Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-04-30
The Rona question.

The appeal of this morning, ver'
earnestly urges all TO vote for the niliio'
| issue, praises the financial ability an'
integrity of Mr.. McDAvitt as worthy 3
The highest trust" and talhs Aboql
"rines, etc. As 10 "rings," hther'
are any. we know nothing on the subject
Az 10 the integrity Of the acting Mayor
v. have not The slightest doubt, and We
will confess his financial skill to be fair
among business men and respectable
enough so thatsno one should pin iaith
to its sleeve. We want no compliments
10 men, deserved or undeservsd, but
facts, to guide us in voting And
while urging vote for the bonds,
as If with "a wish" to carry
them, neither facts nor arguments
have Mr.. McDayitt or the appeal
sufficiently deipned to render. When
We come to the conclusion that wisdom
will die with the Board, we shall stop
thinking, and act with il without ques-
ton. But till then, when Mr.. McDavitt
wants the support CT the LEDGER or that
of its friends for an important measure
affecting the interests Of the city, 1t
would be we'll enough to give some rea-
sons why that support should be rem
dered. .a.a .,r-til4 = .-
We confess that we have not, had time
to look into the subject. 1t was only day
before yesterday morning that our atten-
ton was called to the fact Of such
project. And we thought, in these cir
cumstances, it was better to vote no,
when on the face Of the thing our debt
was to be doubled at least, as the result
of the Mayors new scheme to raise the
wind. If he is second Nicholas Biddle,
still he must tell us how he expects
benefit by doubling our debt, or we shall
incline to wait and see further. ttt
The Appeal, with its usual honorable
aud heightened courtesy, does us no more
than justice in supposing we would not
intentionally persist in advocating or
asserting an error" But it does us less
than Justice if it supposes we are to be
wholly controlled in such a case by a
knowledge of the fact that the Mayor is a
man of integrity, and this even with the
addition Of the highest grade of financial
skill. We care very little about skill and
integrity being prscticed for our benefit
in a way to double our burdens, which
are heavy enough already. How they
are to be lightened (if it be SOY has not
yet been made to appear by that full and
proper showing which is necessary to
enable voters, who are to decide the
matter, TO give an intelligent affirmative
vote. 4 And in such circumstances the
usual course of prudent man is to say
no.
The appeal further does us no more
than justice in saying our opposition to
the issue Of these bonds is based on
resolved hostility and wish to defeat
the measure. We have lived long enough
to know by experience that debts are
rather inconvenient, aud so we have in
ferred that big debts would be worse still
Therefore we say no, oppose running IN
any deeper with our eyes shut, and what
we do we always do sincerely, decidedly,
earnestly, and, if possible, also efficiently.
When such reasons are adduced in favor
of the issuance of time bonds as the
magnitude of the subject requires, and
as. upon examination, we may lind sat
isfactory, we shall cheerfully advocate
their issuance. All thesinterest or mo-
tive we have is for the public good, and
we think that best conserved by voting
mo" on all propositions for running
in debt, until by facts and figures the
advantage of doing so has been duly set
forth and demonstrated. This has not
been done in the present case, and an
error in rejecting the bonds may be
remedied, while an error in affirming
them will be irremediable. .aE