Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-07-05
THE COURSE OF THE FLOOD.

The St. Louis Democrat thus statei
the platforms Of the two parties
Union Platform-Loyal men shall con
troll the Government
Democratic Platform--Restore rebels
to power and give them the control OF
National affairs
Radical legislation is not more fair
than this statement, nor lis policy more
patriotic or honest Admitting the
South to representation in the Govern
ment is the same, in Radical estimation,
as giving it the control of national at
fairs. This is compliment to the ge-
MUS of the South Every Southern
State fully represented in Congress,
would leave the Radicals still with ma
jority, but not two-thirds Cutting down
this two-thirds majority is what is termed
giving the Government to the rebels.
To retain, therefore, constitutional alb
solution over the fortunes of the South
ern States, they are to be deprived OF
representation. The feeble strength OF
the South in Congress would demoralize
the Radical majority and render itineapa-
ble OF performing all it means. Those
who have been accustomed to say to that
body, do this, or that and were
obeyed, would SILVER il their boots -
confront few members from the South.
But it is not more the number OF votes
the South would oppose To Radieal meas
ures, that are dreaded, than the pres
ence and personal influence of the nen-7
bers. If few men from the South. adj
mitied into Congress, could, bv the furcs
of their genius, control the Government,
what ought to be thought of the genius
of the great Radical family7 This ge-
MUS, or influence, or whatever it may De
called, to be got rad OF, must be diEirau-
chised and kept 10 obscurity, while ignn-
rance and passion triumph. We have
read of the Acknowledgement and out
lawery of ignorance, but never OF r.
Mus, character and intelligence. En-
lightened States cultivate these
and make them the basis Of government
1t is reserved for our model republic TO
reverse the rule TIE wors; mcuarcks
of modern times have drawn about them
men Of cultivation, and esteemed their
encouragement one Of the chief EIories
Of the state
The sentiment that loyal men shah
control the government, is something
more than an idle assumption Of Radi-
calism. II proposes TO carry the doc
trine into effect by The most solemn legal
enactments Assuming itself to be the
only loyal party, it proceeds to disfran-
chise the other, or so much Of its ele-
menis as will serve to keep it in the mi-
noriiy BRowNLow and his men IN this
State have given practical illustration
If the doctrine is good in Tennessee,
why not in New York q? 1t is only
necessary to resolve that the De-
mocracy, or the Conservatives are
disloyal, to disfranchise them. 1t
is coming to this, without donbt The
Democrats Of the North begin to see it
In Missouri Gen. FRANK BLAIR has been
denied the right Of suffrage by Radical
ism, and the courts have sustained the
act 1t believed that nearly the entire
Democratic party of that State is denied
the ballot In Tennessee all parties, ex-
cept that of BRowNLow, are in a similar
condition Unless the courts, following
the lead of the Supreme Court of Penn
sylvania, shall declare disfranchisement
unconstitutional, it is no stretch Of i'm
sgination to believe that the Radicals will
attempt to carry into legal effect their
platform as stated in the extract ABOVE