Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1874-08-04
The EnicneY OF Praxer.

EDITORS APPEAL-I am anxious to
occupy little space in your paper, and
in advance will say ii will not be con-
troyersy. The mind of the people of the
United States, if can judge, is more
intensely strained now than have ever
known it during the space OF forty
years, except, perhaps, the end of a
Presidential canvass; and it is the more
wonderful because there is only one man
directly involved in a great scandal.
Let me now step aside to state fact.
In 1882 or 1888, it matters not which, the
Asiatic cholera made its first appearance
in the United States. You are not old
enough to remember the alarm 1t spread
through the land, but you may be ae-
quainted with many who have pain
full recollection Of it. General jackson
at that time was President, and pow
erful pressure was brought to bear upon
him to induce him to proclaim a nation
al fast and day of prayer. General
Jackson very cOOlly remarked to the
gentlemen who waited upon him that
the constitution gave him no such pow
er. if he felt disposed to do so; that it
was matter that belonged exclusively
t., the churches, and let them look TO
it. Now we will resume. The
cholera came, and fearful were its
ravages. They are a matter of history.
At that time was printed in New York
city so-called religious paper, and it
was a power in the land. read in that
paper during the prevalence of the
cholera, a paragraph to the following
import: "It is q noticeable fact that
three executive officers refused to ap-
point day of fasting and prayer upon
the approach OF the cholera, though
earnestly solicited to do so. Those Off
GERS were the President of the United
States, the mayor of Troy, and the
mayor of New York city. A fact con-
nected with that is this: that the first
three places in which the cholera made
its appearance were the United States
army, the city OF Troy, and the city of
New York" The meaning of the above
paragraph, Messrs. Editors, Understand
To be this: that God rules the affairs of
men; also, that he Furnishes peoples for
the sins OF their rulers. About the or
thodoxy of the above doctrine l have
not q word to say. Is it possible that it
can be true? II so, it explains some
things that do not now understand.
Can it be possible that the great fires
which swept over the west, included in
which fires humanity seemed to be q
cOmbustible material-alsO, the great
fire that levelled Sir Shoddy Boston 10
the ground, and last, though MT least,
the mill river catastrophe Of Massachu-
sets, and, horror of horrors, the descent
of that bright particular star from the
apex of the arch of glory to the
abyss of infamy, where Sharp's rifles
are manufactured to murder southern
women. Is it possible, Irepeat, that all
this has any connection with the late
Confederate war? Has this cup of Bit
terness been poured out upon the people
of the north for the sins of their rulers?
For my single self, do not believe il.
Mine has been a sincere and heartfelt
sorrow for the people of the west In their
sufferings. Is il wrong for me to say TO
the people of the north: How do you
like to quaff the cup you offered to Gem
eral Jackson in 1882? Well nigh forty
years have passed away since Tread that
paragraph, and think to-day it was one
Of the most damnable pieces Of religious
infamy ever read. AN OLD MAN.
Contributions to the relief fund for the