Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-07-14
HON. DORSEY b. THGMAs's SPEECH
AND POSITION.

AND fVSAAAONs
Hon. Dorsey b. Thomas delivered the
opening speech of his Solitary camp a'gn
at Brownsville on the ninth instant. AS
reported in the avalanche, we copy
every word of it for the purpose Of fair
and candid review. Evidently a studied
effort, one we'll thought over, and COM
piled with the care that should ehsrsc'
terizs the foundation on which distin'
guished citizen builds his hopes Of future
eminence, il deserves to be carefully
read and carefully weighed, and, II
strong, the author should have credit,
but IL weak, it should be made to appear.
II il is the measure Of his ability as
public guide, it should be msde plain
how much that measure ia, and whether
he is entitled or not to continue lead
er, even in his own esteem, in the ranks
OF political debators or leaders. And,
here, let us say that we veIy much adj
mire the strength OF character and hon
esty, the fidelity to principle, and I'M
swerving obediencs to what he believes is
AAutsNAAsSN HAS CNCA OA1NAofCbCAtNON AAAs ~
mss; that we have hitherto given him
credit for more than an ordinary share
OF political ssgscity, and that we deeply
regret the position Of antagoDism which
lie has assumed toward party that has
honOred him pc opportunity offered, and
As, in the party esteem, he deserved.
We regret this on his account pure
ly, for with their present de-
termination to free themselves
from the miscellaneous control Of the
Republican party, we do not believe the
Democrats Of Tennessee win follow him
In any numbers, or allow themselves to
be diverted for a moment from the
almost holy purpose they have in hand.
As we have time and again said in the
APPEAL, the seating OF q Democrat in
the Presidential chSir outweighs all
questions Of merely local Importance,
because the liberties of the people of the
south are at stake. AS Mr.. Lincoln
once said, during the war, in response to
gentleman much troubled about Pres
ideniial infringements on the constitu-
ton, "if we have no country, what
does the consultation amount to?
Lst US save the country, and look
70 the constitution afterwsrd." Mr.,
Thomas may cry "TaKes, taxes"
may sweat and groan, again and again,
over the utter ruin, restitution and beg
gary which ibis Imagination coniures
up from too much brOoding over his
platform, but the people, with the his
tory OF epsst ten years written indeli-
bly, in their hearts, will tell him that
without liberty they viii have no means
Of redress; that a prey to subtle ard
brutal tyranny they need, first, release
and freedom; that these attained, all
else will follow; and they will tell bim
that the way to attain liberty is not by
division, by destruction, by following the
dictates of 'fmaginsry leaders" bur-
dened with grievances weighing on
them like Nightmares, and no more
substantial; but by uniting every Demo-
crat, by keeping the PAL - intact, a solid
column ready for present emergencies,
and determined on victory in Novem-
Der. But to the speech. Mr.. Thomas
said: zone -
I propose to speak to you to-day from
q patriotic standpoint, in the interest OF
the great producing ma ses, without re-
gard to the behe5t Of party leaders, OF
the mandates Of moneyed kings, OF
party stockholders. As there are none
Of either in this audience OF ths named
classes, except the first, shall talk to
YOU as friends engaged in the same
cause, seeking the same relief nom 8
common oppression, There may be, il
is true, some here who imagine them
selves leaders, but let me assure them
that they have mistaken their lmpor-
lance. They are the mere dupes Of de-
signing, moneyed Oligarchy, who are
using them to enslave the whole OF vi
and cur children. A gentleman once
told me that when ne had completes
his course az West Point, anC
with his commission in his poke
as subordinate officer in thu
United States army, dressed in hi
uniform IS such, he waited upon Ole
Hickory at the Hermitage. Alter few
remarks the old hero and Statesman
laid his hand upon his head and said
my son, / see you are in the uniform
a soldier, and one Of the defenders o
your country. Be ever true to the trus
confided to you; but let me admonisE
Won that the danger 10 the liberties o
this country Is not from foreign foe
hut II will come from the insidious In
crease OF money concentrated in thu
hands of the few. Fight 1t as you low
life, liberty and the well-beiDg o
posterity, wherever and whenever yo'
see il. -.a $1,000 .gr
This is clsp.trsp, equally.unworthy o
Mr. Thomas and the people he was sd
dressing. He does not believe that thu
fortune accumulated by A. T. Stewsr
ever was used for any other than legit.
innate purpose, giving employment to