Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-11-23
A Political Kilkenny Cat
Fight, with a Full Corps
OfVaIOrOus COmbatants.
Who Wants TO be Mayor
Why Each Wants 10 be
MayOr-The General
Surroundings.
A Brief Sketch OF Men and
Things, Which may Prove
Interesting i'm Some
Quarters.
THE RADICAL POT RoILs.

too many cooks are spelling the broth
The greasy compound smears faces and
hands, and the more it is washed the
closer it sticks. Like the damned spot
on Mrs. Macbeth's bread snatcher, it will
not "out," but grows larger and larger
threatening to spread over the entire
body. Like 10. in Bleak Houae, it can
not "move on.
WHY THE AGITATION.
Patriotism is whats the matter.
Webster's old definition is obsolete,
Just now the noun substantive Pa
triotism" is defined "office'gobblipg,
and patriots rush to the front as impet'
uously as they rushed to the rear during
the war 1t is not because they care for
the honors and emoluments of position.
Such mercenary considerations do moi
actuate the patriotic breast. Not much.
The patriotic breast hcaves with indig-
nation and sorrow over the Shortcomings
of other less patriotic breasts, and then
re.heaves with burning desire to save
the country by taking the poor thing
under its wing.
FEW PATRIOTS.
There are now something less than a
dozen ardent patriots burning with the
desire to rush in and rescue Memphis
from financial and several other species
of damnation. Contemplating the hor-
rible condition of public affairs causes
them to pass sleepless nights, and con-
templating the probabilities of being
chosen Mayor gives them sleepless days.
Between the two, their vigils are cease
less as the tide which Neptune rolls
mountains high on the bosom of the deep
blue sea, sea, sea.
SOMEWHAT TANGLED.
There is crashing Of teeth in the white
branch of the house of Cufy. There is
commotion in the capacious bosom OF
Africa. The crisis, which was to have
arrove, have arriven, and brought its
family along. At this peculiar juncture
Patriots are a mite too plentiful. AL
though, as the poet justly observes, it is
sweet to open the translucent orb and
perceive brethren abiding together in
unity, that condition of beatitude is
sometimes difficult to attain. Occasion
ally blest Unity wings away her flight,
leaving black Discord behind to rip
things. This is what blest Unity has
been doing lately, and black Discord
refuses to cease ripping things.
PATRIoTIsMs BENT.
1t is understood by the Radical
Patriots that the mayors office is the
most extensive arena for the exercise of
patriotism, and great is the struggle to
enter. Some desire to knock and walk
in; others would rather introduce a
battering ram and kick the panels into
smithereens; while others are willing
to crawl under the door, through the
transom, or enter by the keyhole. But
all are willing to sink the nicer distinc-
tons to attain the goal. Unfortunately
there is room inside for only one.
Whom shall he be2
IN THE RACE.
Little w. j. Smith, whose regiment is
said to have charged gallantly, on rebel
henroosts during the war, would like to
be Mayor, and his platform, is equal
and exact justice to ALL Justice has
generally been understood as somewhat
equal and exact" but his limited
knowledge of that priced female has
somewhat obscured his ideas of her
characteristics. He would be pleased
to have the city limits extended to in
clude Hardeman county, and give him
larger sliding scale for an office. holding
residence. In his published card he
desires the recognition of the Metro
politan Police" This is a sbrewd dodge.
Fearing the more respectable members
may not care to recognize him, and
not caring to associate exclusively with
niggers, he proposes settling his social
status by enactment Keno for Smith.
Claiming to be the great niger apostle,
he asks the nomination as an antidote to
the odor with which the contact has
deluged his olfactories.
Then little Beecher wants to be Mayor.
True, he was once a Copperhead,
voted for Mcclellan, cussed niggers
worse than "Ariel," and for a time
actually wouldn't associate with them
but that was long ago. Why should
unpleasant memories be revived, and the
harrow Of the present rake up the
embers Of the past2 He has atoned for
by cones, and is now African in every
thing but birth. He should not be
blamed for having a white skin. Had he
been consulted, so sombre would have
been his hue that charcoal could make
white mark on his face. Is he not the
nigger's friend2 Hasn't be bowed down
humbly when Cufee and Dinsh passed
along2 Uriah Heap was never more
humble than is our pet before the Ebony
Idol. Sampson Brass could not out
squirm him. Besides, he has bought
drum, wbereon to beat time to niger
ramp-meeting tunes, and thus entertain