Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-05-05
Mock Dnkes and the Main Question


WoRKINGMRN While the tempest for
Office RACES, let US laugh; amid the deep
sighings for place and power, let us
smile. 1t is sometimes amusing to play
Tombstone or Trinculio. Having
touched up" the Radical aCallibans
and imperial Prosperos, let US turn at
tention to the Conservative Mock Dukes.
Who are they2 The Bluff Tioaddle and
Tin Trumpet say they are colonies, "
heroes" and were "all through the
war" This indiscriminate palaver, /
know, provokes your mirth; whenever
you hear it or read it, your workshops or
your homes ring with laughter. You
call it goose talk and "gong music. F"
Cable and tinkling sounds may be USE
full to children; but as we have to pay a
part of the salaries of our public SER
wants and are interested in their acts, it
is part of our duty TO make inquiries
about them. No employer hires a work
man without knowing or believing he is
perfect in his craft. Shall you choose
a candidate for Judge or Prosecuting
Attorney without knowing or believing
be understands law2 think it would
be foolish to do So Has the 1Oirn Ipad-
die or Tin Trumpet told you who are
good lawyers. that you might choose the
best among them for Judges and Prose-
cutting Attorneys No; they 20 no
further than colonels," as if a good
swordsmsn we're proper qualification
for the Bench. Then hurrah for Captain
links, of the Horse Marines Three
cheers for the Mock Dukesi But let us
be serious q moment. The main ques
ton. in selecting candidates, is not
whether their coats have been cut it the
latest style, nor whether they frat saw
the sunlight from the top of hill or the
bottom of q valley, but whether they are
capable of performing the duties of the
offices to which they aspire2 That is the
chief point Keep it steadily in view.
If you turn from it, party foxes may slip
in. What then2 Your brightest hopes
will be darksned and your strongest
wishes blown into bubbles. ASILITY is
our motto. We have nothing whatever
to do with partyism, lunkeyism or fudge.
We must judge men not BY the twsddle
of understrappers, penny-a.liners or paid
brawlers, but by the gifts God has given
them. Which of you would elevate a
journeymsn imperfect in his trade to the
foremauship OF a shop2 Not one Why,
then, select o man for the dignifed and
important position of Judge without
knowing he is "leaTned in the Law" 2
But how are you to distinguish a good
from an inferior laWyer7 Easy enough /,
Just as you distinguish a superior from
an inferior workman-by the testimony
of his fellow-craftsmen and your own
observation. Well, what is the testimony
of an emiusnt lawyer about the Couser-
vA,ives highly spoken Of" as suitable
persons F" for Judges and Prosecuting
Atorneys2 That they are "popiujsy
What think you Of thal2 Popinjsys on
the Bsrchi GOOD Lord, deliver us I"
No wonder poor John Smith sighed for
an Empire. What does your observa.
ton tell your That the Conservatives
highly spoken Of" as suitable per-
sons for Judges and Prosecuting At
torneys never conducted case in court
with the slightest ability. Heaven bless
US are there no lawyers, no Democrats,
in Shelby county, that we must place
"eolonels on the BeBch7 Why not
allow tapsters 10 practice at the Bar
Fire stupidity PLAERR