Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-12-13
FOR DEMOCRATS.
Accepting Universal Suffrage in Alabama.

From the Centeryille (Bibb Co.. Appren.
tice.
To use the set ~phraseOlOgy of stump
speakers and crossroads politicians
the United States over, Wen relate q
1 little anecdOte:
Mr.. p, an old citizen, often hOnOred
with the support OF the voters of Bib
county for positions Of honor and
profit, was elected many years ago tC
the Office OF Sheriff. A gentleman OF
the legal profession, then residing in
Centerville, saw proper to take strong
grounds against Mr.. II. in the election.
After the returns had been brought in
and it was settled that Mr.. p. was
elected, our legal gentleman APP
preached Mr.. p, when the following
dialogue ensued:
Legal gent" Well, sir, you are
elected?"
Mr.. Pc Yes, they say So"
Legal gent" Pm glad Of it. Knew
you couldn't be beaten, or I'd have
voted for you. I'll get you to attend
to all my business for me, sir"
Mr.. P.-"Yes, by confound,' reckin
you will. You can't help yourself
now"
Our legal gentleman retired, fully
accepting the situation" but we
have an idea that he would have felt
better had he kept silent.
And further, we have an idea now
that when the editors of Democratic
/ newspapers in Alabama who are &" ac-
cepting" universal suffrage, because
they can't help it," shall have tried
their new experiment to their satisidC-
ton, they will have abundant reason
to wish that they had kept silent.
Common sense teaches, and expert
ence has proven beyond controversy,
that the negro vote in the counties OF
Alabama in which it is most potent,
can only be welded by corrupt inhu-
encas; and we maintain that the DEM
Ocrat who would employ the means
requisite to secure this vote, is as gull
ty as the Radical. But we cannot
suppose that our Democratic cOtem-
poraries propose employing those cor
rupt agencies, and hence we believe
the policy Of their O%vertures will
prove as futile as the principle Of ne
gro suffrage is dangerous and obnox-
iOus. q
But even if the policy was avail
able, we should never sanction the
principle it involves.
That universal negro suffrage was
enacted by a corrupt and partisan
Congress for the attainment Of corrupt
and partisan ends, no one can truth
fully deny. That it was forced upon
those most directly interested without
their consent and against their most
earnest protest, is also true. That it
has worked in direct antagOnism to
the public veal and has constantly en-
dangered the public peace and safety,
Is a iaet to which those who have wit
messed 1t can testify. That il invites
bribery and corruption, proves a bur
den and a curse to the country. and is
degrading and ruinOus to the nation.
Is our own opinion, based upon our
OF its workings in the
past.
AS a laW-abiding citizen. we can
submit to all this and its attendant
evils, as unavoidable, but zee cannot
The aHcledn Minq.
While we cannot predict the final
we are not Of those who believe
that the present state cf affairs can
continue for any considerable length
Of time. Whether the white people Of
the United States shall prove them
at last equal to the emergency.
and, by a steady and united effort.
gradually undo the work of destruc-
ion that has been going on, and re-
itOre something of the purity of what
We believe to have been the best Gov
,rnment under the sun, or whether the
country shall sink under the burden of
corruption that oyerspreads it and