Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1872-02-02
wELOOME ALEXIS

Many ladies and gentlemen came
to the city yesterday from neighborlng
towns for the purpose Of witnessing
ceremonials incidentto the reception Of
q scion Of an imperial family that
wields the temporal destinies OF nil
lions of our race. 1t is certainly true
that Russian emperors of late yesrs
have governed states, provinces and
peoples wisely and well, and Il Is also
true that the sway Of the Gear has been
IS liberal as diversities Of race and
grades OF civilization would admit.
Homogeneity has been rapidly begot-
ten by the construction ofrsilways, the
diffusion Of intelligence, and through
all the appliances Of eommerce. Tar
tsrv and Caucasus are no longer
sbodes Of unmixed barbsrism. Even
Arabs and the descendants Of ancient
Scvthians in acknowledging the su-
premacy Of Russia have recognized
the advent OF q progressive civiliza-
ton. In former years the masters Of
Russia, In consolidating their power
and In preparing for that condition OF
once warning tribes and states which
now payes the way for their regener-
alton, executed their plans Of con-
ouest with terrible esTnestness. The
name Of Suwsrrow Is still used Ia
Russian provinces by aged mothers to
frighten children to rePose, and there
were Russian emperors as terrible as
the iron-hsndsd Suwarrow. As
rspidIy as intellectual and
moral diverslties and ever vary
log physical habits of wild tribes
could be reduced to unity, and as
rapidly IS civilization extended its
forces, with the same rspidity has the
rigid system Of Russian rule been re-
lsxed. Railway lines, newspapers,
manufactures have been the success
ssors Of Russian armies to sweep away
traces Of desoIstion and make bright
flowers bloom in lands once devoted
70 semi-barbsrism. Russian codes
and constitutions are not as lib
eraI as those Of America. 1t would
be hardly admissible for the APPEAL,
II published Ia Moscow instead Of
Memphis, to say Of the Car
what is said this morning of
our phlegmstic emperor, but the
liberty Of Russia, as the person Of the
monarch is affected by it, is regulated
by lsw as that Of America is only
restrained by the force Of that respect
OF which the chief magistrate makes
himself worthy. The Russian auto
crat constantly relaxes his grasp that
rastrains license until it steadily be-
comes unrestricted freedom; the
American autOcrat moves In the Op-
pOsite direction, never losing an
opportunity or pretext, even as the
Intelligence and capacity for selfgOv-
eminent of the people progress,
Tor the deprivation Of States,
communities and individuals Of
hereditary freedom. Multitudes have
been gathered everywhere to greet
with shouts and bOnires and
scclamatiOns the masters of our race.
Many OF these have thus been vel
coined who little deserved vol |
untary honors rendered by a people |
thoroughly republican In ali their in
stincts and habits of thinking. In |
this instance there is no blunder COM |
mitted by the people Of Memphis. |
Russia, all things considered, is freer
than these Southern States. A |
strong cOntractiIe force is demanded |
there that is needless here. II the |
genius for craftsmanship, Illus
trated In the conduct Of his |
government, and In the control OF re-
pellaat masses by the Gar, were sp- |
piled and supreme In America, Amer
ics would be the freest and most pros
perous OF the nations. 1t is this lib
eralism Of an autOcracy, necessarily |
an autOcTacy, which the people Of
Memphis honor to day In hOnoring |
an emperOr's son. As q representa-
tive C the most liberal branch Of the |
reIguing family in Russia, we tO-dsy |
welcome Alexis to this, the first |
soustern city proper which be has
visited.