The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-05-04
WILL THEY BE MYTHS?
LAMENT OVER THE CHANGES IN
AMERICAN PRACTICES.
A Gentleman of the Old School Voices
Suspicion That There Was Not as
Much Heart in the Centennial Cele-
bration as There Should Have Been.

"What will be the effect OF the centen-
NAL anniversary OF George Washington's
inauguration upon the politics Of the coun-
try?" inquired an elderly gentleman, one
OF the old school now seldom met. of an
APPEAL reporter yesterday.
The reporter who is yet a kid and COM
parativcly untutored in the science OF poll
tics aud sentiment, insisted upon being
excused from rash display of his igno-
rance, and the elderly gentleman resumed:
81 am disappointed, but on the pleasant
lay. | Expected you to launch forth Il lot
of miantile ideas, on the young American
principle that say must be had on every
proposition that arises. Since you have
not will answer my own question, ac-
cording to my way OF thinking In the
days OF George Washington, and Tor sew.
eral years aiterward, tho principle and
| practice was TO let the office seek tho man.
The country was never thrown into cramps
and spasms by men schomng, scrambling
combining aud selling out themselves and
friends for Office Rather did they shrink
from il, rs great public trust that
carried with It responsibilities which
might swamp them, and perhaps ALLEVIATE
those sacred private friendships TO them
the dearest possessions on earth. |, was
patriotic love OF and scli.sacrihco for
country that drove man into office in
those days, The Democratic idea pre-
vailed in all its Republican simplicity
and purity. Coun,rymen called aud the
hero and martyr obcyed. Honor? To be
sure those who were called appreciated,
in the highest sense OF that term the dis.
tinction bestowed, and then II was the re-
fined metal. No tarnish OF bribery, bal
lot-box siulling or other fraudulent prac-
lice attached To tho Office. To lose who
have studied our American institutions
these facts are rs familiar as A, II, g. and
the knowledge, II lost sight OF for the timo
being has been revived IN all lbs refreshing
iulncss us ono OF the pleasing sentiments
OF the centennial celebration.
"Will 1t be rc-eslnhlishcd, oven In part2
Hardly, during the life OF this generation,
il ever. Have YOU heard much OF Wash.
ington aud the childish purity OF states
men in his day and generation, ~ topic
growing out Of the cclcbation2 No?
| Well, II YOU had, IL would have been that
much ahead OF me. The only places In
this city where tribute was paid the heroes
OF our early history were three churches
aud one or two female schools Of learning
| merely refer 10 that, however. rs i'm
pressivo Of my view OF the sitn-
alton. We live In the present, aud
the policy Of our generation Is TO first
consider the offices and let patriot c
scli.sacridcc come aitorward II Il prove
good article to hlyrin the household. Re-
Varl, II you please, he hungry horde Of
Republicans sirtning every nerve and the
last slring Of their pur-,s Tor offices within
the eft uf the Administration. Reflect
upon the desperate methods oi the party
owning the Administration To put II there.
Turning from the enemy aud the Nation
10 Tennessee, What great schemes are being
laid 10y men ambitious los political distiuc
ton. How many candidates Tor Goycrno
, en- the Democratic side have we. and hoy
) long have they baen gazing In that dire
, linn2 What appears almost within thci
} gasp after tho Gubcrnntorlal chair /,
} rcachcdY Why, the United STATES Senate
the goal Of their ambition. since higher
stop could hardly be- considered los any OF
them, even IN thcif Wi,dcsl aud mos, ir.
rational moments 80 YOU rec how iar
ahead the aspiring politician looks. What
must be- do 10 attain the object
In yirw2 Nurture the strength he has.
be- IL eat or small, aud garner la
! every additional mctor possible. Who
) are thc ruiing factors IN our politics today,
! The ward hos aud hummer. Men who
would proceed almost 10 the point Of muir
} dci to cary the day lor what there II In ]
Tor them. Now | have reached the inter
: csliug point Have the clusscs who dccid,
the drsiny Of the aspiring politician, m,
who are rnrsscd and ioslorcd by him. M,
, interest IN common with our gloriou
country. rs contemplated 10y lis founders
} the grand old patriots Of century ago
J Perhaps they have, but II 10 have beet
} unable 10 bring them into NV mind.
incline 10 the opinion that tie Ccnlcnnia
anniversary 10 recently celebrated viii
such magnificent ponp aud ceremony Was
, after all, q sort OF empty sham, a ifiilin.
, with sacred conditions buried under ar
n immoyablc weight Of years The gfca
4 issue now seems % bo race iur indi
, | vidull supremacy insCud Of rcli-sacfi
b ncing labor Cot America and our cherished
D institutions The man with b1ud'c ha.
D axes o. giiud. and either performs the jul
. openly himself after squeezing Do, way 9,
Y the grlnistonc, ur pays thc fellow who la.
' il a. do thc work Tor him. No, the gait al
which We are travelling nov will sOUl
, place Washington, Jyilcpol and th' U,hcl
4 great lights WHO figured ~ our early his
4 Tory, In ulc mythical realm"
. l. ia. 4 tstff "a fIafN