Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1878-06-15

ary upstairs and deputies of the convention.
The majority of these men were attached to
the revolution, and were actuated certainly
by no wish to IN lure it; but at the same time,
at all hazards, they were resolute to. secure
money and the means of commanding enjoy
ments The public was unacquainted with
the full extent of their secret maneuvers.
This much from NJ. Theirs. At the time
of which he wrote, however, there was no
teegraphic communication by which some
such operator as Orleans, Danton, Fabre,
Delaunay, or the Baron de Batz could direct
disaster where to take place, or give all the
force of invasion to bold programme of dis
tant and wide-appearing invasion.
We live In times when those who can ham
die the telegraph most expeditiously have
armies of their own-great forces of engi
neers, stokers, switchmen, brakemen, de-
pendents, and idle or discharged people-to
excite to causeless horror in day. If we can
conceive an individual demon willing to has,
ten such thought, the execution of it would
be easy with modern appliances. The exist
ence of a momentary grievance would afford
the chance for outbreak here or yonder, and
such a grievance Is ever present In our day,
owing to the straits of many railroads, which
compel them to reduce wages and time, and
keep many of their employees in poverty.
Yet poor men seldom break out of them
selves. They do not possess the means to
travel and excite other outbreaks, coincident
with their own. Furnished with intelligence,
liquor, means, and dependence on a secret
power, the poor become executive leaders,
and awaken like revolution.
Not many years ago the occupation of
railroad company's office in New York by a
new president and directors was resisted by a
regular band of armed desperadoes, none of
whom received any injury from the law. AT
a TIM more precedent railroad line leased
to another company was held by a second
gang of laborers, headed by desperadoes in
the interests of rival would-be lessees, and a
pitched battle went on for fortnight.
FINS.
Whether the railroad riots of 1877 will be
repeated this year or at some time following,
Is thing of guess work. But it Is worth
while considering whether the dishonest force
which may have raised that storm does not
yet exist. We may be doing our poor the
greatest injustice; the demon power may
have been unsupported. There is desperation
as we'll as cowardice in million at risk, and
riots are cheaper than putting up margins.
Long experience in perilous and vast under
takings will make a fnancier as reckless
and strong as a cObqueror. There
was Speculation few years ago who had
the Panama railroad raided by the native
Columbians, it is said, either in their politics
or by arms. Inside the United States one
huge and loose jurisdiction, an Archlmedes,
with place tor his tulcrum could move the
whole. The local laws which bind railways
do not reach to their dlstantrulers, ensconsed
at telegraph instrument IN private barri-
cade. That pirate power, concentrated per-
haps years ago under one hat, subsidies par
ties and smiles at governments.
If these suspicious, wholly impersonal,
should be true, they indicate that the enc
mics of our liberty are the few, not the many;
that we have to seek our fend, not in gem
eral discomfort, but in desperate ambition,
and that the weakness Of our country
is in the want of provision to exert justice
and hang the lofty who use the law.