Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-09-12
eusERNAroR1AL CONVENTION.


GUBERNAToRIAL CONVENTION.
The State Democratic Convention,
which meets tomorrow in Nashville,
will have little trouble, we presume, in
nominating a candidate for Governor.
Gen. John C. Brown has been accepted
by the press nearly all over the State,
and BY tie masses of the people This
is one instance in which the Office seeks
the man more than the man seeks the
Office. Gen. Brown is acceptable to all
classes. He was successful lawyer
before the war, brave and distinguished
Confederate general during the war, and
more recently was President of the State
Constitutional Convention: In every
position of trust which he has yet filled
he has displayed talent, integrity, and
fine executive abilities He is a proper
man for Chief Executive Of the State
and when once nominated his election Is
a foregone conclusion. When elected
and indicted into office he will command
the respect and confidence of the peo-
pie, regardless of party lines or even
previous condition" as the Radicals
would say. The Convention, however
has graver and more delicate duty to
perform than to nominate Gen. Brown
for Governor. The occasion and the
condition of State and national politics
suggest the adoption of party platform.
Having disposed of the Radical party in
the State and restored the judiciary and
such old landmarks of liberty as we're not
entirely swept away during the late po-
ltical deluge, it behooves us to unite with
the only national party opposed to the
maladministration in power, and assist in
libersting other States yet under the OPP
pressors heel. A judicious platform,
adopted by the Tennessee Democracy,
will strengthen our friends elsewhere.
We are opposed to compromising any
principle, and opposed, also, to any ex-
IRENE tenets of political faith which
would hamper or embarrass the National
Democratic party in the States where its
success is doubtful. 1t matters nothing
TO us, in local sense, what the party is
called. Call it the Wing, the Pacific or
the Atlantic party; call it the old line,
the new line or the blue line party-so
as we remain united in Tennessee, we
can defeat the Radicals two or three to
one, and guarantee to our people an
honest administration Of public affairs
But il happened when the war closed
that there was Democratic party in the
North, and it has since gained several
important advantages 1t happened
tina. we soon began to cooperate with
that party and to call ourselves Demo
Gratis; not, however, in an ante-war
sense, but in the sense opposed to
reckless party in possession, temporarily,
of the Government We sent delegates
to the New York Democratic Conven-
ton that nominated Seymour, we had
democratic clubs and banners and
meetings all over the State, and there
was no sticking about the name Had
the Northern party been styled the Wing
party we would have oil taken up the
name as readily as Democratic, and to-
day might have all been called Wings.
If it will injure the Radical party
or thrust them sooner from power, we
would be ready to change the name,
even at this late day But the change
cannot be made without dividing our
ranks and weakening our forces in the
field. Hence, we are in favor of co-ope-
rating with the National Democratic
party, and adopting. with slight modi6-
cations, the suggestions of the National
Executive Committee at Washington.
Hence, without adducing any more ar
guments in this connection, we shall re-
gret it il the Nashville Convention
shirks the issue Of the hour by adopting
any time-serving name for the party
short Of Democratic. That is the ban
ner which may triumph over the Radical
party. No other name viii win. Much
more depends on the action Of the con-
Nention than is generally supposed.
Tennessee is the first and only recon
struc;ed State which has thrown of the
shackles Of Radicalism. If we adopt
any extremes Of language OF action, the
effect viii be damaging to those We
should and would assist in other States.
II we abandon the party shibDoleth, we
will be attempting to change front in the
presence Of the enemy, and acknowl-
,.d.se 20 them that We are ashamed 70 be-
long to the party now marshaling to de
feat the Grant party in the next Presi-
Dental election. We await the action
Of the convention, therefore, with no
common interest
UNDER WHICH BANNERi
Ia t..r.n-fn.r 40 road in the Nashville