Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-08-03
tn THE CITIZEN.

This is the last opportunity we shall
have of addressing ycu before yon will
be called upon to exercise that inesiima-
Bile privilege which underlies your liber-
ties, and through the exercise of which
YOU are enabled 10 preserve those liber-
ties or sacrifice them through default
The appeal has been made to you SO
repeatedly to do your duty 10 yourselves
and posterity. that it has become Ike
hackneyed, worn-out piece of music. 1t
tires the ear, and yet it must be made.
Like the words of caution preceding
forlorn hope, they must be spoken-the
appeal must be made. 1t is no time TO
argue-no buston-holing now. Theword
is action. The doubling and faint-hearied
must choose now, or be set down with the
unprincipled and rascally Sordid wealth
that has no delight save to increase lis
store, may now consort with the enemy
of all; not indeed to preserve intact liz
own aceumulaiions, but TO prevent pro
lection to others by which they, too, may
accumulate. Meanness and envy may
now run riot and do their worst. They
NAV Join fists with the enemies Of their
country, and prepare sure way to In
volve all, friend and foe, in common
ruin.
"There be. alas. who barren hearts ayow. :,
Cold as the rock on Torneo's hoa-y brow,
and this is the day of their triumph. In
their sleeves they laugh at the idea OF
victory perching upon the banner of yir-
tue and patriotism. No; they are en-
rolled under the standard of the dread
Mokanna, and are the ingenious tools TO
work out deeds of evil 1t is no veiied
prophet now. The veil has been rended,
and the horrid vision of his Gorgon fea-
lures been exposed. What citizen with
the slightest claim to responsibility can
perceive the first chord of sympathy be-
tw.xt himself aud Radicalism2 Are not
Radicalism and ro,tenism almost syno-
nymous? Is virtue, or patriotism, or
political science, or truth or manhood to
be found among those who kick the beam
between their country and themselves?
Can anything be created more despic-
able, even in the widest conceptions OF
the imagination, than the thorough Radi-
calf Barbour Lewis, for instance? Or
George NJ Greeley? They we're born to
curse mankind with their presence. The
serpent Of Eden was not more thorough.
" impregnated with sin than two such
disciples of The modern Gehenna. In
the language Of another who writes
earnestly and writes well: Let every
man go to the polls, and be
fore depositing his ballot, ask him
self IL he is about to discharge
a duty to his country and his conscience
or whether, biased by some improper
motive or mistaken view Of duty, he II
not about to wrong the government Il
which he owes allegiance, or the peOpl'
among whom he lives. IL is TO a neg
lect of this important duty that th'
country, primarily, owes the evils IT nov
suffers, and we can hope for no lastinl
prosperity, as a people, and no endurin
honor as a government, until men hay
learned to appreciate the responsibility
resting upon them, and to meet 1t in
spirit Of patriotic devotion, unhaggin
zeal. and unfinching integrity. Let th
men of age, intelligence and experienc
set worthy example TO the young an
inexperienced, by suffering no ordinar
consideration Of comfort or cOnvenienc
to keep them from the polls" This is th
language Of truth and earnestness. Ii
:; BE needed, and let the young mel
even without such exampleas Is invoke
for them, show that fervor and zeal tbs
will prove them worthy Of the best
e.thc-- IN the hest DAYS of the republic