Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-12-31
sag 1t is limited by our contemporary

sag 1t is limited by our contemporary
the Appeal, that bargains have beer
made that money has been expended by
stockholders of the gas establishment
for the purpose Of electing Fitch. lfso
such stockholders are such stupid sim
pletons as renders them powerless to
grind anybody's ax-much less their
own. How all this is we do not know.
Money has doubtless been expended.
But If it has been expended for the pur-
chase of white men, they will still vote
as they please. They never intended to
sell themselves. 1t was bad enough to
take the bride, but they will not disgrace
themselves by adding to it the crime OF
voting the Fitch ticket. We do not fear
that sort Of bribery much. Let every
man with white heart abide by last
nights Convention. Mr.. Lacey honor
ably stands to it--every other man
should. It was on fair notice, and with
the farest practicable representation.
We trust the nominees will not lose
Conservative vote in the city. We care
not who carries the black Aag-whether
one or two. We shall be no better off
with Fitch than Beecher. We shall
have to watch both. The white flag is
the only one for a real white man to
rally under. If we cannot triumph
under the white mans banner,
our honor, at least, will then re-
main, which the war could net
take from us. We may find another
remedy for properly and liberty, when
the emergency grows more imminent
and deadly. But now at least our per-
sonal honor, the credit Of our city and
our loyalty to the white mans party of
the Union must not receive a blemish.
Such temporary and short-sighted
policy would be demoralzing and suici-
daI. 1t would be disgraeeful, shameful,
objectionable sin for a good Conservs-
tive citizen to vote for any negro Radi-
cal candidate, whether Fitch or Beecher
The fact that one is more respectable
than the other, if it does not make the
crime worse, at least makes the weak
ness and stupidity Of such vote more
apparent. 1t is impossible to respect
any man, who, having borne the reputa-
ton ola gentleman, proves that he never
possessed the character OF one, by seek
ing an Office at the hands of negro voters,
set up for brief period to rule in the in.
terest of an inscriptions, unprincipled
aud usuTping party over white men enti-
tied to be free by all laws human and
divine. A black sepulchre is just as
good as a whiiened one. And he who |
stands for one will have as much
reason for shame as if he stood for
the other. We believe success may
be practicable, if proper measures
are taken to exclude illegal votes. But
practicable or otherwise, let every con
sentative man vote his true principles,
as an unbought, honest and honorable
man should We have a little in the
city, and an interest with others; but we
would rather lose it all than do what
must fill US with shame. Let the honest |
man stand by his true friends, and be
forever saved the selfreproach Of having |
deserted them when they implored his
aid, and when the policy of deserving
them was so questionable aud doubtful. |
For our own part we had rather fail, |
acting as a unit with respectable white
men, than triumph with General Lee as
the standard bearer, if it we're not i'm
possible he could be the negro candidate
for Mayor. We should be ashamed u
such q triumph as long as we lived, and
hardly dare TO confess It to the priest
when we came to die. Stand by your
colors, black or white, without wavering
for any interest-real or supposed-if
you would respect yourself or serve your
city, State or county. Leftwich is poor
man, an honorable man, aud win make
an excellent Mayor. If the nominee had
been Lacey, or Loaand, or Passmore, or
Walker, or any other Conservative |
named, we would have Supported either.
But they are not Aud now let 10 good
man falier, but do what ell TIE defeated /
candidates for the nomination viii do
vote for Leftwicb. we cannot protect |
our interests with such an honorable /
standard bearer. they are gone. II the /
men OF Memphis can be protected In /
their property rights only By getting on
their knees O. ihe niger, salt cannot /
saws them, and they are gone 10 the dogs /
]