Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-02-13
The Avalanche.

The Ayatancues
The Avalanche mistakes our temper
in yesterdays LEDGER, in thinking us
"sour" in the discussion of negro
suffrage. That the public might have
clear insight and correct idea OF the
ouestion at issue, we determined to
eschew everything that would lead us
from the main question, and treat the
subject as considerably and dispassion-
ately as we we're able.
The Aualanche says THAT we could
not be dignifed with smut on our nose
We admit that the spectacle is rather
melo-dramatic than otherwise; but as to
who has been worsted in the argument,
we are quite willing to leave that to an
intelligent and impartial public. We
are disposed to enter our protest
to our neighbor sitting as Judge
and jury in case in which
it is interested. We are not surprised pit
having "smut" on our nose from the
close proximity which we were compelled
to assume to the negro, which the 4ra-
lanche has taken to its deluded bosom
with all the fond affection that newly
married bridegroom would his blushing
bride. Our Contemporary not only has
"smut" on his nose, but his whole exto-
rior has assumed the general character
istics of the black-and-tan.
"What will the LEDGER think" says
the Aralanehe, when cetemporsry
opens on him with the whole park of edi-
torial artillery" Why, my dear sir, we
would clear our decks for action, and
reply with broadside from our man-of-
war which would make your timbers
crack from stem to stern. We would not
in the least avoid "tilt with our
neighbor, who boasts Of having been in
the editorial chair when we were sliding
upon the floor in our swadding clothes.
But to the argument The Avalanche
Gays that the whites in the South are in
possession of all the property, which
gives them great advantage; and that,
by this agency, the blacks can be con-
trolled at the polls. Without the good
will and cooperation of the blacks, the
wealth left in the South would be value.
less, as our wealth consists generally in
real estate. Until we can, by immigra-
ton and other means, procure a
sufficient number of laborers who can
supply the places of the blacks, we are
to great extent at their mercy, rather
than being so independent of them and
holding their lives at our disposal. That,
should we enfranchise the negro
throughout the country by Constitu-
tional enactment, he would, as our neigh
Dor says, consent to give all the impor-
tant offices to the intelligent whites, such
is ridiculous.
Genius is ever modest. Ignorance is
always aspiring. That our argument Of
yesterday, in which we held that if the
negro, with the entire white population,
was enfranchised, would be to give the
country over to the hands of the Radical
party, is not worthy of notice, says our
contemporary. That shows our friend
Of the AUolanehe wanting in that
penetration and good sense for which
he has the reputation, and which
we have ever awarded him. The
idea as entertained by US is that held by
the great lights of the Radical party
Mr.. Sumner, and others-and correctly
too. The negro will, as experiment has
shown in this State, always vote with bis
Radical allies, and no amount of csjoling
aud appealing to his pecunisry interest
can make him do otherwise. Our cotem-
porary would ask us to point out the plank
of the Democratic platform that he has
deserted land when we used the word de-
sertion we did so in a respectful sense).
Well, sir, we would that you would show
US any Democratic platform, from the
days Of Jefferson down to this, that ever
recognized or thought the negro should
have the right to vote. 1t has always
been a fundamental plank 10 our creed
that this was a white mans government,
and none but white men should govern.
II our neighbor feels happy in standing
with General Bob Lee, although he may
be wrong, why We envy not his felicity.
We are ourselves governed by our con-
victions Of right always, and not by what
any great man NAV think or do.
A woman in Ridgewsy, Lenawee
county, Michigan, lately sued a saloon
keener of the piece % recover money