Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-12-04

is, in our view, wholly unreasonable
and incorrect. If such was really the
fact, we see no sufficient motive to
deny it, and we certainly would not
do so under the circumstances, to build
up the Democratic party, which needs
n unfairmean forts support. What
Is now called the Democratic party,
composed as it is Of the overwhelming
majority Of the white people of the
country, is the anti-Radical people
alt the antagonists and enemies Of Rddi-
cat abuses, who, while they would
do no injustice to Radicals, negroes,
or any portion Ofthe inhabitants, yet
would give no quarter to such abuses,
by cOnsenting to the means by which
they have been created and perpetual
ted. This anti-Radical party-Demo-
cratic, sO-called-is against negro suf-
frage, because negro suffrage is the
chief means Of mischief, and the only
means By tchich the Old Radical SIT
prenGcy can be reriUed and continued.
We viii nOtsay that every man who
is for universal suffrage" is a Radi-
cal. But this we do say, that every
Radical, (the negroes included is for
universal suffrage" The Radicals
viii go en- mdSSe for universal suf-
frage, and they who do not
go with the anti-Radical party,
alias the Democratic party, must and
viii go with the Radicals, in the cleo
ton for members TO the Convention.
As in the choice between good and
evil, GOD and MANEION, CHRIST and
BELIAL, so here the choice lies be
tween Observation-Disclosures (or De
mocracy) and Radicalism. Men will
accordingly take their stand, and take
the consequences. Men who fear to
go with the Democratic party in an
emergency like this, in the ~apprehen-
sion Of injury to their political future,
will do well to inquire whether there
is no injury to be apprehended in go
ing against it-Or look to the adj
vantages of taking both sides of
the fence. The issue now to be deter
mined is negro suffrage, or no negro
sufirageAit is a peoples question, and
that is all the Democracy there is
about it.
We say therefore it is a mistake to
say this is in any other sense a parti-
san question, than as representing the
particular issue to be made; or that
the movement of the people touching
a Convention is partisan, for no better
reason than that a Democratic Execu-
tive Committee took the initiative in
the proceedings so far had. We pre-
ferred that the initiative should be
taken by some meeting of citizens, or
even by a call voluntarily made by a
few individuals; and if we had had
the honor Of being consulted about it
shOuld,,have S advised. But when we
saw the call made, we regarded this
as a matter of slight consequence
slight, we thought, as hardly to war
rant any desertiOn Of the white mans
party by such as have ever belonged
to it.. There happened to be an old
committee, hitherto appointed by the
Democratic citizens of the county, and
that when white mans government
was the rallying-cry Of the anti-Radi-
Gals; and this committee acted. If
they acted without any new delega-
ton of authority, they at least acted
with all the right of any similar num-
Der Ofcitizens; and, so faras we know,
no particular objection was made
TO the programme which they laid
down, and which has been initiated
by them. So far from this, they truly
represented the anti-negrO suffrage
masses, which we believe to comprise
an overwhelming majority of the peo-
pie. All this process was necessary,
and as little Objectionable, coming
from One set Of men as another. You
might as well vote against the best
candidate for Mayor, Governor or
President, on the ground that he was
first nominated by an antagonist, as
10 object to the action Of a meeting Of
the people which was Objectionable
only for the reason that the sugges-
ton first came from a particular or
.ganizatiOn or source, regarded as with
out especially granted authority in
the premises. The question is what
IS done, and not as to the honest
means by which it has been done.
There could be no motive to any
partisan action, beyond the particular
issue now presented, with reference to
the Convention; and men do not act
without motives. The Democratic
party could gain nothing by acting in
such a manner. And it is simply alb
.urd to suppose such a thing has been
attempted or executed. Every thing
lone by the ward meetings has been
~ the fair right and voice Of these ,
meetings Of the people. And
hey who bolt now, and undertake to 4,
get up a new organization, viii have Z
answer for playing into the hands
If the Radical party. That is all.
Let every anti-Radical stand firm to :
his principles, and let those who are {
ond of negro suffrage and its conse-
stand firm to theirs. The !
JaslSention which meets to-day viii !
,ut none but good and true men in {
domination, and such as all who de-
ire good government can safely and
hould eheerfully support.