Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-08-13
PUBLIC LEDGER.
SHALL WE BE TRUE TO QUIZ
sELyEse

slaves by the North was intended as
measure to keep in suijection the South
srn people after the war had terminated
Ii wss no, then regarded IS permanent
measure to be adopted, but as tempo
rsry expedient, which might act to curb
the rebellious spirit Of the men who had
fought only sgsinst New England OPP
preston. The thought Of placing the
ballot in the hands of the ignorant blacks,
that they might be made the political ana
social equals Of their former masters, vas
secuted by every just snd liberal
minded man in the entire country.
But the Radical party stopped not st the
INCARCERATION of the most fendish and
outrageous acts against the South, and
LAUGHED while we wriihed under the tor
meutipg disgrace of negro equality,
which is worn to-day SIS badge OF orr
former defeat. The reason that is wont
he assigned by these Northern vandals,
who now hold high carnival in the
sacred halls of liberty, for this unhesrd
of oppression, was, that our people had
once rebeled against the Government,
and should not then be trusted with the
reips of enforcement. and, forsooth,
they must be Placed in the hands OF
the tbick-lipped, woolly-hesdsd. thick
skulled Ethiopians, whose standard OF IN
teligence scarcely reaches above that OF
well trained circus monkey. The act
itself was the most vile and dsmning out
rage ever committed against Q brave,
proud and intelligent people. 1t vas
done not to benefit the negro or improve
his or our condition, for when reason was
dethroned and ignorance set mp in its
stead, invested with the purple and sceptre
of authority, every statesman of America
knew that the mailman would escape to
tear himself and his own countrymen In
pieces. We hold it as our bounden duty
to our country, since the power, BY divine
direction, has been placed in our hands,
to confne within its proper limits the IL
centious liberty that is now being advo-
Gated by shalow-srained politicians, and,
if permitted, will strand our country upon
the rock of degradation and anarchy.
The time for enfranchising these men is
not the present; they have been too lat
terly turned loose from slavery and are
incompetent in every essential for self
government. It is an infection OF
grievous crime upon the African as well
as an outrage upon free-born Americans
to place the ballot in the hands of the
black men, who have not yet learned to
control himself, aside from governing
others. IL is blessing conferred upon
the African not to permit him
to destroy himself aud country by
an irjadicious exercise of q
power beyond his comprehension.
His disfranchisement does not in the least
detract from his happiness or prevent
him from full enjoyment of the free
dom that his nature and intellect are
capable of approaching in rightful way
If it is proper that such an ignoramus
should control the deslinies Of q great
country, then we are treating the mules
and horses, the children and dogs, very
badly, for they too should come forward
and claim their rights at the ballot-box
We are under no more obligation TO the
negro, nor is be more entitled to exercise
the elective franchise, than bis beast
turned out to Craze.
If newspapers have made promises
heretofore in order, es one expressed il
this morning, to get the negro vote, then
ore they only bound by such, aud not the
people who read the paper. The pre-
sumption of the Universal Suffrage pape
of this city can only be equsled BY il
great stupidity aud want of sense. VIVA
care the people about promises made b.
sjournal that has been VIGOROUSLY know
to act with all parties, and has been fo
and against almost every important q ues
ton before the public for the last fou
years. This Liberal partisan sheet say
it viii not support any man as delegat
totbe Constitutional Convention that
not in favor Of Universal Suffrage. W
will answer with the tongue Of six thou
sand white men Of this county, that n
man will secure their votes who shall d.
clare himself as standing on the LiberI
free negro platform or in favor Of III
universal policy.