The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-01-15
CONGREssMAN pHELAM

present exists, could not have planned
more to the purpose or more unwsely, be-
ing an outspoken advocate OF the measure,
than by his ridiculous constitutional
amendment. He has succeeded in arous-
ing the Democratic Ire by it, and We now
have some doubts that the Blair bill will
ever pass the House. The 81. Louis Re-
publican charactorizes this proposed con-
stitutional amendment rs a measure for
the relief OF shiftless and thriftless States
ut the expense OF the progressive and
economic States. II says that:
In introducinga constitutional amendment EN-
hodying the principle OF the Blair bill. Mr., James
Phelan, the young congressman from the Memphis
ditrict, ILLUSTRATES narrow and yioiously false
Idea of the purposcs Of the federal union. lie
ognizcs the unconstltutonality OF the bill, but
wishes TO change the constitution In accordance
with IT, The bill proposes a scheme Of union un-
der which New York will be made 10 pay u part Of
the local taxes 81 Missouri. and yioo versa. The
people Of Missouri. being intelligent sober, Indus
trlous, economical. thrifty and cnterprslng would
lie fined by the national government IN exact pro-
portion 60 the material rewards OF these qualities,
and the fines thus collected would be divided
among the people Of other States In exact proper
ton 10 their lack Of intelligence sobrety. industry,
economy and thrift Thi,ls the principle and IT,
inevitable consequence. as any one can see who
gives tia few minutes thought
II is not strange that senator Blair should have
conceived the idea Ills brain Is 40 impaired by
his Great Moml Idea Rcpublicanism that he has
written book proposing TO SPEND the surplus. over
and above the premiums for shilloSncN aud stu
pldity, In building an Irresistible American navy.
to be employed IN blowing out Of the water any
foreign vessel found with whisky on boari-and
this with all the solemnlty Of his solemn nature
II Is surprising however, and grlevous that such m
idea could 6nd lodgmcnt and room ior germina.
ton In the head ~ man who halls from Andrew
JackSons own state.
The LouisriNc C0uripJoiTn0l, in q serio-
comic vein, condemns the proposed con-
siitutional amendment rs n thrust at the
constitution itself no consistently scquent
in its provisions IN the fundamental law Of
the Republic. The COmier-Jownai says;
We confess We haven't any idea Jus, how funny
Mt. Phean could be. In view 81 the resolution for
n constitutional amendment which he introduced
which he gave The cgrior.JoErnai correspondent.
when he says that his purpose Is to remove the
constitutional objection 10 the Blair bill. and
thereby enable both yings' Of the Democratic
party 10 unite on that measure he Is oeriinly very
funny. and a. straightforward and original In the
method by which he proposes to reach his end a.
lac l. funny Certainly thero II no more direct way
20 change the spirit Of our constitutional republic
than 10 change it-and 10 change II by going 10
the root Of Il at onco and changing the Constitu.
ton. which Is the expression Of II and the con-
scryAior VI H. Mr. Phclans plan to rcyolutionizc
democratic republic into patcrnAl oligarchy Il
n very simple one, and would prove very effective
one n carried out. but the funny part Of Il begins
when Mr.. Phean assumes that both wings Of tho
Democratic party would asa matter Of course. unlic
on q paicrnal oliEArchy. Mr. Phelan would hard.
" have been iunnicr n he had proposed oonstitu
tlonal amendment relieving any little constitution.
Al barrier. which may stand In the way Of n King
| taking change Of Affairs at WAshlngton. thus en-.
abiing the Democratic party 10 unite on = King
| Why, under such circumstances. should the Demo.
crau not unite on KING Would no, ali oonsiilu.
uonal objection. 10 a King have been removed
Under the constitution - amended there would be
no mason why the Dcmocntic party should not
unite on Mf. Blalne himself aud make that Illus.
trious citizen King True II l. opposed N Mr..
him for President l. the very best reason why II
ought 10 favor him Tor King should Mr Phelan
refuse 10 tkc our advice and persist In blnhing
| reputation asa funny Congressman. he ought by
| all means omhody this suggestion In Seventeenth
amendment 20 tho constitution and cnfry Il along
through with his sixteenth amendment There II
big chunk Of tho concentrated wisdom Of the arcs
In that old saying % Ars,otlcs. when you 60 D.
cattln'. so acattln'"
Coming nearer home than Louisville
or ST. Louis, We find that the newspapers
Of this congressional district are opposed to
this ab-urily conceived amendment 10 the
constitution. The Upton Record says
Mr Phclan calls his pFuposcd amendment the
sixteenth. We hope that no southern member will
vote for Il ne the sixteenth amendment We can.
not niorl 10 give our whole casc away b. atknovl.
| elrlng the validity II The revolutionary amend.
mcnu Tho constitution iyelf provides ior nov
amendments and by This provision. rcscfyiug our
| opinion GA the thirteenth. certainly no more than
thirteen amendments have been made 10 the CON.
sutuilun.
hut The Rocord is no, the only one Of the
country papers In the Tenth District op.
posed TO this ioolishly.concclycd amend.
mcnt. The Bolirdr Bu'i,iin, friend Of the
Blair bill,
Pals TO 80 the necessity u proposed amendment
| 20 tho fcictnl Constitution ior the purpose Of
granting National aid h. education. Under the
Consultation ~ II now b. Cungfc. certainly has
| the power 81 vote all ~ the common schools The
test lawyers and judges IN tho Union admit this
Tnrmct acts " Congress which vctc approved by
the executive and sanctioned by the courts. show
clearly that Congress hRs tho constitutional rght
10 appropriate money IN hi way. with lhl, ight
ieinrc us, we can't so Why Mr Ihclau should nj.
tempt 10 make Federal all constitutional ohilra.
ton. Ths Bsii,fiH Is uual,cfably opposed
to interfering With Tho Constitution.
The Dycrsbwg Gusoiis also n friend Of tho
Blair bill, representing the Ninth, the
next adjoinining Congressional district,
also condemns this mischicyous amend.
ihcnt II says
n Congressman Pholsn 4 rvaily IA favor Of
national aid TO education he hil, 10 scc the
rad 10 succrss when No tnr 10 mach II by con.
s,ltntonal amcndmohl An ayowcd enemy could
not do morc Tor ~ delcat
And Tho Obion Dtmnrui, also Of the
Ninth District sayE
The Rlalr bill i ny far The least Of the two evil
measures. aud We arr souy o. note that Mr. fhcian
has iniOduccd such q bill not that thcu Il any
probability Of II becoming Law, hut because We
hate to 90 Mr. rhclan entertain such ideas
The Nashville Bdnner, too. has something
to say In opposition 10 this ill-,lmcd propo.