Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-08-10

| THE principles involved in the con-
test which closed so disastrOusly for
Radicalism on Thursday last, ought
not to be Inexperienced at home or
abroad, and we mean that they shall
not. a correct appreciation of the is
sues at stake in the election will save
us much trouble in u domestic
affairs and operate beneicially on pub
lie opinion external to Us. AT no time
in the history of the whole country or
that of our State was it ever so impor-
tant that the real significance of our
election should be precisely under
stood, and the extent of the revolu-
ton affected by it exactly measured.
We have stated that no man or set Of
men created the movement or
conducted it 10 a successful
termination. While we hold that
it was organized under the patronage
Of the Democratic party and would
have been delayed in its triumph for
many years yet to come, but for the
powerful aid extended to it by that
political organization, yet we recog-
nize the fact that within our borders
various elements of parties long since
disintegrated or now disintegrating,
eoalesced and made up the great pop
ular forces that have Oyerthrown a
most odious State despotism. We re-
cognize in the struggle, it is true, the
personality of the Democratic party,
and more than all those principles
which always furnish the truest test
f9r the identity of a party, but at the
same aEqe We acknowledge vast aces
sions from abroad, and gre not loath to
regard it as a Conservative, popular
movement. Yet the justice of history
eompels us to admit that Democratic
opinion North fostered at the outset our
feeble efforts and though beaten down,
furnished such support rs maintained
our courage, and inspired our hopes.
1t was from Tammany Hall, under
the auspices Of the National Demo
cratic Convention, and backed by its
influence, that the exposure OF the.
wrongs and expressions inflicted on
the people Of Tennessee first went
| forth to the masses Of the EOrthi and
in this way received such audience
that even the enemies of the Demo-
cratic party denounced the usurping
faction in our State, and even in their
own household they lost SYM
pathy and credit. We have
likewise said that universal suf-
frage" was not the issue in the late
canvass, and that the election OF
sENTER vas not 3 declaration Of the
people of the State for {" universal suf-
frase," understanding by these words
the admission Of the negro TO the cleo
| toral body. We are satisfied that not
one in ten who voted FOR SENTER ap-
proves or desires negro suffrage; nor
was that issue regarded as in the an
yass. The real question involved in
the contest, and indeed the only ques-
| tions, were set forth in the report on
the political condition of Tennessee,
| presented TO the National Democratic
Convention assembled in New York,
in 1868. That paper emanated from
Tennesseeans, and clearly defined
then for our people the issues they
had to meet, and the evils to the cor
r%ection OF which they were to adj
dress their efforts. These issues
can be briefly epitomised from
that document, which then
received the approval and assent of
the great mass Of the white people Of
the State. 1t demanded that the gov
eminent Of Tennessee should be re-
stored to the ancient electoral body Of
the State, which was the white peO-
pie, claiming that it had been Illegally
and byusurpation wrested from them.
1t maintained that the DISTINGUISHING
acts, with their machinery of registra-
ton, test-oaths and executive control
were unconstitutional, fatal to repub-
lican government, and necessarily re
sulting in a despOtism. 1t exhibited
the intelligence, the property and in
dustry of the State as under the con-
troll OF illiterate negroes and vaga-
bonds, and the administration of our
affairs in the hands of incompetent
and dishonest men-competency and
integrity being carefully excluded.
As the sequel to this, discomfort, dis
order, decline of all material interests
and oppressive taxation followed.
To reform these evils, and re-
store the State government to the
control of the old electoral body sums
up the entire purpose of those who
supported SENTER. His triumph hath
but this extent-no more Ills adver-
sary was opposed to this cOnsumma-
ton, and was beaten. What is to be
the fate Of universal suffrage, regard
less of a C or color, in Tennessee has
vet to be determined. 1t may be that
| the fifteenth Constitutional amend
ment will relieve our people Of all
trouble on that point. One thing,
however, is certain. The people of
Tennessee have never yet passed on
the question. The negro has been
voting without so much as "by your
leave" 1t is one of the few instances
] in history where new suffragists have