Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-08-30
CoBURG. CANADA, August 10, 1879


| MY DEAR SIR-Your very kind Iette
| OF the tenth has reached me, and quit
concRr with you Deeply impressed b.
the gravity OF the lis Iss involve in tn
| approaching Presidential election, All
believing that the honor of the cOu atr,
| aud the well being of the people depent
In no small degree upon the result, fee
| compelled to depart from The reserv,
| that has hscsme habitual to me, and ex
| prese the earnest convictions that pres
upon me. Under COZ itUtiopal gov
ernmeut the formation Of political par
ties is necessary consequences of the di
| Verslfy Of human minds and Interests
Santimentalisss ia their closets MAY
dream OF an ideal republic, all of whose
cltzens are perfectly wise, virtuous, and
consequent unanimous; but such 8
dream eau never be realized On thi:
earth, aud we must recognize tie faci
that political parties ara nOt Only neess.
sary but beneficial, acting, as ttey do
as cntcS3 upon each other. Expa.
Ilsncs has showR, in all consti a
tioDal counties, that when any esrty
possesses uninterrupted power for q very
long time, especially when the minority
Is 100 weak &C interpose any efficient
Check upon the sctions Of The majority,
/ the teLd ancy Is that thu leaders bscoms
careless and rsckless, forget that there is
a3y power &c which they ere responsi.
bic, look upon eff 70 as q personal Dos
session and re ward, rather than spubjic
trust, and learn to regard their tenure as
permanent. 81, too, the legislative
bodies become inclined to q system of
extravaganza, which eagenders coffup.
ton, facilitates the forna stion If rings
and finally destroys the prosperity OF
the people, The only sure remedy in
such case Is tina. the people shall
through the bsllot-bnx, placs the former
opposition III power. That our country
is now in the condition Just described is
proved by the universal and peremptory
demand for complete reform by the peo-
pie, without regard to party. Among
Democrats there Is no DOUBT as to the
panner in WHICH the change should be
accomplished. With many Republicans
the QUESTION is whether they can trust
the Professions OF their party, or whether
they must take the dissgreeable sep o.
breaking away from old political associ.
atoms, by leaving the party under whose
administration atl the evils OF which
they complain have grown up, and aot
with the Democrats, who, from the force
OF circumstances, must necessarily be
reformers. have the highest respect
for the personal character and infelIi-
gsnce Of the Republican candidate for
the Presidency, and baIieve him to be
an upright gentleman; but il seems to
me quite impossible that he can change
the organic ition and policy OF his party.
The leaders who control and shape its
policy you'd be the same after his cleo
ton IS nov, and 1t is idle to hope for any
change in them or under them. 1t is
now ahu ndantIy evident that had not q
Democratic house been elected In 1874, it
gould have been impossible TO unearth
the variC US instances of mslsdmlnistra-
ton that have come ID lighs, and it is
equally clear that until the government
passes into the hands Of the Democrats
We shall never know the whole truth,
whatever it may be; and we need to
know the truth a. to the past, that it
msy serve to guido US in tue future. Be.
lieving, as 1 firmly do, that every con.
sideration Of honesty and souud states.
nsnship, every tlu, natural aod indi-
vidual interest, demands the prompt
Inauguration Of policy which shall, in
the briefest practical time, reduce every
governmental expenditure to the lowest
point commensurate with homo:
and efficiency; regarding the
reform OF the civil service in its broad.
est sense, and with it the enforce
menL upon office holders of the convic-
ton that their only business is to per.
form their public duties, and not to
manipulate party politics, as an inner
eDt part Of this reform; Satisfied that 1t
must be accomplished by financial
measures steadily directed toward the
resumption OF specie payments within
the shortest possible periOj, cannot for
e moment doubt that these all-impor-
tant ends will be best ,and in fact only,
attained by the election of the candi-
dates of the Democratic party. But
questions OF finance and reform are not
the only ones which affect our present
and future. The recent war settled for
ever certain vexed questions; for ex-
ample, the asserted right of secession
has disappeared ia a sea OF blood claw
cry hes been abolished, never to re.
appear; to the negro has been given the
rights Of citizenship and suffrage. We
have nothing more to do with the re-
suits, save to accept them frankly, and
watch they remain intact. After many
trials and tribulations, the States not
arrayed in srms against the
geu6rs1government have re-estsblished
their relations with the UBiOn, and re-
gained their autonomy. Generous cour-
t-sy toward fallen, but most gallant
foe, snd selfish policy, alike demand
that we should leave no just thing I'M
done that will rest re peace and we'll.
being to the south, re-estsblish fraternal
feelings ia the hearts of all our people,
and cause CT our recent enemies to be
proud of and love the govern
ment OF the Union and it's flag.
The welfsre of the north is insep-
srsble from that of the soutEL snd our
can never attain its full force
and vigOr until peace, prosperity and
kind fesiing reign throughout its bfoat
domain. believe that this end can bs
bsss reached by respecting the auto
noDy Of the Individual States, 80 long
as they respect the obligations Of the
Federal compact. Allowed to govern
public opinion, self-respect
and regard for their own interests will
certainly suffice to induce the southern
States to place good men in flee and
10 enforce the laws. Willis OF the Opin-
ion that Federal interference should
never be rssorted TO, except in the cases
provided for in the constitution, l also
think that, ifany outTsges are commit
ted upon the rights, persons or property
Of any citizen, whatever his race,
white or black, and the State
neglect or hesitate to do their
duty, the general government should
urge and aid them IN every legal way to
snforcs order and justice, and should use
all its legitimate influence in that diIec-
ton, But l have sufficient faith in the
honor and ability of our southern breth-
rem to believe that, whea left to them
selves, they VIII well know how to en-
force just laws, and secure the rights
Of the hum blest OF their fel-
10 R-citizens. In Mr.. TiIden I
am confident that We have q cardi-
date possessing all the requisites that
the sxigencies Of the times demand. In
a long career he has given the su,est
proofs Of ability and integrity. 1t Is q
very easy thing to preach reform to an
opponent, but a very difficult affair to
carry it out in ones own party. This
Mr. 1ilden has had the rare courage end
ability to do. Against great obstacles
ne commenced and carried through the
task of fighting corruption
aud pursuing the plunderers in his own
party, and it is almost superfiu ous to say
Ill 81 Chs courage, energy, un,irlug per
= - IL