Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-07-03
ETHERIDGE AT DRESDEN.

The recent speech Of Mr. Etheridge at
Dresden is said to have been one Of the
greatest of his life. The Paris Inteltt-
geneG Of Saturday has an account OF 1t,
from which we subjoin some striking
extracts; 0U AFlUTnfy /.
Mr. Rtheridge said that the Radical
party OF Tennessee was composed OF a
few bad men and many misguided ones.
He briefly, but in most impressive
manner, referred to the unheard Of usur.
pations of this Radical regime at Nash
vile; the total disregard shown to the
Constitution which they themselves
made and which they are sworn to sup
port, and the refusal Of Brownlow to
order elections for the various Judicial
offices Of the State, but keeping his
favorites in Office against the known will
of the people in very many instances.
Mr.. Il. admitted that some good men had
been appointed TO the office of Judge.
He instanced Judge Sommers, whom he
styled an honest man and a sound
lawyer. He, in this connection, gave
picture of Hurst, one OF Brown
lows Judges, who attempted during
Mr.. Etheridges speech at Purdy, to
break up the Meeting IN a church.
During tho delivery of the speech this
Judge Hurst raved like maniac, and
cursed with impious oaths the Masonic
fraternity, the ministers of religion and
the ladies, because in their name and on
account OF their presence his Judgeship
had been appealed to by Mr.. Etheridge
to observe the proprieties Of the occasion.
But such was the original programme of
Brownlowism-like all other ferocions
wild beasts, they can be easily tanned BY
frmness, prudence and indomltable
courage. Whenever any OF the clan
transgress upon forbidden ground, make
them explain themselves at once. They
do not care to carry their aggressions to
the point which makes it mortal Mr.
Il. quieted this maniac by such a course
and proceeded with his speech. He only
referred to it to show the cowardly bully
ism of Brownlow's satraps.
=
He here referred to the beautiful story in
the Bible of the Saviors forgiving the
erring woman, and commanding those
who had sinned not, to cast the first stone
and all were silent So with those
self-riphteous Radicals-all of them are
guilty Of sympathy with the rebellion.
Stokes had ENTERED as q soldier TO defend
it-Muliins recruited for it--Maynard
spoke Justify in Congress for it-Arnell
tanned leather for it--Roach collected
guns for it-Norman ran for Office and
got beat under it-Butler made laws for
it-Case made speeches and tried to raise
troops for it--sore eyed Waters bet omit,
and thousands who had sneaked into the
loathsome den called the Loyal League
once marched beneath the Confederate
banner, but who had deserted itand were
now proposing to prescribe him and bis
friends who had stood firmly BY the
Union when there was none to help, and
when he was compelled to abandon his
home and seek safety in another State
Mr.. y. referred to the financial condi.
ton of the country and of the State. II
for no other reason than to stimulate the
people to renewed enterprise and indus
try, that they may be better able to meet
the obligations resting upon the country,
he thought it would be well to defeat
Brownlow, for while he continued his
misrule-his unblushing extravaganza
his waste of the public treasure-paying
his staff, for instance, over $4,000 IN q
time of profound peace, when there was
not an armed rebel in the whole land
the recent conduct of the Senate, who
convicted Judge Frazier, in charging for
eighty.0ix days when they we're only
entitled to thirty, and the effort made by
that party to tax the people of tho State
to pay for what they style loyal losses,
which would be nothing more or less than
robbery-these and numerous other in
stances of recklessness all went TO show
that if the people did not wish to be
weighed down by debt from which their
children's children will not recover; and
all to pamper corrupt and ignorant old
despot and his vile minions, that they
had better awake and strike while yet
there is hope. He told the audience that
the citizens of the United States were the
poorest people on the earth--thas our
| State debt was now about thirty three
millions Of dollars, and that instead OF
retrenchment and reform, it seemed that
new offices were being constantly created
that lazy and worthless tools might fill
them. Look at the loyal mlitia--of what
use, said he, are they-raised, no doubt,
to put down free elections, instead OF
protecting the people in their rights.
Il