Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-08-17

and keeping il at a discount, and th'y
see finally an uudisguised effort to de-
prive them entirely Of this cheap and
useful form OF currency, ard leave as
their only circulating medium, ami in
stinted quantities, the expensive, unCe;-
tain anu dangerous one furnished them
by the national banks. No wonder that
here and there is u spasmOdic exhibition
OF spirit that amin 4ted the hero Of the
Hermitage in bis historic struggle
sg ainst the same power, and history
may repeat ilselt sooner or later AMI
furnish another illustration Of the re-
sisiless might of an aroused and indig-
nspt public opinion.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
There is 3 lesson in the history of the
last seven years which the people would |
do we'll never to forget. If free institu
tions, il liberty sustained by law are TO |
be preserved, their preservation can he |
best secured by a perpetual recurrence to |
the melancholy memories Of this out |
going administration. By them we are |
AdmOnshed of the periIs of personal !
government and its utter Incompatible |
ity with the theory OF Institutions that |
are COT the people, by the people, and |
for the people," They may remind US !
how power held in trust for the public |
veal may be prostituted to personal and |
family ACKNOWLEDGMENT and 10 the graft |
ticatiOn OF an individual favoTitism, per-
sistently and wickedly blind to h. high
source and legitimate purposes OF all
delegated political power. In this his
tory is recorded that growing laxity OF
political morals that cuIminsted at last
in an almost public commerce in the
patronage OF the republic. Whatever
no oo:R Mr. GOa. lrar IN HiEnaraOn.
ment of this house, one thing must stand
to its everlasting credit: the sincerity,
vigoF, and success with which it has
wrought for the publication OF the ma
tiUnsl service ana restoration OF public
virtue to places OF public trust. Despite
the resistance which it has met in execu-
tive orders forbidding the use at this cap
itaI of original papers on file in the de-
partments, despite the implied threat Of
prosecution and vengeance to accom-
plices who might come forward to attest
official malieasanee, despite the refusal
Of the other branch Of congress to pass
laws granting immunity to such wit
nesses, despite the hue and clsmOr
against investigation, it has gone on TO
results that tirkI startled and then hu-
miliated the nation. As the national con-
| science RECEIVERS from the shcck the
| country begins to reahzs the benefits OF
| these disaereeable lSbOrs. A slturnalia
of fraud, a carnival of rogues, has been
| brought to q sudden end. An imperfous
and insolent lobby that once dominated
here and controlled the legislation OF
| this hall has LETT its place in the corri-
! doris and upon this floor to successor so
pinched and starved, humble and unob-
| rruSive as that its very existence IS a
matter of doubt, But, sir, one effect
| alone of these investigt tiOns already at
tanned is their adequate IeHa ard. When
this COD gress met and lot many months
before the third-term specter had pro-
jected it's malignant shadow over the
American minu and filled the political
| horizon with "portents dire, " menacing
to the safety and perpetuity OF cur po-
IiticaI system. But the hOrrid spprehen-
sion it inspired has passed, ana danger
to our institutions from that threatened
innovation, thanks to the fearless
majority in the hall, no longer confronls
us. But still one other tendency we
feel confidently assured these laboTs will
have, q tendency toward re-inaTgura-
ton Of the era OF official responsibility,
a principle lorg ignored, both to the
corruption OF public morals and the peril
of public liberty. When again shall an
other secretary Of war make commerce
of the patronage of his high place, or
another American minister to fOreig /
court lend the influence Of his ministe.
rial character to bull the shares OF a
doubtful speculation? The public min d
too has been aroused by these exposures
to the fuller realization Of danger
which is even, sir, direr evil than that
OF civil war self, for the hurricane that
vexes the bosom Of the sea and bends
the mssts of the g0OdIy ship has less OF
deadly peril in it than the invisible
borer thRt gnaWs unnoticsd in the dark,
or the dry rot that steals through her
staunch timbers unhesrd and unseen.
AS to whether the country will profit
fully by the solemn warning given at q
cast OF so much of its substance and its
pride the future slone will determine.
Honest, resp Jnsible administration Of
governmental functions is the great
ard crying need Of the hour,
aud the ides Of November will
mike it attainsble. Will the county
: pronounce for it? Unless ali signs are
delasive public opinion, that mysterious
force which no human hand can check
or turn from the current in which it is
set, that indefiuable sentiment which
resists or upholds governments and par
] ties without their being able to account
, fer it, and which rarely errs in doing so,
: demands, in tone that should go neither
t unheard nor uiheeded, return to hon.
7 est, frugal, constitutional government
. Discarding all idea Of a magnificent sys
3 tenn supported by costly, sristocratiC
J establish ments, which terd neither to
( the promotion of happiness or the pro-
lection of liberty, it demands return
! to the simple system of the earlier year;
r Of our national histOry-"s plain system
f void OF pomp, protecting all and grant.
: ing favors to none, dispensing it's bless
( ipgs Ike the dews of heaven, nrsser
and unfelt, save in the beauty and fresh
: meas they contribute to produce. Such
( government as this the genius of Oul
g people requires; uader such one only
NAV these States remain for ages II
3 come united, prosperous and free"