Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-05-07
AN EXTRA SESSION UNNECESSARY
IN EIDsUMMER.

IN AR6As
THE postponement of an extra
session of congress until the mid
die of October will give the candi-
dates for speaker of the house a
little rest, and various ambitious
members time to revise or entirely
change the speeches which they ex-
pected to pour forth in the sultry
DAYS Of July. This in all prOba-
bllity will be fortunate for the IRA
tors and fortunate for the country.
The American people want a respite
from political excitement and time
to give more attention to their pri-
vate affairs. The trouble has been
too much legislation, State and ma
tional, of a political character. 1t
was by this that the Republican
party continued itself in power
long after its mission had ended,
and it had violated every trust,
trampled upon the constitution and
lost the confidence of a majority of
the people. The party retains a
semblanee of power-a mere she'll
as liable to fall in as one of Null
let's roofs at any time. 1t stands
somewhat as the Packard and
Chamberlain State governments
stood the day before the troops
were removed. If not propped with
the new and solid timber Of good
acts the next breeze of an
election that comes along viii
carry it over like a rotten balloon
in a storm. The leaders, many Of
them, we're corrupt and unscrupu'
lous; the masses Of the people were
honestly mistaken about many
things. AS the smoke of battle
clears away the excitement of the
past decade subsidies and the Amer
lean people have an opportunity to
look each other in the face and
shake hands it now appears
clearer than ever that our system
Of government is a strong one and
that there has been all the while a
solid substratnm of patriotism, love
of justice, fidelity to principle and
enough respect for the constitution
and the laws to save the country
1t is not likely that the present
generation will see the government
perverted to the base uses of Z
reckless party or the country i'm
periled by civil or foreign war.
For a long period ahead we MAJ
expect smooth sailing. The mis-
takes Of the past, Intentional al
well as innocent, will not soon i
ever be repeated. We can ayoit
the rocks and shoals that imperileC
everything worth living for, eleya,,
the standard Of citizenship, keel
the government within con
stitutional limitations, and il
time industry shall have its prec
ious reward, and every one goin
abroad will be proud to say
~ am an American citizen.
To these ends every citizen, how
ever humble or exalted, should cor
tribute his influence and earneI
endeavors. This country, with i
navigable rivers, boundless prairie
fertile valleys and inexhaustib
mines would support four times Il
present population, and now tn
white-wiHged peace hovers over Il
land the emigrant and capital
from distracted and War-riddt
Europe will again hasten hithC
every interest and energy will
stimulated, large harvests W
whiten in a genial sun, the gold.
corn will bend with weight, t
plowman's song will be heard fro
mountain to mountain, the labor
shall rejoice and plenty bless thela
To bring about such prosperity
must work as a united people, eve
mar in place and all equal befo
the law. Every one is entitled
the fruit Of his industry and free
learn, think and speak for himsC
The removal of the bayonet fir,
politics has opened up the m
magnificent prospect and opp
tunities ever offered to any peop
Let us improve them. We wa
and can do with less politics,
want more skilled labor, labOr-si