Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-11-03
THE INJUNCTION QUESTION,
scrutator to the Muddlers.

MEssRs. MUDDLERs: / have few
words for you this evening, which you
may take we'll or i'll as suits your supreme
humor. Yet you ought to receive them
with good grace, for, if you notice,
there is somewhat of similarity between
us. You are SO tenacious of your official
lives that you die as hard as the domestic
animal which has got the universal credit
of having nine; and you see that l am
just as persistent in assisting you to give
up the ghost. You perceive we are per-
fectly agreed as to the principle, it is
only in our object we differ yours is to
make yourselves ridiculous and con-
temptible; mine to prevent you from
suffering such disgrace. Others, pretend
ing to be your friends, advise you to ex-
haust every bubble and quirk to obtain
positions which the people have declared
you are not entitled to-have said en-
phatically they will not have you. Yet
you will thrust yourselves upon them,
because-because what; that you have
superior qualifications to those chosen
that your great moral worth and personal
accomplishments should be placed in
office as beacon for the balance of man.
kind; that your enlarged public spirit,
and hitherto extremely valuable services,
are indispensable No; but because
you happened to qualify for official orders
by gulping an oath which must, with
some of you, be indigestible.
How that agrees with the mental pab-
ulum furnished by the Metropolitan
Record, which served as family bible,
prayer-book and all for long time, /
must leave to those who have tried the
experiment of amalgamating the two, to
decide. 1t is my opinion, of course,
taken for what it is worth, that from the
present indications Of several Office
seekers, treasury pap will reconcile
contradictions, quiet, conscientious
qualms, and supply the principle. Doubt
less you are bolstering your shaky con-
sciences with the idea that you are SOW
ing the seed for bountiful harvest of
scorn and contumely for yourselves, in
order to benefit the city. If you could
prove that the welfare of the public was
the motive for your wish to "muddle; )"
if you could convince the taxpayers of
your paramount abilities; if you could
ever display clean record, the dear
people might after long training begin
to consider your claims but were you
possessed of the very small knowledge
requisite to give expression to the we'll
defined idea existing in your cultivated
minds, that the city Of Memphis, with
all the appurtenances thereunto belong
ing, is yours, to have and to hold forever,
there would be no opposition to your re-
newing the late game of fat contracts,
profitable leases, and all the other little
ct ceteras which formed sucha glorious
halo to your ancient rule. Could not
one of your secret advisers be induced
to point out this path it would shorten
the dropping under lips, and improve
the irritable tempers of unfortunate
bondsmen, and prevent you from
bearing the annoyance and expense of
protracted litigation, which will benefit
none but the lawyers Hearken have
you ever seriously considered what this
rushing into Court, for your own ag-
grandizement, and muddling," as your
special organ calls it, the city business
will benefit you The people have de-
clared their choice at the polls, you are
struggling TO set aside the verdict of
those who alone have the power to make
and unmake public servants. They have
tried the majority Of you muddlers "
and found you wofully wanting; think
you they are simple enough to yield their
power to such as you, because q chancel-
lor delivers an opinion in favor of trial
which may or may not result in your
favor Whatif it did Are there not
other steps to be taken, higher tribunals
to be called upon for their decision and,
while waiting for their dictum, time rolls
on, you are still out in the cold, and the
10th corporate year has passed by with
out bringing you the official spOils which
made your teeth water to possess them.
Balance your account then, and see what
you have obtained for lost time, labor,
anxiety and means; and you will find
that you have obtained the scorn and
contempt of every honorable, right-mind-
ed man Of the community; a burden
which all the fulsome adulation Of inte-
rested advisers will in nowise assist you
to bear up under Granting every
thing went exactly as you wish;
Won have obtained the Offices you
seek, are you so lost to every
sense Of dscency and shame, as,
for the reception of the paltry salary, to
-. ,-,,,-..l,o. IN a Ynoral niliorv that