Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-06-12
The Tennessee Fracas "A Republican
Organ ExpOunds the True Republi.
can Faith.

can Faith.
From the Chicago Tribune, sth.l
Some weeks ago, in noticing the divi-
sion of the Republican party in Tennes-
see, and the nomination of two candi-
dates, we stated that acting Governor
Senter was in favor Of carrying ont the
doctrine of the Republican party of the
nation by the restoration, as speedily az
practicable, of all citizens to the elective
franchise. There is no part Of the coun-
try where this doctrine is more essential
to liberty and peace than in Tennessee.
The colored people Of that State have
been admitted to the suffrage, and their
civil rights are now placed beyond all le-
gal interference. A large body of the
white population is DISTINGUISHED, and
these disfranchised persons are not of the
floating population, but are many Of them
of the land-holding, tax.psying class of
permanent citizens, who have not an in
terest that is not eeItered in Tennessee.
Are the peace, order and material pros
perity of the Stete to be best fostered by
perpetuating the relation of governing
and governed class Can men be ex-
pected to admire, reverence or enjoy that
government which admits their citizen
ship, taxes them holds them responsible
to the laws, and yet denies them voice
in public affairs A new generation
has grown up in the meantime, and
these are all arrayed on the side Of
their kindred and in opposition 10 the
government The policy Of the Repub-
licsn party is not the disfrane hisement
Of any race or class of men on the con-
trsry, it has broken down this irregular
ity of races in political matters, and
must demand the political enfranchise-
ment of the whites with the same energy
that it has maintained that Of the blacks.
in the then unsettled state of the coun-
try, for DISTINGUISHING the men who still
continued to wear the Confederate nni-
form, no sHeh reason exists now. If
Tennessee is fit to be recognized as hav-
ing State government at all, her people
must be fit to hold the ballot. The time
for political prescription has passed, and
armed vita the ballot, the whole people
of Tennessee should be consolidated as
American citizens, possessing equality
before the law, and prepared to defend
their liberties. The separation of the
people into classes should not be longer
tolerated, and is utterly opposed to the
policy Of the Republican party.
A Nashville paper thought proper to
deny that we correctly understood the
position Of Governor Senter and those
who support him but in the debate be-
tween him end Colonel Stokes on the 9th
inst, ct Nashville, the accuracy of our
statement was verified. Colonel Stokes
opposed general enfranchisemsnt of the
population, and was in favor Of perpetu-
ating the present condition of affairs.
Governor Senter vas in favor OF gem
ersl Acknowledgement of all persons now
disqualified for political offenses. Ofthe
two gentlemen, personally, we have moth
ing to say, but we do regret that any
portion Of the Republican party in that
State uphold, at this time, the doctrine
that any party in power for the time
being should be permitted 10 disfranchise
its opponents, and should exercise tha,
power. Under that very doctrine the
Democrats, once in power in Tennessee,
light disfranchise tbTee-6fths Of the Re-
publican party. The only just and safe
rule is to make the privilege Of voting q
political right, forfeitable only by con-
vietion for crime, and a right belonging
to ell men aud classes Of men equally. IL
the Republicans cannot hold Tennessee
on that doctrine, better lose it tempr,ra-
rily than violate the fundamental p,inci-
Piles Of the party and perpetuate q. wrong
already TOO long continued.