Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-06-03
The Duty of Confederates.

EpfroR LEDGER: Much has been said
of late as to the duties of what is some
times called the Conservative and some
times the Democratic party, and frequent
illusions have been made in the morning
papers as to the duty of the late Confed-
crates. have not now the articles be-
fore me and cannot quote accurately
their language, but the substance OF them
all is, that all white men are traitors,
Janus faced and despicable who do not
vote and work for such men as these pa
pers choose to advocate.
II is time that this thing should stop.
One day we have an article against ~ the
impracticables who, like the LEDGER,
are unwilling to swallow the nauseous
dose of negro suffrage; and the next day
ali white men are denounced who do not
vote against the negro and any candi-
date that he may be willing to support.
One day we are told that the past should
be forgotten; and the next, men who did
good service as Confederate, are de-
nounced as money-seekers and money
worshippers because they do forget the
past, TO some extent, and vote according
to their present ideas Of competency.
Such changeling course is disgusting
to all right.thinking men, and such
leadership will break down any party.
If the feelings of Confederates are to be
consulted, then let us form party which
will neither vote nor work for any
Southern man who was not genuine
Confederate.
We can vote for Northern Democrats
among US and preserve our selGrespeet,
because we expected them to be against
us. But when we are called upon to vote
for Southern men who can take the iron
clad and the candidates oath, ask,
with all due Difference, what claim has
such man to eur confidence and sup
port2 The very fact that he can take
these oaths is the best reason why Con-
foderates should be against him; and we
boldly proclaim that the man who wore
Confederate uniform during the war,
or who hung around Confederate camps
under the pretense that he was our
friend, and who now takes this oath, was
either acting a falsshood then or be is
swearing talsehood now.
We would prefer that every Office in
the country should be filled with an open
enemy rather than see one such man
elevated 10 any position,
The Democratic party of this district,
county aud State have seen fit to take up
as their candidates such men as could
take these oaths, upon the ground that il
was policy TO do 30. If policy, and not
principle, is to guide US, the best policy
would be to take up the man who could
do us most good. 1t would have been far
better for us who are Confederates if we
had stood aloof from all such parties until
the sons Of genuine Confederates grew ny
10 represent us, or until the disabilities
we're removed from US all. As it is, we
have sufficiently disgrsced ourselves by
running aftEr man who were at home
specializing in cotton while we were in
the field; and after men who pretended
then to be with Us, and nov swear they
we're not. In future, in the State Offices
let us leave the oath-takers to fight it on
among themselves; and in Federal Office
let us strive to elect men who can repre-
sent us ia sentiment il they represent u
at all, trusting that their disabilities maj
be removed when elected, or Il not. tina
we may remain unrepresented.
CoNrfnRRaTr