Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1872-11-22
ERA OF coon FEELING.

war. The people now expect that he
will save it in peace.
ERA OF GOOD FEELING.
/ From the Washington C~hronicle.l
In expressions that find their way
| through Liberal and Democratic jour
nails and otherwise, there is already evil
I dence of the dawn of a better feeling in
the country. 1t exhibited itself in vari-
Gus ways in various localities as soon as
| the great victory was made known.
| There was at first a feeling of surprise
at the magnitude of the victory. It as
sumed proportions So much greater than
had been generally anticipated, the feel
ing Of surprise found expression on both
sides of the ''bloody chasm'i that an
embittered contest had done much to
wider. This feeling was succeeded by
one Of satisfaction. Their overwhelm-
ing defeat assured the Democracy that
no effort Of theirs could have comprised
victory. II they must be beaten it was
as well, thy reasoned, that the thing
be done up thoroughly. They grew ia
cetious Over the result. At a meeting
in prominent Western town theyjOined
the Republicans in jubilating on the
night of election. Speakers were called
out on both sides and addressed the
crowd as the returns were coming in.
The Democratic speakers talked them
selves into the best possible humOr,
while Republicans found themselves
taking leave Of the bitterness e~ngendered
in a hand-to-hand conflict.
Before the late election, but when the
coming event had cast its shadow before
it, there were indications of what is now
ronHfwa1 anI me- rrs,Saa HLaN ~ ~.
piciOus promise has not failed. We have
no maledictions for those who left US
and did their best to overthrow the party
they had left. The result is their SUI
icient punishment. 1t will be the aim
Of a Republican administration to.prove
them false prophets, and TO show that
the reforms they desired are safely ON
mitted to General Grant and a Republi-
can Congress. The Opposition, though
defeated at the ballOt-box, still have
power through their journals and speak
ers. We hope that power will be wisely
and fairly used, SO as to make easier
desirable reforms. A factiOus opposition
on one side, and an unrelenting
spirit of hate on the other, would
be alike disereditable. There is too
much of bitterness in cur party
contests, especially during the Presiden-
tial year, to make il desirable to pro-
tract the fight after the verdict of the
0alOt-bOX has been rendered. A vic
tory so overwhelming relieves itself of
all suspicion of fraud; and is, therefore,
the more readily accepted by the de-
feated party. We rejoice that it is thus
accepted by the more cOnsiderate and
influential among the opposition, and
we base upon that fact the hope that an
era Of good feeling Of peace and recon-
ciliatiOn is at hand. General Grant, We
are sure, desires nothing so much as
peace. 1t has been shamefully traduced;
but he could not hope TO escape when
the purity of Washington had failed to
disarm party malignity. The country
has vindicated his fairfame, and the YER
dict Of history can only be changed by
an administration during the next four
years utterly foreign to his nature and
The past is secure, and he will
not mar the future by proving false to
himself.
We rejoice that Mr.. Greeley has re-
turned to the editorial chair of the
Tribune. He has verified a prediction
Of the Chronicle by 50 doing. His ac-
tive life would not be fittingly closed by
retirement from a position he is so admit
rably qualified to fill. He is cured of
ambition for Office, and has no other
ambition now but to round out a jour
nallstie reputation that is already world
wide. For many years the harness of
party has rested lightly on his shoulders.
1t rests more lightly now, after the novel
experiences Of the late campaign. He
has, in a measure, disarmed the malice 1
Of his old opponents, so that he can now
address them with more hope of a can
hearing. He can afford to be Just to
an Administration that he sustained
until he was made the leader of its on
.pOnents. We shall not, therefore, be
surprised to see the Tribune become the
Of Independent journalism in the
country. In this position il can do
much to promote good feeling and adj
vance reformatory measures. We are
confident that it viii be found true to its
better ~antecedents in the future.
A Southern journal before US discusses
very candidly the prospects of the coun-
under four years more of Grant. It
recognizes the duty of the South to bear
It's own cross, and promises 20 Judge |
the measures Of the administra-
lion so far as they relate 10 that section.
The laws of the nation are designed to
bear equally upon all sections Of the
country, leaving the states free TO shape
heir own domestic policy, so long as
hey represent the requirements of the
Federal Constitution. It is to be hoped
hat a better feeling Will prevail in the
in view of the emphatic verdict
IF the nation. IL these hopes are real
zed, we may look forward to an unpre-
growth and prosperity in that
When this shall have come to
PASS we shall be one people, content with
| common destiny as the Great Re-
STRENGTHENING A PARTY"
The delegation that swept down upon
Washington last week to demand the
Of Mr.. Truman merely fol-
owed the ! traditions and pyeeedents
According 10 the old theory Of office
u Ohce-seeking there was
nothing wrong in il, and their request
would have been granted if General
5rant and the Republican party had not
determined that the old order of things
be reversed and a return made,
$ far as possible, to the practice OF the
.arly days Of the Republic. The Re
publican party, in convention assem-
A1-A VulAtf lEEulNeu lHaL ANN ktE-I
Of the civil service nnder which the
ubordinate positions of the government
re considered rewards for mere party
cal IS fatally d~emoralizing; and we
therefore, favor a reform Of the system
" laws which shall abolish the evils Of
'atronage and make honesty, efficiency
ND hdehty the essential qualifications
public positions, without creating a
ffQ-fnnmrn nT nHTaa -
ltung that in the very city where this
lromlse was made to the country the
inst beginning should be made. One Of
he gentlemen who waited uDon Gener-
i Grant said that the people of Phila-
did not care much about the
'ivil service rules, and did not think Cd
hem when they were rolling up maiar-
ties for General Grant. That NAV be
rue, although we believe to. be some
hing like a SANDER upon that por-
ion Of ur fellow-citizens. But even
( it were true, il has got nothing
o do with the question. The civil ser !
nee rules are the law of the land, and
g the law they must be enforced by the
resident and obeyed BY the people,
Stokeley said that they merely
to Strengthen the party" and !
or that very laudable object the Presi- I
lent should strain a point and violate 8
lis oath Of Office. II the party can be
trengthened only in this way, If it can 3
e saved only in this way, the sooner It
) weakened and dies the better. We,
% farther than that, and say If Republl-
Institutions can be perpetuated only :
q that way, the quicker we have the
or the monarchy the better. {
Republic or no republic, party or no
the people viii commend the ac-