Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1880-05-15
SOUTHERN LETHARGY.

The above is the language Of the
Memphis Appeal one of the leading
papers in the South and for this reason
if no other, it demands more than a
casual reading. There is much said in
q few words, in short it is a madtrm Gp
payQ extract aud if what is said be
true it is "sad" indeed to contemplate
the subject. But the truth of the above
statement is what we question, 1t has
become common for the southern press
to echo such sentiments as the above
in answer to the bold and unjust as
sumptions Of some northern shriekers
in the same direction; and we have |
noticed the above copied by some Of
our exchanges in Tennessee without a !
word of comment which is a taCit en-
dorsement of the sentiment sopublishod.
The appeal is guilty of saying the
above without q reason given to sup
port it, or an allowance made for the
great political and commercial reyerses
Of the south incident to the ravages of
war upon her territory and the conse-
quent sectional hatred and animosities
engendercd against her every interest
and enterprise by her dominant and
enyious foe, the north. At the break
ing ont of the late civil war, in moral
tone, in intelligence, in q high stand
ard Of classical education, in hospitali-
ty, in magnanimity, in liberality Of sen,
timent and action, ip-&soedeH. from re-
ligious intolerance and bigotry, from
witchcraft free .loyeism, superstition
and all forms of ianaticism, in short in
all the heightened elements of truly
enlightened and advanced civilization,
the South stood inferior to no people
beneath the broad glare of the ever
shining sun. At the close of this un.
happy struggle the South stood unjustly
deserted by all the higher instincts Of
enlightened humanity among foreign
nations and conquered by an arrogant
} and jealous rival at home, to the mercy
Of whom she was left alone to weep,
to droop and die, if die she could,
amid her broken fortunes and ruined
towers Of former greatness, shorn Of
"energy and enterprise" as well as Of
aspirations for greatness again; shorr
not only of all wealth and the mean;
to acquire it, but Of all political power
to protect it, abandoned to the politica
prejudices and partisan rule of an ig
norant race Of slaves into whose hand.
were placed the ballots forcibly wresteC
from their masters. In this state o
J misfortune the Memphis appeal fnd
; vent for the above hateful cant and un
: guarded Slander. But we call to GU
, aid just here the words of magnani
, nous son of the North, DR.. Talmage
e who towers above the mean slush Of hi
day and speaks the truth at the risk o
. the heavens falling He says to
Brooklyn audience:
"Why sirs, Ineyer saw more placiC
e people-some Of them with all thei
: property gone and starting life at fort,
= or sixty years of age with one leg o
, one arm or one eye, the member miss
ing sacrificed in battle! 1t is simpl,
s miraculous that those people feel s.
cheerful and amiable. It is dastardl,
mean to keep representing them as &C
= rid and waspish and saturnine and ma
levoIent. have travelled as much a
most people in this and other lands
c and have yet tofnd more afable, de-
l. icately sympathetic, whole-heayted pee
Y pie than the people ofthe South. The
. are to-day loyal and patriotic, and if
y foreign foe should attempt to set foe
u on this soil for the purpose of intimida
l. ton and conquests, the forces of Drag
" and Geary, McClelland and Beaurt
Y gard, Lee and Grant would come shou
! der to shoulder, the blue and the gray
- and The Cannons of Fort Hamilton
Sumter and Pickens would join in on
chorus of thunder and fame"
If the southern press and people ha
Is the manliness to speak the truth ind
20 pendently of the distemrered fanat
q. cism of few northern enthusiasts, W
would have more "engery and ente
70 prise" in the south and more Talmagt
-. and Just recognition in the north, an
consequently more fraternity and goo
N feeling throughout the Union.
q. There is not people on the face
Of the earth that has made such rap
Of strides toward prosperity and thri
Il. during the twenty years of her desol
bo ton under circumstances so adverse
4. the South. Fifteen years ago Il
North stood triumphant and the Sout
cast down. The South stands to-dl
sh regenerated and renewed in her syste
ct of labor, commercial pursuits, soci
o. relations and political power. Al