Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-07-22
TaE LEDGER AND GOV. sENTER.

THE LEDGER AND GOV. sEnIA"'
The Avalanche says: I'VE cannot
afford to waste any ammunition during
the present campaign" and devotes hall
a column or so to the LEDGER, which
proves as clearly as libel suit that the
LEDGER is live institution.
Our contemporary, SO pre-eminently
discreet and consistent, begins an article
nv saving: 1.-THE LEDGER of yesterday Is
opposed to Governor Senter," which
assertion is not sustained, according to
our perception of the English language
by. a single word quoted from or to be
found in yesterdays LEDGER.
Our position has been too often de-
fined on the issues of this canvass to
REQUIRE any explanation in such con-
nection as this. Negro suffrage is liked
fact at present, and we acqsiesce in it
from necessity, but have not admitted
that it is right.
While suffrage is limited to a few,
Governor Senter is in favor of extending
it to all. Between two Republicans,
Stokes and Senter, both nominated at the
came convention, we prefer Senter, just
as the Avalanche said a few days ago, as
"a choice of two evils" or words to that
effect. Democracy is organized in every
county where there is chance 10 win,
and after the election the State organlza-
ton will no doubt be put ia operation,
aud liberal platform may be adopted
which will draw to the party many liberal
Republicans. The Avalanche goes back
to the record of the LEDGER some months
to prove that we are in favor OF uni-
versal suffrage. Our readers can Judge
Of this piece Of news.
But we would remind our cousisient
neighbor that rakine up records is little
game at which two can play better than
one. Less than year ago, and more
than three years after the negro had been
a voter in Tennessee, the Avalanche
said:
1--WE ore for a white mans govern
ment, TO be controlled by white men and
by none others."
Not much universal suffrage in that,
unless the negroes we're to assist in the
voting and the white men to hold all the
Offices, which would be distasteful to the
negro. This is q mere pebble, which we
toss back upon the roof Of our neighbours
big, thin glass house, not to damage
him, bat as gentle reminder of what
could be done at single crash. +
The main proposition contained In our
article yesterday was not touched; few
extracts are garbled and sandwiched with
brief notes.
But nothing was said to convince the
mind of careful reader that Governor
Senter will gain votes by having bis name
at the head of the Avalanche. The
friends of the Memphis papers, heretofore
supposed to be Conservative, are known
to be for the "lesser evil"-Senter; and
putting his name at the head of Demo
cratic paper is not calculated to win many
colored or white votes from the Stokes
party.
Imperialism, which is gleefully re-
ferred to by the Avalanche, is not an
issue of this canvass; and we decline
"to waste any ammunition on the sub
ject t
On the question Of negro suffrage the
principal difference between the AGA.
Ianehe and the LEDGER is this: The Ara.
lanchs opposed it about three years, and
then, seeing no help for it, came out in
favor of the institution, and ever since
that time has been trying to love it,
like the landlord who ate q crow at the
table to make his boarders believe it wai
a good thing. NL.A eAN-
The LEDGER was always opposed tc
negro suffrage, but seeing no help for II
We submit quietly, as We would to the
measles or a spell Of break-bone fever.
In conclusion, We refer our cotempo-
rary to another portion Of our record,
doubtless overlooked:
The LEDoEE was the first paper in
Memphis that favored Governor Seutsr' s
claims on the basis Of the present issues
before the people. We said plainly that
4 he would remove our disabilities we