The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-10-10
THE YOUNG DEMOCRACY FOR
PROHRESS

instructive and pTohtable-that OF
these United States especially. Look
ing back through the past two hun
dred years, we find that very often the
principle that was rejected one day
becams the rule Of government the
next, and that many of those things
that vera regarded as fuuds-
mental and underlying principles
of the progress Of the race were made
30 by Parliamentary contests that
marked so many crises in the march
of the greatest people in the world,
and great because OF their willingness
to yield 10 the majority as the ulti-
mate and fiuality on all questions. In
three notable instances the minority
appealed from the vote of the
majority and invoked the aid of
the sword to decide between them
during the reign of Charles the First,
when Cromwell established the reign
OF the common people; in 1915, when
the American colonies appealed from
the rash and usurping power OF Par
Lament, and again in 1861,
when the South appealed against the
power OF the Northern majority, sus-
tanned by cohesive and overwhelm.
ing public sentiment Each Of these
eras Of bloody revolution are notable
for the gigantic strides made by the
race socially and educationally as well
as politically. England has steadily
gained on the power that Cromwell as
serted soDastefuly and the United
States, great and powerful though they
were in 1860,were as an infant 10 man
by comparison with what they are
now. They have almost doubled in
population, and the increase in wealth
has been marvellous, indeed, almost
beyond belief. During this time Of
fabulous growth two great principles
that were the subject OF fierce party
contention during the ante bellum
period were consummated by legisla-
tion-a continuous system OF public
Improvements and system OF national
banks-both Of which have had the
acquiescence of the whole country.
To the public improvement policy we
in Memphis owe the preservation of
our harbor, aud to the national banks
the whole country is indebted for a
safe and solvent currency that few
would care to even tamper with.
Other changes Of national poll |
cy have taken place of less
marked degree that with these indi-
cate progress just as the acquisition of =,
territory under Democratic admins
tration measured the gigantic strides
Of the Republic toward the mastery
OF the continent, and as no one wouli
think of suggesting that Louisiana
should be restored to France and the
trans Mississippi country over to the
Pacific should be restored to Spain,
80 no sane man would suggest that the
nation rttrace it's steps and repeal the
laws that have for years, and during
each year proven their necessity. Re-
actionists there are and always will
be, but they are as the logs
that sem the current of
great river for brief hour and
then are thrown upon the banks
as weak and powerltss hindrsnces.
In Tennessee we have today few
such reaCtionists, men who cannot re-
alize the results of the great revolu-
ton that are not only fastened in the
national constitution but in the cus-
toms and habits of thought of the peo-
pie as the impulses nearest to their con-
sciences and their hearts. Such men
would dam up the current of progress
and stifle the ambition OF the people.
They live in the past, and fill their
present with the horrors of desr
lion that no Others but themselves can
realize. They would oppose Fed.
eral aid for all purposes that
are not expressly stipulated
IN the constitution, and comfortable in
heir sentimental politics would pre-
vent the growth OF their own section
while the North and West, practical
and with a purpose Of continued
growth in population and wealth,
availed themselves of appropriations
or public works and everything
1t all calculated to advance their in 6
egests. The young Democracy of
Tennessee and the South, animated by
he spirit Of restless and resistle:s j
.se, realizing the comp eteness of
he revolution Of 1865 and practi- /
al in their politics, are eager .
or Federal aid wherever it =
an be lawfully availed of. Strict t
instruction to them means obstruc- I
ion and death and continuance of !
he domination Of the North and
Vest in the councils of the Re- t.
ublic and the administration of its "
fairs. They know that revolu- q
ons never 60 backward. James