The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-05-10


upon its politicians, judges, clergy
men and merchant princes bowed humbly,
with their hats in their hands. The real
friend OF man was denounced ~ an enemy
OF his Countrywide real enemy OF the hui
man race was called statesman and a
patriot. Slavery was the bond and pledge
OF peace, OF union and national greatness
The temple of American liberty was fin
ished, the auction block was the corner
stone.
II is hard TO conceive OF the utter demon
alization, Of the political blindness and
immortality, Of the political dishonesty, Of
the cruelty and degradation OF people
who supplemented the Incompatible
declaration Of independence with the
fugitive slave law. Think OF the honored
statesmen OF that noble time, who wal
lowed in this mire, and who, decorated
with dripping filth, received the plaudits
OF their fellow men. The noble, the
really patriotic, were the victims OF mobs,
and the shameless were clad in the robes
OF Office. But let us speak no word OF
blame; let us feel that each one acted ac-
cording TO his Notwithstanding TO his
darkness.
AT last the conflict came. The hosts OF
light and darkness prepared to meet upon
the fields OF war. The question was pre-
sented: Shall the republic be slave or
free2 The Republican party had triumphed
at the polls. The greatest man in our
history was President-elect. The victors
were appalled-they shrank from the great
responsibility OF success. In the presence
of rebellion they hesitated-they offered TO
return the fruits OF victory. Hoping 10
avert war, they were willing that slavery
should become immortal. An amend
ment TO the constitution was proposed, to
the effect that no subsequent amendment
should ever be made that in any way
should interfere with the right Of man TO
steal his fellow-men.
This, the most marvellous proposition
ever submitted TO Congress OF civilized
men, received in the House an overwhelm-
ing majority and the necessary two-thirds
in the Senate. The Republican party, in
the moment OF its triumph, deserted every
principle for which ii had so calamity con-
tended, and with trembling hands Of fear
laid its convictions on-the altar Of compro.
mise.
The old guard. numbering about sixty.
five in the House, stood as firm as the SOC
at Thermopyln. Thadeus Stevens AS
maliciously right rs any other man was
ever wrong-reiused TO kneel. Owen Love.
JOY, remembering his brothers noble
blood, refused TO surrender, and on the
edge OF disunion, in the shadow OF civil
war, with the air filed with sounds Of
dreadful preparations, while the Republic
an party was retracing its steps, Roscoe
Conkling voted no. This puts a wreath Of
glory on his tomb. From that moment to
the end OF his life he was a champion OF
equal rights, stanch and stalwart.
From this moment he stood in the front
rank. lie never wavered and he never
swerved. BY his devotion 10 principle
his courage the splcndor Of his diction-
by his varied and profound knowledge
liis conscientious devotion 10 the greaI
cause, and by intellectual scope and grasp
lac won and held the admiration Of his fel
low men.
Disaster in the field, reverses at the polls
did not nor could not shake his courage OF
his faith. lie knew the CHASTITY meaning
OF defeat. lie knew that the great shiI
that slavery sought TO strand and WRECK
was freighted with the worlds sublimes
hope. He battlcd for nations life FOL
the rights OF slavcs-the dignity OF labo
and the liberty Of all. lie guarded will
fathers care the rights Of the hated anC
despised. He attacked the savage statutes
OF the reconstruction States with torren
OF inycctive, scorn and execration. lie wa
not satisfied until the freedman was az
American citizen-clothed with every civi
right-until the constitution was his shield
until the ballot was his sword.
And long after we are dead the colurct
man In this and other lands will speak hi
name in reverence and love. Other
wayercd, but he stood firm; some wer
false. but he was proudly truo-iearlcssl!
faithful unto death.
lie gladly, proudly grasped the hand
OF colored men who stood with him n
makers OF our laws, and treated them n
equals and NJ friends. The cry OF "socia
equality" coined and uttered by the crue
and the base, was 10 him the expression O
a great and splendid truth. lie knew tina
no man can be the equal OF one he robs-
that the intelligent and unjust are not tn
supcriors Of the ignorant and honest-an,
he also felt, and proudly felt, that II h
were not too great TO reach the hand o
help and recognition 10 the slave no othe
senator could rightiully refuse.
We rise by raising Others, and he VIII
stoops above the fallen stands erect.
Nothing can be grandcr than 10 SOW tn
seeds OF noble thoughts and virtuou
deeds, 10 libemte the bodies and the soul
Of men, 20 earn tho grateful homage OF
race, and then, In LIES last shadowy hour
10 know and feel that the historian Of lib
erty will be compelled 20 write your name
There are not words enough 10 expires
my admiration for the great and gallan
souls who have In every age and ever,
land upheld the right, and who have live,
and died for freedoms sake.
In our lives have been the grandest year
that man has lived, that time has measures
by tho fight OF worlds.
The history OF that great party that le
the oppressed 20 freo-that lifted our ma
ton from the depths Of savagcry 10 free
dom's cloudlcss nights, and tore with hol
hands from every law the words that sanci
fled the cruelty Of man, II the most gle
rious In the annals OF our race. Never be
fore was there such moral oxidation
never party with purpose 10 pure an
high. II was tho embodied conscience Z
a nation, the enthusiasm OF a peopl
guided by wisdom, the impersonation q
Justice; and the sublime victory achieve
loaded even the conquered with all IN
rights that freedom can bestow.
Roscoe Conkling was an absolutely hon
est man.
Honesty IL the oak around which a
other virtues cling. Without that the
fall and groycling die in weeds and dusi
lie believed that nation should discharg
IL obligations lie knew that promis
could not be made often enough or en-