Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-08-18

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do o twonder that our Radical neigh
bors should endeavor to clutch some
one of their old nostrums from the
recent defeat. They desire to save ne
gro suffrage, in the hope that it may
profit them hereafter. If it should
fail them, that will be an end of their
advocacy of the patent absurdity of
making rulers Of bipeds better fitted
to bray than to vote. The astonish-
ing thing in the matter is that
any of our disinterested in
telligent whites should lend them
selves to the perpetuation of a policy
which they once saw to be evil, and
which experience has more and more
confirmed to be so with everyday's
lapse of time. And it is still more a
wonder that they should do this for
the purpose of committing the State
for all time to come when no
necessity is apparent for such
hasty and suicidal action. What
is the reason they should not
wait and see? Does any ane man
believe Tennessee would be more pros
porous, under the rule of a population
One-fourth Ethiopian, than it would
be under the exclusive control of the
white and Caucasian? What then is
the necessity which compels consent
now to policy which we havenOt yet
voted, and for which our vote would
only prove our own incapacity to
govern the State? 1t is to be hoped
that the people OF the Volunteer State
are not so incapable of selfgovern-
ment as to find its necessary to call in
the aid of the immigrants from Guinea.
And it is lamentable that any should
think so.
We see no need of giving up our
recent great and glorious victory-no
reason why it should not be improved,
with fair justice to all, to the greatest
and utmost good of the State.
What was bad policy a year ago
on this subject is bad policy
now. We deny that one white man
in a thousand in our State really
thinks there is any good in the per-
petuation of negro reimbursement,
whether the interests of one race or
the other be considered. The whole
issue is n gotten up for pOlicy's
sake, for party's sake, for ~partiZanry,
for leadership, for personal ends-fOr
no patriotic purpose-but to grind
somebody's axe. Show us that there
is any good in the thing-tO anybody
to the cornfeld negro or any body
else, so it is not too costly to the
white race and the State, and we will
go for it. We want no difference and
disputes with our friends. But we
want all to act reasonably, and with
reference to principles involved,
than present policy, which
may change and prove impolicy to-
morrow.
The fact that our old antagonists
of the Radical party r so anxious to
infict negro suffrage on the State
against the known wishes Of the great
body of the white population, and
that they are so particular to keep up
the impression that the Government
intends to enforce it locks significant.
they thought they could prG4t
by the election of STOKES they threat
.ned us with the Government. And
now they think they can profit by re-
tanning negro sufragethey also threat
en- US with the Government. IT is a
mere and shallow trick which need
not disturb any body. The Govern
ment dare not interfere, unless by the
constitutional amendment. 1t dare
not assume to dictate the government
of New York without the consent Of
the people of New York. These
threats are all 6TllUm fHlmeH. Why
then should we not do simply
what wetlintt is right without regard
to such considerations ana Influences?
Is 1t because we are bound? Let
those who think SO make that appear.
1t does not yet appear that the State
Is chained to negro suffrage, per jas ant
lyG9. have not chosen it, and it
has not vet bee4 forced on us; and it
may well be doubted whether i eyer
viii be. Qgr Radical neighb0rs are
us to adopt negro suffrage, be-
they hope to make by it, aRd b.
they fear Na0W fail, flour State
Convention should adopt it, il will be
evil voluntarily embraced. If the
Fifteenth Amendment should be
it will be settled without our
IN no event can we be in /
Ired by declining to participate in a
MEASURE, which if forced, viii he !
yrannical, and ifths result of choice !
will be suicidal. We can let the mat
er alone for the present, If we Will,
Ut not with any consent that we are
.Oiqptarily Jel9 DE Sc. {