The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-01-11
The Great Meeting To-Night-Let Il
ssTake Hold of the Right Lever!'

| given to the meeting as to the form of its
| action. We understand its managers intend
to move in the stale groove Of meetings called
for party influence on elections, and that
committee is engaged in drafting such resolu-
tions as are customary on electioneering occa-
sions. We will therefore state, with more
argument than we at first thought necessary,
the grounds for preferring aweighty memorial
to Congress as the appropriate form OF action
for this and similar meetings. Before We get
through we will fortify our view with prece-
dents. Reason stands indeed, of little need
of precedent to support it, and the reference
we may make to respectable examples will be
merely to relieve our opinion from the impu-
tation of singularity or Of crotchety affec-
tation of being wiser than the other pro-
moters of this important demonstration. We
are confident that all except the light weight
people, who are bent on turning this occasion
to party advantage, will admit the force of our
reasoning
Even for the mere purpose Of public agita
ton memorial to Congress would be alto
gether more effective than string Of resolu-
tons which will die with the occasion.
memorial would keep up the interest created
by the meeting. After its adoption by
great popular assembly the next step would
be to procure signatures to it by such body
of citizens as no public hall could hold. 1t
would be easy to get tW enty or thirty thousand
in this city in the course of few days, and to
transmit to Washington one Of the most
voluminous roll of names ever appended
to memorial in legislative history. When it
reached Congress and was presented by fit
members, selected for their force and elo-
quence, the discussion and the scenic effect
would make tar deeper impression on the
country than the meeting in which the memo
rial originated
1t is astonishing that anybody can be blind
to advantages so great and obvious. 1t is like
the difference between loading your gun with
mere powder which explodes without execu-
ton and Shooting cannon of long range to
| drop ball into the camp of the enemy. By
! adopting a memorial the meeting would pro-
duce double the effect here in New York and
the effect in Washington would infinitely ex-
coed that produced here, the execution done
! by shell being at the point where it ex-
plodes. If a memorial should be adopted
the meeting will necessarily appoint two
important committees whose functions Will
continue and increase the public ferment.
First, it should appoint committee of
hundred active, jealous citizens to circulate
the memorial and procure signatures. The
interest awakened by the meeting would thus
be kept up during the three or four days
while the memorial was in circulation, and by
the daily newspaper reports of the success OF
this committee and descriptions of the rearns
of new names. Secondly, the meeting should
! appoint another committee Of say, twelve or
| fifteen gentlemen of the highest standing to
convey the memorial to Washington and
secure its fitting presentation to Congress.
The furlongs of signatures and the great re-
spectabillty of the committee would draw
throngs to the capital and fill all the galleries.
The speeches made on the occasion would en-
gage the attention of the country; whereas
string of resolutions would never be thought
of again after they had been printed in close
type in Tuesday mornings newspapers. We
hope it is not too late to make the meeting
shotted cannon Of long range instead of
/ brass field piece crammed to its muzzle with
niro-glycerine, and doing all its small execu-
ton on the spot by mere explosion and noise.
| If the New York meeting should adopt the
method we advise other great meetings else
where would follow the example, and Con-
gress would be deluged with memorials
whose presentation would afford occasions
for keeping up discussion and excitement.
Congress would become the objective point Of
the concen rated fire of O thousand batteries
charged with public sentiment. Such memo
rails would not consist of the mere fash of
political resolutions, because their destina-
ton would enforce pertinence of statement
and weight Of argument, well as temper
ance of language, enabling the members who
present and describe the memorials to stand
upon tenable ground.
1t is no good excuse to say that Congress is
so committed to the Presidents Louisiana
policy that memorials from the people would
have no influence. Such an opinion does not
rest on any sufficient information. The
Senate has so little liking for tie Presidents
Louisiana policy that it has never admitted
Pinchback, not wishing or not daring to
recognize the Kellogg government. Senator
Carpenter bill came near passing, and might
easily have been passed with the aid of the
democratic votes. A majority of the re-
publicans wish their party well out
of this scrape, and on a body so un-
decided as Congress q food Of respectable
memorials pouring ia from all parts OF the
country would be irresistible if not delayed
until caucus discipline deprives the waverers
of their liberty But even if Congress were
as set on this subject as it is VIGOROUSLY
vaclllating and fearful it should nevertheless
be memorialized by the citizens who are
alarmed for the safety of our institutions.
! The great importance which has always been