Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1874-01-10
DANGEROUS DOCTRINES.

interest Of the Republican Municipal
ticket. He stated, publicly, that in
an interview with the President just
before his departure from the seat Of
government. he promised the Presi-
dent a Republican triumph in the
local elections which took place in
Memphis on Thursday the 1t inst.
His speech Oh the occasion referred
to, was delivered in the interest OF the
Republican nominees, and under the
circumstances is intensely suggestive.
Mr.. Lewis evidently spoke with au-
thority. The burden Of his argu-
ment was that if Memphis got any
favors of the administration, it must
elect the Republican Municipal tick
ct. That if Custom House was
built, or other government improve
mcnts made in Memphis, if the great
Southern Pacific railroad received the
encouragement and aid of the gov
eminent, or the material interests of
Memphis ana the South the fostering
care Of the powers that be, Memphis
and tie South must first be placed in
harmony with the administration and
march under the banner of the Re-
publican party. He compared the
prosperity OF the cities aud States Of
the North and West with the poverty
of the cities and States Of tho South,
and attributed the first to the friend
ship, and the latter to the enrnity of
the government. He doubtless spoke
the truth aud in doing so revealed
facts and secrets which viii startlc
the country, and we hope arouse the
people to n sense OF the danger which
threatens the very existence Of the
Republic. The authoritative cuunci-
ations Of Mr.. Lewis when interpreted,
mean the perpctuation Of Radical
rule, by matchmaking, by appeals to
selfish interests, and by a system Of
bullying, the end OF which is personal
government and tyranny. 1t Is the
same policy that the Caesars practiced
when Roman liberty was subverted,
and the same by which Napoleon the
III. maintained his supremacy in
France, and the same through which
the German Empire is to-day endeav-
oring to cement and perpetuate its
iron rule.
If yOu court prosperity, if you de-
sire peace, il You want protection,
you must Support the powers that
be-" That's the English of Barbour
Lewis startling revelation. No ty-
rants tool in any age ever devised a
more cunning appeal. II is the same
syren song which in other times
charmed the people to their own de
struction. It is but an echo of the
Tiber and the Seine IN the ages OF the
Caesars and the Napoleons. Think of
it! State, municipal and individual
veal, all dependent ON the support
given the ''powers that be Great
God! have we come to that To diff
fer in principle with party in power
to take issue with an administration
in its poliey-to assert the proud pre-
negatives of frcemen, is TO place our
selves beyond tho pale of government
favor even in the development Of our
material resources, a development in
which the whole country has an in
terest.
Where Will it end? Unless the
people arouse from their long slum-
bers it will end in an American Cesar
ism as fatal as that which enveloped
the Republics of old in long dark
nights cf Imperialism. Barbour Lew.
is has lifted the veil and we zee be.
hiud it the secrets of the Republican
party. We see Grant President fol
life, and beyond his silent figure we
see his party with a Crown that he
will not thrice refuse. We see all the
intricate and delusive machinery OF
the stage upon which they stand, and
in letters not to be mistaken we read
the fatal words ''the Empire j.
peace" What else can the doctrines
taught by Barbour Lewis III his Mem
phis speech lead to? They were the
doctrines of personal power and moth
ing less. They pointed to Cesarism
and nothing less. They meant tho
perpetuation of ii party supremacy
which, if acquieseed in, must lead tc
Imperialism. The uninterrupted rul,
of a single party can lead to nothing
else. Such is the teachings of history
for more than thousand years, ant
history is ever repeating itself Tit
doctrines of the Republican party aut
the proclamation of the administra
ton, as revealed by Barbour Lewis
is simply support us or perish. -
Can liberty live when such doctrines
are accepted? In following theii
exclusive beams" are we not inch by
inch and step by step, drifting int
those stormy seas upon whose trcach
erous bosoms SO many Republican
ships have been wrecked?