
freest and best of all Governments, and
every self-eXiled Confederate, after tFa-
Versing the globe in search of freedom.
has returned, forced at last to pronounce
this, with all its modern vices, corruption
and incapacity for tasks Of legislation, il
Illustrated in the acts of impudent adYen-
turers, the best and freest of all Govern
ments.
All that we need, then, is a reactionary
party which would reproduce the old or
der of things and incuicate the lesson that
offices were created for public good and
not for individuals. The greatest GRIM
iual the world W saw was not guilty of
a more heinOus crime than he who fasten-
ed the conviction on the American mind
that offices were proper rewards for partl-
san services. Jencks' bill therefore EN-
bodies more wisdom and b%enifecnce than
any scheme Of legislation devised during
the past ten years, 1t is a partial cure for
this absurd cutlery for an emperor, and its
principles should be injected into State
and municipal governments.
May we not then have a legally defined
standard of morals and intelligence COM
pclllug nominating conventions tOselect
decent men for honorable positions7 If
this endmay be achieved andMr. Jenck's
Bill extended in its operation to local
elections, the i%ntolerable burdens and eX-
actions of corrupt municipal, State and
Federal governments may be eXtirpated,
and It will be found that man
still advances in wisdom and goodness,
and we are only led to despond because
il is temporarily time that ignorance and
crime rather than virtue and intelligence
have usurped supreme authority. Let us
not despair of the Republic. but toll to
reproduce its glories and divine benefi-
cence. d.
The above well written commune
cation comes near expressing what we
suppose to be the popular view IS to
the theory of government. We must
take men and things as we find them.
To suppose that the strongest Europe
an arguments in favor of monarchy
will prevail with the American people
would be unreasonable. Aman stand
ing up for imperialism may display
his PARTS and his learning, and, if you
will, make a logical demonstration.
But his labor viii be lost, and
his Screenings all fall still born. As
well might one have stood for Federal
Union in 1861, under the guns of Fort
prated of Southern rights at
Boston in 1862, or stand as a barrier to
the ocean or defy the whirlwind. Our
people are not educated monarchists,
and there is nothing which can make
them 50 but deep wading in calami-
ties greater than they have ever borne,
being cast on the sea of anarchy
without compass, guide or hope.
When they are reduced to extremity
men may give up the more modern
and liberal forms Of government
for the despOtic, but never be-
fore. And until they are re-
duced tOthat, the proudest arguments
of our new-fedged imperial philosO-
win be all wasted. We confess
we should prefer the despOtic form of
government to none, o. that which is
or did not prOtect life or prop
erty. So we should prefer a well adj
ministered Republican government to
a similarly well administered mon
archy. But what of all that, and what
difference does it make what wiseacres
think in our closets? The people of
the United States have not willed it
90 that Mr.. GRANT or Mr.. LEE shall
be king, SHERMANduke, OF STEPHENs
baron. They could not elect their
monarch if they would, and they
not if they could. What then
is the use of talking about it? Let us
take what we can get and be satisfied.
if it would be well and our peo-
pie were ripe for it, GRANT will not
be king for want of gumptiOn, and
LEE, like WASHINGTON, would lay
down the sword If he had IL in his
grasp.