The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-09-24

the purpose OF misrepresentation in the
heat of a political canvass, the friendly
spirit OF your inquiry has led me to make
this emphatic denial"
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NATIONAL QUARANTINE WANTED.
Nothing that has ever occurred in the
history OF the country is 80 discredilablc as
the confusion that just now everywhere in
the south prevails-the interruption and
cessation Of business, the fleeing OF whole
populations, and the disquiet and discom-
fort, and all because OF the epidemic that
prevails in jacksonville, Fla, and the
spread Of the disease thence to othorpoints,
including Decatur, Ala, and Jackson, Miss.
To an intelligent European this chaos OF
shot gun quarantincs against the world, -
and tho excitement attendant upon
an almost embargo Oh travel and trail
fc is as libel upon the fine com
mon sense that in all other cases
guides the seli-govorning American peo-
pie. How to account for II all is puzzle
TO him which he cannot solve. What his
own government could do IN such an
emergency ho knows, and he can not UNI
derstand why the United States govern
ment cannot do as well. lie secs the
whole country aroused by the dread OF
disease, for the cure OF which no medicine
has yet been discovered, and he wonders at
the enforcement OF local policy OF local
isolation enforced by every village, town
aud city by shotguns in the hands OF spec
inl guards and asks himself why all these
forces arc not combined to insure free trait
iic by the enforced isolation OF all places
cursed by the plague and not that OF the
places which il has not yet touched such
work il alone within the reach OF the
National Government II is alone compc-
tent to deal with Interstate ~ we'll asinier-
national affairs and il alone should attempt
the only methods by which the spread OF
any epidemic disease can be prevented. IL
does not hesitate to interfere In the inter
est Of interstate trade and commerce where
railroads are concerned rs II has q consti'
tutional right To 10. and why should 1t
not, for the same reason, interfere to pre-
vent thesprcad Of a disease which prevents
interstate trade aud for a timc-thc best
part OF the business ycar-puts q stop Ill
most to all interstate commerce and trade.
Why should not the Federal Gov
crnmcnt, which takes entire control
of our international commerce, also
take control Of the quarantine ser
vice that may any day totally sup
press that commerce, and by doiig ~
usurp one Of the most important Of its
sovereign iunc,ionsl These are questions
that merchants. bank ors and business men
everywhere ARE asking. and hoy prc qucs-
tons that can only bc answered In one
way. Tho Federal Government has the
authority TO take control Of oil in
tcrnational and interstate quamntincs,
and II alone should exercise that
authority. aud II ought TO exercise Il
for the preservation of the health and
lives OF the people, aud 20 assure
them in "ihc pursuit Of happiness"
Tho Federal Government can alone save
the country from losses OF life aud money,
such NJ II z now suffering from,
by the immediate revival Of the
National Board u Health or the
establishment Of Bureau Of Public
Health such rs the nearly 100 saniiarans
who make mp the membership OF the
American Public Health Association have
pciiiioncl ior. This Congress might easily
provide Tor II before Il adjoumA Thcra
can be nothing political In the op'aniEa-
ton Of such body, nothing 10 excite lie.
bate, aud rnE ArrEAL again urges upon
the Senators aud Representatives from
Tennessee particularly. and thosc from the
whole South, especially, Is put bill at
oucr upon ~ passage that will secure the
dcsicd cud. Let "a, ior the general pub
lies safety, now nnd In the future, for the
protection oi commerce and the saving
81 life, either have the National Board Of
health ryiycd OF q National nupau Of
Puhlic Health established under the dircc-
ton and ~ an adjunct Of tho Treasury
Department