Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-07-06
Tne TatIer ON PIcnles and Proeress.

and yet picnics seem to be the same as
they were 10 the days of Lycurgus, when
the Spartans sat together 10 groups Of
fifteen, slipped in sociable way their
black broth, taught each other to be
frugal, friendly and benevolent, to bear q
jest with patience, to laugh ct raillery, to
practice sobriety and simplicity, and to
encourage those liberal sentiments which
indicate good breeding.
X It is about 2760 years since Lycurgus
existed. During that length of time this
ambitious world has been progressing
from the great Spartan's style of picuics
toward his democratic form Of govern
ment, which was founded upon the Pagan
principles of honesty aud justice, and
the absence of those more civilized trap
pings known as theatrical adornments,
extravagant pretensions. insolence in
office, envy, avarice and luxury, and of
those fatal distempers called poverty and
riches.
A glance at our own history within the
past ten years will convince the most
skeptical Thomas in the land that we have
progressed up to the full standard Of
Spartan simplicity, sobriety, frugality
and intelligence. What Spartan lady
was ever known to have clad her grace
full form in such plain and simple gar
ments as we see on our Miss Shoddys,
Miss Petroleums, or Miss Coupons Who
among Spartan senators ever exceeded,
10 soberness Of mind, in meekness Of
heart, in mildness of spirit, in merciful
behavior, our Aaron of the Mountains
the grave and reverend Brownlow Who
among Spartan orators ever rose in pub
lie debate to the wonderfully grand,
serenely sublime and cloud. capped
nights of eloquence attained by the
Demosthenes of Worcestershire gloamy,
gloomy and ghost.like Mullins2 Who
among Spartan warriors was ever
drawer in the field, more courteous
in camp, more frugal at feasts, than our
Pericles of Observation-Disclosures heroic
Butler, who was never known to have in
his possession such simple article OF
luxury as silver spoon? Who among
Spartan statesmen ever advanced so rap
idly or so scientifically into the intricate
arts of government, with judgement SO
welI-balanced or integrity 80 unspotted,
as the lawmakers of Tennessee who at
stated periods assemble in mock majesty
at the Capitol2
But the great grandeur of the days we
live in is, that our Lycurguses enact such
laws as to make one almost believe that
Belshazzar was very libsral.minded,
plain and soft-hearted man; or that Nero
was musician who fiddled for the mere
ar usement of Roman glsdiators. They
are purely democratic ia their ideas, and
have climbed to their hight Of ambition
SO skillfully, and by means 50 fair and
upright, that the blessings of franchise
law extremely black are widespread, and
felt in almost every honest mans pocket.
The feet Of the matter is, We have ran far
ahead of Spartan freedom, and have
nearly arrived at that glorious goal Of
political perfection that is to eclipse
everything grand and beautiful in the
most polished States Of imperial Pagan
ism.
We are still progressing. It is eom-
monty believed by people whom the Czar
of Russia would call "serfs" and whom
the Queen of England would call peas
ants" that Liberty and Christianity came
into the world together, that they aye in
separately entvined, and that one cannot
exist without the other. It is also gen.
orally believed that man was made in the
image and likeness of the Deity; that
among the great variety of animals on
earth man is the only one who 2oc9esses
creatiye ord 2 constructive fasalty--a
faculty to invent and faculty to form;
and hence it is inferred that every nan
should be frss sad independent from his
cradle to his grave But what are such
notions in L.; ;as way Of progress Mere
cobwebs that may be pulled down i. I'M. -
age by tho dash of Dinah's sweeping
brush or the slash of loyal militiamans
sword.
In 1915 King John, Of 3 nglsnd, granted
in Magma Charta to the Saxon "churl"
the right of trial by jury of his peers
The Saxon was owner of the soil the
Norman, proud invader. Iu 1857
King William, of Tennessee, granted in
a pious proclamation to the white men of
his Kingdom the privilege of trial BY a
jury of niggers;" and his royal Legis-
lature, exceeding in magnanimity the
royal Plantaganet, took the privilege OF
the ballot-box from the American citizen
and conferred it upon the African. This
radical change of the old order Of things
darkness to rule light--ignoranee to
roll up the hill while intelligence rolls
down-according to the laws and notions
of New England philosophers, Is pro-
gress A beautiful prospect, such as no
Spartan ever saw.
The Fourth of July, l776-what was
IT'D The short-sighted man will say it
Il A - l.