Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1872-06-21
MEMPHIS
RIDAY MORNING, : JUNE 81. 1879.
DIsAFFEcrED FREE TRADERS.

DLSAEEECIEB EhEE BADEfNS
The situation is eminently political.
1t is not economical or financial, as GER
tain free traders would have us believe.
To our mind their doctrines are right;
but We must condemn Free Trade zeal
in the face of larger and more vital con-
stItutiOnal and sectional interests. The
pacifeation of the country, the closing
up of the yawning chasm which has so
long divided US must first monopolize
our thoughts. And in view of the
alarming downward tendency of the
government toward personal control and
Capitalization, the power of rings and
open corruption in high places, the first
work Of parties and persons is TO restore
certain old-fashioned doctrines and prac-
ticesinherentinth the Constitution. Decen-
tr~alization, the right of local se~lf-govern-
ment with freedom from Federal CON
troll, disqualification of the government
these are the questions of the day. Add
to these universal amnesty and univer-
sal suffrage, as the direct means of Sc
curing peace, and we have the scheme Of
Liberal Republicanism as set forth at
Cincinnati. Revenue reform is the pre-
vailing cry of the Free Traders; but this
Is only part of the great work to be ac-
complished by the overthrow of
Grants rings. Mr.. Greeley and his
followers are as fully committed
to sweeping reforms in every depart
ment of the government, as the Free
Traders a be, and it will surely be
effected if he is placed in power. We
repeat that revenue reform is only n
item in the comprehensive plan which,
if successful, viii restore peace, harmony
and progress, which will bring patriots
TO the front TO work out the salvation of
the country by every can which
honesty and wisdom can suggest. 1t is
worse than idle, it is criminal to seek TO
divert the people from the support of
their favOrite candidate, because he has
peculiar views of political economy.
What do the body of the people care for
tariffs, high or low, protection, prohibi-
ton, etc, when they see that the integ-
rity and the very existence of the gov
eminent in its present form is threat
ened? When contrasted with real
issues these things become mere abstrac-
tons, and must remain so until the
settlement of domestic dissension and
the liberation of every section of the
country from Federal oppression. When
this glorious event is contaminated, We
can devote our whole attention to the
financial and commercial policy of the
nation. Mr.. Greeley and the Cincin-
matt Convention have made an admira-
ble disposition of this tariff question, and
have given the country every assurance
that il will be free from admins
trative control, and subject to the will
of the people, as expressed by their
representative. This ought to satisfy
the Free Traders, who are really opposed
TO the present administration, as it in no
way lessons their chances of successful
agitation and legislation. We express
the hope and belief that upon maturer
consideration of all the interests in
volved in the election of Mr.. Greeley,
opposition will cease which deserves
no better name than factiOusness.
Let them join with the people in
defeating Grant, and their opportunity
will surely come, for with the Union re-
stored, the country at peace, and pros
perity returning, the best minds will be
required to reform the civil service, to
reduce taxation, to legislate in the inter-
ests of finance and commerce, and build
up the waning prosperity of the coun-
try. And for this work there are no
ADLER or purer men than these promi-
nently identified with the Free Trade
movement.