Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-05-03
more About imperialism.

Il paper Oh iust ih"io""J "S'S ''~
the announcement contained in the pro
psctus of the Southern Imperialist TIL
Kepublicanism in America is dead
And we'll might they be startled, for it'll
assertion be true, and the only alterni
tive left us lies in the adoption of an in
perial form of government, what mind
there of sufficient penetration to forete
the least of evils attending such
change? And especially are we OF tn
South interested in the schemes OF thes
pseudo-improvers Of the science of go'
eminent. 1t does not require the sagacit
of a statesman to discover that this stu
pendous absurdity of american Imp
rialism is the loathsome offspring Q
Northern Radicalism-nourished an
being forced into maturity by the aristo
cracy of the North-the prospective
nobility of the new Empire; and tina
the only party to be benefited by it is tn
one now administering the government
What is the South to gain BY it 2 Section
alism should not be allowed to influence
us in the consideration of such matters
but when the welfare of cur section is al
deeply involved as in the present in
stance, under the existing peculiar cir
cumstances, we are excusable in consult
ing our own interest to the exclu-
sion of all others. We are now as
completely under the heel of the
party in power as is compatible with
comfort, but what would our condition be
under an empire in which Lord Petroleum
and Viscount Shoddy. hold the reins OF
government copjunctly with an en-
peror of their own choosing. Promises
Of freedom of the press, Of speech, etc.,
are as easily made as the figure one, and,
no doubt would be as plentiful as black
berries; but we would refer the advocates
of this latest New England ism to the
history of imperial governments OF the
past for illustrations of the manner in
which such promises are kept The pre-
sent Emperor Of France was first Presi-
dent of the French Senate, then Emperor,
and who can say assuredly that be will
not next be absolute monarch ? And
has France, to-day, free press2 See
the cable dispatches of month past
The prospectus says that the current
of the times forces us into new chan
mel, and we must adapt ourselves to the
circumstances which have arrived" and
follows this up by very unreasonable
inference that because republican govern
ments in the past have been failures, ours
must necessarily fail too. Such reason
for the change proposed is as puerile as
the change would be non productive of
any lasting good. If man falls into
stream must be float with the current
until dashed over q fall, or until
exhausted he sinks, without max
ing an effort to gain the shore; or if
attacked by disease, must be allow it to
take its course until death ensues, with
out applying remedies 81 Would it not
be the part of wisdsm to profit by the
past, and fight and guard against the
abuses in government which brought
ruin upon Greece and Rome? 1t would
seem the shortest route to lasting peace
TO throw overheard such features of our
government as antagonize with repub-
licanism, of which we all know not q few
have been smuggled on board by the
hsrpies now in power since the election
of their first Presidential nominee.
Now, Mr.. Editor, the firm Of our gov
eminent belongs to the young men OF
the present day by right Of inheritance,
and as one whose citizenship is withheld
from him until he shall be purged in the
pureatory of the disfranchised of the sin
of sympathizing With rebels, / protest
against the efforts of those who now gov
ern the country to transmit to us any other
than the government which they received
from their fathers. Do they imagine
that the young men now are so intellec-
iually weak as not to be capable OF com.
pretending the genius of our govern
meut; that wanting the simplicity Of
the heroes of '76, they have none of the
spirit which actuated them 10 resisting ~
ranny; or that they are go obstinate, hot
headed and ignorant of the blessings
attending q condition Of peace, that
unless kept down by more stable gov
eminent (save the mark than our
present one, they will continually. be
running into revolutions, rebellions, and
the likef Az to intellectually, look at
the many bright minds among our young
men, who are already becoming poZer
in the land as to spirit, witness their
four years devotion TO an unfortunate
cause. and Ds to their appreciation of
the blessings Of peace, look at the
promptness with which they returned to
peaceful pursuits upon the close OF the
war. They are fully alive to their in
terests, aud % heirs to this sadly neg
lected and almost ruined estate, they
will in time demand III and it is hoped
that when they come into possession OF
it, they will make such repairs as shall
make it once more the pride aud boast
of Americans.
But, after al, do not think we have
much to fear from this fedgling Of
Radicalism. 1t will prove blessing in
Disguise if it serves in the end to arouse
the misguided masses of the North 10
seuse of their danger, and unite them
with the people Of the South in hnal
struggle for constitutional liberty, in
which event the Lost caass" will not
be so irretrievably lost as some desire It.
Hoping that you and your cotem-
porsries of the press in the South may
light upon this I'll onstrosiiy like swarm
of bees and sting It to death in its
infancy, | subscribe myself
A You've REPuBucAS.