Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-04-28

letter referred to--despite the gloomy
forebodings of impending ruin and dis
solulion--despiie the fanciful pictures o
coming empire, durable, outrageous
grand and glorious ~ fail to perceive
therein any proofs, either Of the probd
billy or advantage of an empire ia thu
country, under the sway Of Emperor
Grant or any one else. Doubtless your cor
respondent will consider men so obtuse IN
their intellects as to fail seeing the force
of his remarks, as very stupid or blinded
by prejudice. Respecting the first urge
nothing, but being born and educated
under the broad sway of great empire,
and by training and disposition q mon
archy man, my prejudices are all in
favor of Empire, where Empire exists,
but to favor the establishment OF proud
monarchy and grasping naughty arls-
tocracy in land where a republican
government exists-never.
Had the writer long and intimate ac'
qu eintance with the barriers to be sur
mounted by an aspiring son OF the people
before he can attain moderate distinc.
ton. he would pause long before he ad-
yocated Empire. "The great scalawag
shirt of taxation without representa-
ton" complained of in your correspond
ent's letter. is a standing feature of En-
pire. State rights would be swept away
by the potent arm of monarchy, and
though it might just at present benefit
us. still we would soon be worse than
ever. and "a a mere unit in the great
| Empire our interests would be swallowed
up in the centralizing tendencies OF En-
pire.
But our intention is not to discuss the
question of "The Empire" / wish to
state my objections to the illusions con-
tanned in your correspondents letter re-
specting the action and past Motley OF the
South towards foreigners. Whether the
South in by-gone years did look with
aversion and we're unfavorable TO Tor
eigners coming in among them, as stated
by your correspondent, | know not. III
there were such feelings they have ceased
TO exist; and for what object does the
writer seek to remind us of fact disa'
creeable necessarily to foreigners and |
productive of discord? His remarks. II |
attended to, are calculated to prejudice |
class much wanted here at present,
namely, foreigners to cultivate the broad,
fruitful lands of the South. Truly the
writer of that letter is a friend to the
South But the direction OF the sting
and stigma is palpable. The foreigners
are the dread objects Of terror, the iell
actors in this political trsgedy-to give
the words of this gentleman writing of
foreigners: Each new importation bring
ing the prejudices of bis nationality and
race sought to engraft his opinions upon
the society around him." Therefore, "in
this Babel Of n nation we have such
variety of prsjudices and conflicting
opinions, creating a desire for change
which must end in disruption, or an en-
tire change in the form of government"
Each new i'm portaiion has a right to
feel obliged to this writer for kindly
throwing on his shoulders such heap
of prejudices and desire for change"
But is this SO? Have not the foreigners
been among the staunehest supporters Of
constitutional rights Are we not so tc-
day ? In the name of foreign-born
citlzens. / hurl back the foul charge of
prejudices and love of entire change Of
the form OF government" in the face of
the writer of that letter and such as he,
who, by clamoring for Empire, show
their true tendencies and feelings. Re-
ferring proudly to their past action as
true and faithful Democrats, foreigners
can smile at party efforts to charge them
with subverting the American Republic.
But really some Of the remarks Of your
correspondent are too bad, too insulting.
quote his words: 1.-THE South, with cli
mate and soil superior to that of the
North, did not invite immigration, from
and on account of the AVERSION with
which SoutherRers rieloed eUery fear Of
unsteadiness an society. And the small
element introduced since the rar has
already began (begun) TO subcert so
ciety. What then ioiIl happen chen
tpo-thirds are importations 2
Mark well, foreign born citizens, the
nature of the charges, grave and danger
GUS, .rought against you. Mark well,
men ito the manor born" the seeds Of
discord sown by those words. Say, when
in the deadly strife you fought for home
and country, did those aliens, those sub
verters of society, blauch2 How many
of them moulder aide by side with your
best and bravest on the battle-6elds where
they fell fighting shoulder to shoulder as
brave mea ? Those foreigners, whose i'm
migration it is stated you viewed with
fear," did they, l repeat, desert you in
the hour of danger2 Every true man
says, mot So" If you had one hun
dred thousandmore prejudiced foreigners,
then to day you might be in q different
position and the page of history might
tell a different tale. What is our reward ?
True, we sought none. To be told, by
one purporting TO be Of the South, that
we are now subverting society in the
South. Does the gentleman know what he
is stating in trying to cast the blame Of
the subversion of society here on the
foreigner2 The charge is so foolish
that we scorn to deny 1t but it would be
advisable and agreeable if in future such
men as the author of this strange letter
would not tell the faults OF himself and
the class Of political adventures 10 which
he appears to belong, under the metaph-
orieal title Of "foreigners.' To use his
own words, let him mot fear to call
things by their right names" and as he
is recouDting the prejldices of his own
class, let him say so plainly, as foreign
ers decline the honor Of such associations
and connections, and do not desire, to
have their names employed in connection
with any chimerical project for EN-
pire."
II the writer is anxious to become the
subject of an Empire-the establishment
Of which, judging from the marked