Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-08-03
The Democratic Party Receives the
Strength Of the South Because 1t Is
the Party OF Right, OF JRstlce,
OF Retrenchment and
EetOrm.
LAMAR's SPEECH.

Special TO the Appeal
WASHINGTON, August 2.-Mr. Lamst
electrified the house to-day by q speech
OF astonishing power, the gfaudest effort
| of his life.
Associated Press Reports
MIR. Lamar proceeded to make his
speech on political subjects. He com.
| menced by saying that Ii could not be
truthfuily asserted that the practice and
peculiar system of the measures adopted
! by the present administration mmand-
ed the appreciation of the msjority of the
people; bat, on the rntrary, the senti.
ment in which the American people re-
gsrded the conduct of national affairs
was one OF very decided dissatisfaction
aud dependency, accompanied with q
strong and intense desire of change.
There was q deep and anxious protest
against the methods Of administration,
the tone and character Of public service,
and tbs principles OF le gislation that had
marked the acton Of the government
for many years past, and yet it was re-
msrkable that this popular feeling had
! produced no change in the sdministra-
| ton. Sach development In England
would have produced q change in the
administrative agencies of the govern.
| meDt within twenty four hours. He did
not believe that the apprehension grow-
ing out OF the united support by the
southern people of the Dsmocr attic party
| WIS well founded, or that it should stand
in the way of the aspirations of great
people for progress and reform; the idea
that the south, under any combination
Of parties or circumstances, would
ever obtain control of this
giant republic and WELD its destinies
against the will and interests OF this
mighty people, was of all ideas the most
visionary and false. The people of the
south were proStrate; they had been de.
feated in the war, and made to feel that
sacrifice, aud humiliation, and the help
lessness Of defeat had been allotted to
them as their share, while the people Of
the north had reaped the rich results of
victorious war, and had embodied and
guaranteed them in the very life and
constitution Of the nation. The institu-
tions of the south had been shattered
and destroyed, her industries had
been disorganized, every foot of
her fertile soil sterilizsd by an sll-de.
vouring taxation, her educational inter-
ests waning and languishing, and her
population 30 feeble in comparison with
that Of the great Union, that with the
south united, black and white, it would
be impOtent to secure single southern
man, or to defend single southern in
terest. Ii was, therefore, absurd for a
great people to apprehend that the peo.
pie of the s0uth arrogated to them
selves the ruling of the interests Of this
great nation. There was no aspiration
which they had that was not bounded by
the horizon OF union. II they were
united with the Democratic party 1t was
not for the purpose of sectional sggran.
dizement; il was not for the purpose of
reversing the policy Of the government,
but because they observed an instructive
and imperative law of self preservation.
He quo ed from the reports of the Louis.
lana investigating committees and from
the Presidents annual message, in
which he acknowledged that the people
of the south had had vile and oppress-
i've government to live under, and he
asked how it could be expected to fiud
orderly, law-abiding communities, whose
governors were lawless feloBs; whose
ministers were thieves, and whose
magistrates were scoundrels. This race
problem was not incapable OF solution.
Two statesmen, such as Lord Derby and
Earl Russell would settle it in three
days. The people of the south would
be content to withdraw from the partic-
ipation in the Presidential election il
they could do SO and let the people Of
the north elect q President, but they
could not impose on themselves stolid
inactivity. All that they wanted in
uniting with the Democratic party was
not to rule the cabinets; not TO dictate
the policy; not to control the interests
of the countrH; but they wanted
a representative share of the re-
sponsibilities and benefits Of a COM
mon government according to the
measure of their population and race.
They were now cooperating with the
Democratic party under a dire and in
exorable necessity, and only in hope of
getting an administration that would
not bs unfriendly to them. and that
would not feel itself commissioned to
execute 'esentment and oppression upon
them. They wanted to get an admins.
tration which in place Of forces of con-
quest, subjugatiOn and domination,
would give them amnesty and a restora-
ton to the privileges of American citi-
zenship; an administration which would
allow their States the same rights as
other States, and allow them equality
OF consideration, equality Of authority,
1urlSQlCtlOu over TIE 4 own dudlLS, eAs
emption from domination of election by
bayonets, that would give them local
self. f.government, and their country
would at last see the dawn OF posperity
in all the industrial enterprises Of the
north; 1t would see true southern re-
assurance of q real grand reconstruction
Of the south; it would see her rising
from her. confusion and distress, ejoicing
in her newly acquired liberty, free,
great and prosperous; her sons and her
daughters of every race happy in her
smile, and greeting this benignaut re-
public; in the words Of an inspired poet
"Thy gentleness hath made thee great"
Loud applause. Mr.. Lamar spoke
about two hours, his time having been
extended on the motion of Mr.. Garfield,
and commanded throughout his whole
speech the close and interested attention
Of the house.
He is to be repliedl to by Mr.. Garfield,
who obtained the floor for that purpose.