Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-07-17
THE REAL ISSUE.

oil his prominent suppor'e'o
candid enough to admit their convle-
tons. treat the defeat Of Stokes as fore
gone conclusion, aud the prospect affects
that wing of the party in a variety OF
WAYS. Some of them put Oh bold face
and pretend to be assured of Stokes cleo
ton. and at the same time wink conde-
scendiugly at the DISTINGUISHED and say
in sotto poce: "You are sill right; just
wait until General Stokes is Governor
he's your best friend and will order
convention at once, if not sooner" The
illustrious KALI Killer adopts that pol
lev himself where he thinks it
will suit the crowd. The State Journal,
Stokes hand-organ at Nashville, plays
this tune more than any other, but the
mourners do not dance to the music in
good time. Another class of the Stokes
men confess that they are defeated in
the gusernatorial contest, and are turn
ing all their efforts into what they call
the Real Issue, which is: Shall the De-
mocracy have the ascendancy in the next
General Assembly, The Conservative
people Of the State recognized this fact
ometime ago, but the Radicals have
only recently made the discovery. There
is one more for them to make, and that
will take place on the third of August.
We have not doubt that Senter and
strong Conservative Legislature will be
elected, and that the State will be re-
Iieved of much odious legislation in less
than six months The star of the KALI
Killer is going down in night of defeat.
As for Gov. Senter, we predict for him
short, brilliant career es Governor, and
then seat in the United States Senate.
To day the candidates speak in our city,
and will doubtless be heard by large
concourse of people. Both of them were
nominated by the Radicals, and both have
been always identified with that party,
except a short period when General
Stokes was in the Confederate army. We
have nothing against him on that ac-
count, for we were in the same army
logger than he was, and know how it
feels. The Universal or White Suffrage
Party made no nomination, as it was
deemed best not to enter the contest at
such great disadvantage Yet 1t is i'm
possible to stand by and hear discussed
our most vital interests without
feeling q deep concern. The redemption
of Tennessee, if it come within the next
two years, must come through one OF
these candidates. We may not like their
former politics, and possibly they do not
like ours-it is more than possible-but
when man is in ditch and another
comes aleng and offers to pail him out,
it is not likely that the one who wants
out will stop to ask the other one what
church he belongs to, even ii that one
happened to have pushed him in there.
SO If candidate, whatever his motives,
offers to assist us out of the disfranchise-
ment ditch, we do not compromise our
self.respect by taking hold of the rail he
throws US and crawling out. Our liber-
ties and rights are involved in this con-
test, and when we have decided which
candidate is the most available, and will
accomplish our relief most speedily, we
should not hesitate TO express preference.
Governor Senter might have run on the
Stokes platform, in favor, as it was until
recently, Of disfrsnchisement "te be
continued" perpetually, and, with his
power to throw out votes, he could have
been elected in spite Of all our efforts.
But we know him to be a conscien-
tious gentleman of liberal sentiments,
and that he is acting from his
convictions Of right. His course as q
Union man having been consistent, we
have no right to question bis motives for
coming TO our assistance, especially as
he could have been elected by taking the
other side cf the question. As for di.
yuleing our purposes. which is dreaded
in some quarters, We have nothing to
conceal. The masses are for Senter;
not only in Middle and West Tennessee,
but even in East Tennessee it is claimed
that he will come out several thousand
ahead. Seuter is the favoriie 10 this