Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-05-24
OBJ. DuaCANK. mcRAE.

We have received copy OF an Grafton
delivered by. Col. Duncan K. MGR se, well
kaown by most of the re sders of the APPEAL,
at Newbern, N. G., Oh occasion OF planting a
memorial tree in honor of the late Judge
Gsstoa, Of that city. The Grafton ia fire
specimen Of the richness of thought and
sta elinees OF dicticn for which Col. McRae
was mach admired when speaking on
public occasions in this city. r ferring to
the fact that j living tree, not insensate
merble, was the monument chosen to
meraori siizs the hooored dead, the eloquent
FpeIks uttered these besuiiful words: Gin
slesd Of drawing upjn ar, You draw upon
nature; ADD committing this emblem OF your
love ard reverence 20 ths bosom of our
mother earth, who has taken 10 Ter kindly
heart the remains Of him whose name il is
to bear, you invoke her bounteous and pre-
pitious favor that she will suriure It's roots
and strengthen its growth, and swell its p-o-
portions into lofty and stately tree; lofty
and stately like the character it comment
CRATES" The following is specimen Of
terse but suggestive language: wealth
and neutrality-suspicious. Bacon mag have
ssid-is each a poIrer. Wealth is ceatri-
petal, and sggreg ates with few, aud is mo-
nopolistc. Knowledge is oeutri-
tug, aud difusiYe, does not eng -o.s but
disbursss, as doth the gracious year distrib
ute It's blessings through the varying sea-
fons." Many Of our legal readers will ssr
with Co. McRae's sentiments upou very
important subject when he says: "From all
over the land there is a mourntul sigh over
the decadence Of the Judiciary. Il is vain TO
hope otherwise, from lhe adoption OF the
policie, which eonstrain the judicial free.
dom and limi. the judicial Independence.
Invariably will it prove true that Whenever
toe election of the judges is made to depend
on political nominations, AID the fitness to
be judge is qualified by party label, the
rights aud interests of the people are in me-
lion, on a declining plane, to a lower level"
After speaking OF tbs noble life sud Chri.-
tian death Of Judge Castor, the
eloquent orator express d his own
convictions a. 70 the lie 10 come
in the following noble words, which
show that he has lost nothing of that gift of
expression to which we in Memphis have 70
often listened With delight and admiration:
what for good TO msn or woman, TO society
or humanity, if science, se-calIsd or aught
else, should demonstrate, mathsmsticalIy,
that there wss DO creation Of man and ia no
Creator as Genesis relates, and should prose
this pitiiul life to be ths be all and end ALL
and after to Sic in cold obstruction and to
rot, this warm sensible emotion 10 become
kneaded clod,' would intellectual manhood
accept the verdict? Why, no. Man. nigh
genius, then unfettered, bound By no allegi-
suce to the Creator, snd unrestrained by any
orderly control, would compass sea and land,
sky ard earth, and the waters under The
earth, and compelling all the force of nature,
omaipotent and omniscient but not divine.
into his grasp, would, if no angel
stands with aiming sword to guard il.
pluck the fruits ge of the tree of life.
and make himself immortal. Or else in
the riot and confusion Of unlimited and un-
bridled license, this disordered geniua would
again build babel, 10 o'ertop the clouds and
reach 10 heaven; whose giddy head By feeble
base supported, would, rseIins, toltering, tum.
bling, fsll and crash, and crus h the earth till
chaos came agsin with formess void and prinn.
eval solitude. But il can never be. Instinct
and revelation point to God, the author and
giver OF life, and science will always fnd
pause at that line, which it cannot cross,
where force fails, and Creator stands, its
awful presence yelled indeed, but manifest
in might, majesty, power and dominion
through a universe Of works"