Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-10-29
TILE NEW CITY CHATTER.

IL
We recur again to the bill before the
Legislature, amending our City Charter,
that the readers Of the LFDsER may have
a clear insight into its bearings. A
cotem porary threatens to nip our future
political aspirations should We advocate
the much needed reforms contained IN
the bill. The editor of this paper is not
a candidate for Office. nor will be be IN
the future. We feel free to discuss mea-
sures of public importance upon their
merits. and, as public Journalist,
to blaze the path for popular opinIsn.
The man who assumes the helm to guide
the public mind, and shirks from his
duties because, forsootb, he is ia doubt
IS to the popular channel, should be d.
c.p;ta,ed. We advocate the present
MEASURE before The Legislature, giving
protection to property 10 the city OF
Memphis, because the good of our COM
munity clearly demands it 1t is, how
ever. charged by the Aralanehs that we
are going back to system of legislation
abolished one hundred years since. That
mar 10 some extent. be true. bat then
IL does not disprove the wisdom Of
former legislators 1t is quite apparent
TO the Intelligent Of this country that
there il too much license at the ballot
box az we'll ss in holding Office. 10 our
government So great has become the
mania thst women claim the privilege
10 hold Office and sit on juries, and the
negro has already these prerogsuves con-
fsrred upon bin. Nov it is about time
that some curb be placed upon this wild
Pegssus, or the bright car that
contains our liberty. and future
happiness viii be dashed into pieces by
the mad passions of the populace.
We spprehend that the entire country
may be placed under the influence Of the
negro, and If such were the case we then
should have break-water provided 70
pro,ect az from the dark food Of Office
holders that vonId oyerrun our city gov 4
eminent The bill being discussed does
not propose to limit or abridge the priv
lege of the elective franchise OF any class
Of persons whatever, bat only requires
that certain cfiee-holders should possess
needful qualiE cation to fit them Tor the
duties to be discharged.
Now, il is not the Eve thousand dol
lars only that fits a man for tue posi-
ton of Alderman, but men OF this class
who live and own property in the city
will, in all matters of municipal legisia-
ton, deal cautiously and discreetiy, be-
cause they are more directly interested.
Money will not make a man honest,
although poverty viii induce some to
steal.
The salary attached to the position Of
Alderman is not sufficiently tempting to
induce men TO run for the ohce, and
when they generally strive 40 bard to get
into the place. it is expected sssh men
will be furnished with fat pickings.
IL our neighbor on Jefferson street was
entirely free from selfish motives. bis op-
position might have some weight We
imagine that We see the cloven foot Of
the Aralanche sticking out in self, in
the paDy arguments 1t pats forth against
the measure. IL endesvors TO produce
III telling against Colonel Morgan,
our incorrnptibls and high-toued City
Attorney, 10 charging that he is now 10
Nashville. playing lobbyist. when 10 fact
the gentleman has not been outside Of
the city limits for some months. The
LEDGER Is DOT 10 the interest Of any ring.
except the peoples ring, and ask no
aims or public fsyors. We want the in
dusirious, thrifty. tailoring. toiliug men
co be protected against 6 set Of small
politicians, whose whole ss@ IN life
is 10 Nip into an office, aud take a
hribe. on the 6tat opportunity, TO vote
against The eomuunity's interest
Look for & moment At the members ~ho
comprise the present City cOansil. and
how many men are there who repre-
sent the true people OF Memphis.
Precious few, indeed. Aud more than
this-6ve OF lhese Aldermen staoS TO-
day charged With britsry and corruption
Good Lord deliver az from any such in
the future. Tde ciiy soseruneut is 8
miserable parody upoo good legislation,
aud is in keeping witk the lev issk
days. that after the war, spread like 8
funeral pail over the South. b. al
aeans let ss eadeavor 70 improve opon
tae past. and correct such errors IS were
made "a The cry goEsrrnsss b. adopting
sz's'ary rsfarEL