The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-04-15
"BIGLOW'S" SENTIMENTS,
JAMES r. LowELL's ADDRESS ON
INDEPENDENCE IN POLITICS"
Phiiosophio Consideration OF tho Rela-
tions and Aspirations OF tho Two
Great Parties.

New YoRK, April 1.-THE following
were passages in Mr.. James Russell
Lowell's address at Steinway hall, dcliv.
cred under the auspices Of the new Re.
form club:
have not been so much surprised IA
perhaps ought TO have been TO learn
that, in the opinion OF some Of our leading
politicians and many Of our newspapers,
students Of books are ipso iacto debarrcd
from forming any judgment on public ai-
fairs; or, II they should he 30 INSCRIPTIONS
as to do so, that they must at least refrain
from communicating II TO their fellow
citizens. One eminent gentleman has
even gone 10 far as 10 sneer at school
books M sources Of information. II he
had chance he would, perhaps, take q
hint from what Is tabled OF the Caliph
Omar, and burn our libraries, because II
they contained doctrines not TO be found
in his speeches they were harmful, while,
II the doctrine, judged by that test, was
orthodox, they were useless. But II we
are forbidden TO seek knowledge In books,
what is the alterna,ive2 could think o
none unlcss Il were immediate inspiration
II IL true that could not see that any
authentic marks OF II were revealed by III,
advocates OF this novel theory. They keep
their secret remarkably well.
must frankly confess at the outset that
come 10 you wholly unprovidcd with
this precious commodity. must also
admit that ! am book man, that am
old.iashionod enough 10 have read many
books, and that hope torcad many more.
find them easier reading than some other
kinds Of printed matter
The speaker quoted Lord Bacon on the
objections urged In his time against pc
dants in politics. and continued: 'Pmcii.
cal politicians, as they call themselves,
have the same habit still, only that they
have substituted doctnnairc Tor pedant
as the term Of roproach. Now, the true
aud mischicyous doctrinaire ~ ho who In.
sists tat facts shall accommodate them.
selves 10 preconcciycd theory, aud the
truly practical man, he would dcducc
theory from the amplest possible compar-
ison and correlation Of iacis-in other words,
from recorded experience. think u is
already beginning 10 be apparent ON which
slide Of the questions which have been
brought 10 the front by the Presidents
message the doctrnaircs are 10 he found
Mr. lowell explained that In speaking
Of ''thc place Of the independent In poll
tics" while lac should not hesitate 10 touch
upon current events, his intention was h
create upon the subject In lis general,
rather than special application. lie de-
fined the independent Ia his own words,
written forty years ago.
~ honor the man who l. lcady 10 slnk
Half his present repule for the FREEDOM 20 think,
And when he has thought bo his Gauss strong OF
WIN hsE rothcr hall for the freedom 10 speak
Caring not for what ycngtnnto The mob has In
Let that mob be tho upper ten thousaud or
lower"
Mr.. Lowell then proceeded 10 define and
contrast 'tho art Of politics. and "tho
science Of craftsmanship, and proceeded.
II one would know the difference be-
tween a statesman and politician let him
compare "Burke's Views Of the American
Troubles" with that Of DR.. Johnson. The
question for Burke was not whether taxa
ton were tyranny, but whether the Amer
icnns would think 1t 80.
Never did two mon show moio clearly
the quality of true statesmanship or render
n more precious service 10 their party and
their country than Senators Fcsscndon
and Trumbull when they dared 10 act In
dcpendcntly 0f party In the Impeachment
case against President johnson. They
saved us from the creeping paralysis which
II now gradually benumbing the political
energies Of Frnce. Nay, while We were
yet In the grisl reduced statesmen,
not, indeed, endowed With Burke's gunius
though fairly comparable with him In
breadth Of view, and perhaps his supcrios
in practical eagacity But | think there Is
growing doubt whether we are not
ceasinR 10 produce them, whether perhaps
we are not losing the power 10 produce
them. The tricks Of management are
more and more supcroding the science Of
government believe that there II ~
much of the raw material Of statesmanship
among M AZ ever there was, but the duties
levied by the local ringsof majority manu-
iacturers are 10 high IN 10 prohibit It's en-.
trance into competition with the protected
article.
Corruption aud loosne@ In political
methods and the indillcrcnccs Of the press
10 this state Of affairs were touched on.
Ho said that the north had fought i0ui
years 20 saye part of the Union, aud now
The whole Of Il vas being hlched away.
lie said "Ii parties will not look alter
their own drainage aud ventilation, Their,
must DO somebody whowDl do II ior them