Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-08-23

u
alton" vote all the acts and amenomensS
ON the negro question as dead issues
and 20 in upon the MINOR issues
with a view to divide the negro votes
This accommodation, coming from eH.
ternal sources and urged by few widely
circulating papers in the North, who
viewed the question here not as 70
how n might affect us, but how It might
interfere with their schemes for the next
presidential canvass, was taken. up by
the ,ouisyille Courier-J ournal and sought
IN he made the basis of our campaign:
On the other hand, the Yeoman, backed
mn nv nearly every other Democratic pa
ner in the State, urged and succeeded in
maintaining as the true hne OF action
the following: l..
/. The declaration that the means by
which the fifteenth Amendment was
passed we're fraudulent, and the laws
passed in pursuance of it were uneonst'-
tutional.
3 That whatever might be the result
in regard TO their ultimate maintenance,
they were vioative of the clearest primer
ples of free government and demanded
our protest. -.
8. That notwithstanding our position,
in view of their passage with the form OF
law, we would recognize the negro as a
de facto voter, interpose no obstacle 10
his voting, and defend the exercise OF .he
franchise pending the ultimate decision
of the subject. ~ #
4. That, desiring to make our protest
earnest and marked we would not intro
duce the negro as an element INTO our
party, nor as an organization invite his
vote. ~ ~ A ~ -,
Here was platform pure in principle
and firm in the assertion Of truth, while
at the same time it was void of any ele--
ment of defiance or buster. 1t affirmed
the truth in denouncing the rascality OF
Radicalism, in foisting by fraud partisan
measures upon unwilling States, ana
calling them constitutional amendments.
1t yindicates principle in the assertion
Of the unconstitutionality of the enforce
ment bill and kindred acts. and demon
strated its respect for the forms OF law,
its true greatness and magnanlmity, IN
refusing to make the negro the innocent
Sufferer for Radical acts, and counselled
recognition of his legal right to vote,
whatever might be the true Judicial IN
depreciation Of the tenure by which 1t
was held
The Radical party having assumed
the guardianship of the negro, and
taken him to its unselfsh arms, organic
ing him into Loyal Leagues, and mass
ing him by appeals, begun long before,
in ignorant blindness of prejudice
against the Democratic party, was right
" called by us the black mans party.
In contradistinction, and to make the
basis upon which we proposed to make
the campaign, as set forth in the propo-
sition above enumerated, more salient,
the Democratic party came to be called
the White Mans party. 1t was no
change Of organization, no new name
for either The Radical party has al
ways been known as the niger party,
from the use sought to be made of the
unfortunate eolored man to advance
their selfish ends, and the Democratic
party has alw avs been called the White
Mans party. 1t was peculiarly so in
the race Just closed, and there was no
harm in calling it SO. But this was
viewed in different light by the Courier
Journal, whose position has long been
in antagonism with that of the Democ-
racy of Kentucky in its local organiza-
ton. The party had refused to accept
ite dogmas as orthodox, maintained the
vitality of the issues forced on us by
Radical aggression, and dared adhere to
principle, even though if involved loss
of the 'hesh-pots, An attempt was made
to break down the platform of the can
yass. and the Radical party
rejoiced in the apparent disruption
of the Democratic party, when the
Courier-Journal assailed it with the
charge that the white mans party was a
party of crime and murder, and its own
views. according with those of the Radi-
calls, were sought to be enforced as Dem
ocratio, But it met the rebuke it de-
served, and its suggestions fell without
effect. The Democratic party went
STRAIGHTFORWARD in its work as the white
mans party throughout the State, stood
up for and acted upon the principles and
policy already cited, and the result is a
victory, greater even than the most san
guine of our party could have antici-
pated. Now that it has been won, of
course even those who threatened TO dis
organize and demoraIize the party; even
the New York World and Chicago Times,
after maligning the Kentucky Democra-
CIV as pig-headed and hide-bound, now
shout in triumph over the glorious news
glorious to them because il speaks of
future victories which may operate in
their favor-glorious only TO us because
it has been won without a sacrifice Of
honor. 1t was very much the same way
in 1866, when the Democratic party of
Kentucky reorganized and gave by its
victory the first impetus and zeal
to the party in other States. These
same time-serving noodles said We
would ruin the party because we dared
speak the truth. The dissatisfied within
our ranks organized the third party. The
timid, within Kentucky and without, lay
low, like quarryman waiting for the
blast. But when the election came, and
the returns showed the great ground
swell which heaYed pHyall into office by
45, 900 majority. then the saFth far and
near resounded with applause; tongues
were Embossed which had been tied be-
fore; and orators, native and non-resi-
dent Who had with ominous mods Of the
head chided vs. es 8 impraeticables,
joyfully discussed Kennedy mutton at
shady barbecues, and sang peans Of
praises 10 the victory which had been
defeat or a sham but for the cool heads
which conceived and the bold hearts
which executed. ItgaYe Kentucky to the
Democracy. 1t did more; it prieked the
miserable bubble Of a conservative milk
snd-water organization. proposed by the
I Philadelphia convention Of 1866, con-
| ceiyed In the interest of the spoilsmen