Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-09-17

ms rue OOusIltubiOh mU' ~
ceR eSas a reflection and interpreta-
ton of our national public opinion,
and when that public opinion changes,
the change will ere long find its way
through a constitutional process into
our organic law. II errors have been
committed, and unwise amendments
made, we must look totime, the heal
er, and to the demands Of a healthy
and enlightened public sentiment Tor
the desired change. One thing is GER
tain, centralized despOtism cannot be
averted or revolutionary and fraudu-
lent enaetments repealed unless the
Democratic party ascend to power;
and this caunot be achieved unless
ii be united. Then let u bury
past divisions, and fire the hearts of
our legiens, 80 that they willbeat with
but one response to the call OF patriot
ism and duty. The shattered temple
of Constitutional liberty will be
reconstructed when the Democratic
party triumphs. To secure this result,
let US unite in a common and vigor-
Gus effort. Let no minor differences
| of opinion distract our counsels, Orim-
psir our energies. Let US appeal to
tbe good and wise. Let us invoke
them by their love Of justice, peace
and freedom; by their duty to them
selves and posterity; by their recol-
lections Of the true glory and just re-
nown of our common country; by
| every ennobling motive, let us entreat
them to unite in an effort to
give success to the party which
will sincerely and ~zealously labor to
bring back the Government to its
pristine simplicity and purity; cor
rect its abused patronage, its prodi-
gality and corruption, and having no
other end than the public good, and
employing no lean that are not
plainly constitutional and obviously
lust. Entertaining these views, 1t is
proper that we should pretermit the
| discussion of all questions likely to dis
tUrb the harmony Of the party. We
have an abiding faith that the Demo-
cratic party in National Conven-
ton assembled, will adopt a
platform which will command the
enthusiastic support OF all its mem
bers. Then let US sll, with a spirit
rising unto chivalry, and a love deep
ening into reverence, cling to the Ma
tionsl Democracy through sunshine
and storm; for whatever may be its
faults, it stands solitary, imperial,
unequalcd, and, We dare say, ineradi-
cable in the American bre9st.
To our contemporaries We can only
say we shall s~crupUlously observe the
amenities OF the profession. If we
have an enemy In its ranks, we know
him not, and enter upon our duties
with not only no resentments, but
| ~cherishing a cordial good will for all
| the craft. We have long since learned
that those writers who possess the
great st ability and knowledge Of
their subjects, who are cOnscientiously
devoted u the principles and doc
trines they advocate, who love truth
and are anxious only to diffuse
it. are most distinguished for de
coFum and courtesy, Nor is it
less true that they actually exert
most power so long as they re-
frain lfom everything that partakCs
of c-oarseness, indelicscy or vulgarity.
In controversy there is no weapon so
effective or so dazzling Ps that which
is strictly accOrdant to the laws Of
polished antagonism; while coarse as
saults produce no impression except
on coarse natures, and then only
a transitory effect. 1t has been too
often the case that Memphis jour
nalism hes been disfgured by q very
exceptionable tone of both taste and
morals. Men of talents for caus-
tic bitterness are often prompt
ed for the sake of power and
popularity to minister to the
depraved appetite for what is existing,
or what may afford a moments low
entertainment. Such writers have
been actuated by the belief that with
certain classes Of readers, they may
be indicate, trifing or even ridicu-
lous with impunity; but they can
seldom afford TO beseriOUs or in earnest
lest they incur the imputatiOn of
heaviness or stupidity, and hence
they adopt the cutting, slashing and
trenchant style. The Iule Of cOur-
tesv is evidently best, and it is GER
tainly most pleasant. Violence and
abuse are always q positive loss of in
fiuenee and dignity, whether dis
played in propriG persona or through
the columns Of a newspaper. Even If
ii be the unpleasant task to rebuke
corruption and expose falsehOod, that
can be done at no great sacrifice Of
composure or dignity, and without
bitterness Of language. The severest
rebukes, repTimsnds, invectives and
exposures known to English literature
whose pungency have given
an immortality surviving any other
recollection of the ofense-show an
absence of temper, excitement and
epithet. He who stsbs deepest uses a
keen and polished blade. 1t is a dull
ak which makes the most noise. We
do not claim exemption from pest
errors. That we have illustrated the
fault Of ardent minds, that in
trinity of intellect which makes
ones convictions so strong rs to
5werve them often too much to one
side. and suTcharge opinions with
ones " personality, we are free to
confess. But we are proud of our
profession, desire to see it character
lied by q fraternal brotherhood, and
shall, therefore, avoid everything cal
culated TO provoke personal rancor, or
u~tterances impugning the private mo-
tives Of men, and practice a high
toned. manly, dignihed courtesy.
THE st. Louis WesHiche Post, Of
which journal United States Senator
Schurz is one of the principal editors,
utterance TO this sound doctrines:
are for the elevation of moral