Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-05-31
HUMANITARIAN BE MAINTAINED

The APPEAL yesterday informed the pub
lie that the National Board Of Health will
continue the quarantine below Memphis
until the end Of June, which adds a month
to the time when that important agent against
the spread Of epidemic will be abandoned,
then we must be left unprotected unless the
people Of the lower Mississippi undertake
themselves 10 provide for their own safety.
The National Board Of Health has been de-
prived Of funds by the inaction of Congress,
but it is still in existence with all its powers,
and when another Congress meets efforts will
no doubt be made by the people of the valley
which will result 10 the necessary funds be-
ing placed in the hands Of the board, which
will then resume actively the exercise Of the
important work which is committed TO it.
10 the meantime, from the end Of June
onward, what is to be done? Are the cities
and population of the valley to be left during
the dangerous months Of July, August and
September to the mercy Of accident? A
single traveller from Cuba, or other infected
place, with the germs of disease yet unde-
veloped in his system, may come unchal-
lenged, unexamined, into the interior and
start an epidemic as a spark starts gun
powder into explosion. Such events have
occurred, and without precaution will occur
again. True, we have cleansed aud severed
and paved, but the prevalence any year of
peculiarly upsanative atmosphericsl condi-
tions may prove too much for all our efforts,
4 ahandnr, he at,fi
antine. However perfect we may in time
make our sanatory Improvements, il would
be the hight of folly to lay the Southern
country open uDguarded TO the influx of in
fected persons or material. During the iu-
terval, therefore, Of temporary powerlessness
provide against danger by providing the
means Of continuing the quarantine after tue
board ceases TO be able to act Sufficient
money must be contributed by the popula-
tion TO carry en- the quarantine as long as
infection ia possible. We say "must," be-
cause circumstances compel one Of two alter
natives, the least of which must of course be
chosen. Either the money necessary to
guard against epidemic must be contributed,
or the risk of suffering another epidemic
must be run. The cost Of quarantine is q
comparative trifie, that of an epidemic ia
immense, and to the cost must be added the
loss of human life. Have we not sufficiently
numerous victims TO epidemics lying in our
cemeteries? Are not our hearts even yet
Wrupg with anguish rs we call to mind the
dear ones Lost from our families, the friends
torn from social intercourse, the esteemed
aud valued citizens that are no longer TO be
met with in our streets? Can we ever forget
the nights of woe and the days of sorrow we
have borne, when our streets we're deserted
and the destroying angel was every hour
striking down new victims? Our city
has with surprising power recovered
its energies after those avail visitatious.
New projects promise unlimited prosperity,
energy ia aroused hccause confidence has
been restored, our commerce has taken a new
spring, railroads are converging toward our
city, improvements are making and houses
building, and all is bright with promise for
the future. Is all this 10 be dashed 10 the
ground, all hope TO be quenched, all conf
dence of better days to be put 10 the rick OF
destruction, when, by voluntarily supporting
quarantine for some weeks 10 come, faithful
guardians may be on the watch at every
point to prevent the ingress of infection?
We must pay 10 support quarantine for a
short time, or we mus: risk losing the bright
prospects that now cheer us; risk damaging
our commerce, Gripping our means, and
falling back into the lose and woe we have
endured sufficiently to dread them, and
surely sufficient 10 induce us subscribe all
the funds necessary to save US from under
going unnecessary rick. When our citizens
are called upon to contribute, let them re-
member the considerations the APPEAL lays
before them, and give a moderate subscrip-
ton now, that they may save themselves
from the loss of friends, loss of trade and
loss of the cheering hopes for the future that
now animate US.