Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-11-27


of our perilous times that fanaticism is
ruling the pulpit and the churches to a
large extent in the Northern States.
And even the religious press (2) has, in
many instances, succumbed. See the
following from the New York Church
Union, which enters the arena for the
Presidential scramble:
"Inasmuch as ye did il not unto one
of the least of those, ye did il not unto
me-
We desire to make tho word Of God
the man of our counsel in all important
movements. 1t is upon this word, then,
that we base our reasons for advocating
simple act of justice to five millions of
American citizens, generally regarded as
the least of the family of man, lowliest
in position, and so humble as TO have but
recently escaped from bondage to their
master and ruler. Our reasons for sug.
gesting the name Of Frederick Douglass
as worthy Of the suffrage of this nation
are these:
|. He represents by his race a sixth
part of the population of this land. By
the simplest principles of justice to all
the people who must share the burdens
and the blessings of this Government,
we ask candid men, aud no others will
care to read this article through, if it is
not time this endless blarney about equal
rights to all should be put to some prac
tical test2 1t is due 5000, 900 OF Ameri-
can born citizens, as loyal TO our flag
and our principles as any in this nation,
that some one of their number have the
supreme control of the Executive branch
of this Government for brief period at
least Frederick Douglass is universally
accepted as their leading statesman,
therefore we advocate his election to
that office.
2. 1t is expedient. Nothing would
sooner settle this disturbed country than
test like this. 1t would elevate and
make honorable race that must other
wise remain as it is, embarrassed by the
prejudices of the bad and the fastidious,
the aristocrats and the selfish, and all
who hate the principles at the founda-
ton of this Government Elevate Fred.
Douglass to the Presidency, and you do
more to silence these busy and otherwise
hopeful enemies of freedom and this
Union than fifty sessions of Congress and
all the talk of thirty years past. An act
is what we want That settles something
Talk does nothing
1t is expedent because he can be
elected more easily than any other Rad
ical candidate. We cant trust the white
man in this emergency. Sheridan is
very well, but be was an old-line Whig,
and Andrew johnson ought to be q
warning to all future time for US. A
white man like Sheridan could carry
some military but little moral power
Frederick Douglass is a temperance man;
he is an advocate of the most advanced
views of universal suffrage; he believes
woman is as good as a colored man to
judge who ought to rule; he is not
wild, reckless, hair Drained fanatic, but
cool without being heartless, and wise
without being willing to sell the truth,
We believe he could carry every State
lately in rebellion, the entire Western
States, including Ohio, and all new
England, except Connecticut New
Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Mary
land, Kentucky, and the Nutmeg State,
we believe, are all the States which would
vote against him.
With these States opposed to him. he
would have several doubtful ones to
spare, and would 90 into the White
House with party strengthened eter
nally by the admitted consciousness of
having lived clear up to its principles.
The power of radical parties must always
be not in extreme measures, but consis-
tency. The Republican party is the
party of progress, purity and democracy.
Let it live out these principles to their
legitimate conclusion, and it will always
hold the power it has gained. Let it
waver or go back, and it will vanish in
an hour.
8. Finally, we believe Frederick Doug
lass ought to be elected President of the
United States, because heis both capable
and honest. No man in this country can
point successfully to a single misstep he
has ever taken in political life of thirty |
years. European monarchs would |
rather admire than despise us as nation
if we were TO do something, now we have
talked SO much. By every test worthy |
the thought of an enlightened and un-
preiudiced mind Mr.. Douglass is the
man to lead the 100000 of our late
bondsmen into their rights. The only |
objection any one can urge is that he is |
black. And we ask if free and en-
lightened nation can claim merit for lib
erty and refuse him upon such himsY
ground.