Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-11-28
THE NEW ERA.

MONDAY Evening. NOV. -. ISsV.
THE NEW ERA.
The political lookout is hopeful and
most encouraging. A wonderful change
has been wrought in the last two years,
and the initiatory was taken in Tennes-
see. II was in this State that proscrip-
ton and disf-anchsement began, and
the Radicals set an example of fraud
and oppression that was initiated closely
in many of the Southern States, and was
followed by years of darkness and out
rageous misrule But as the era of OPP
preston begun in this State, so was in
augurated here the era of liberal senti-
ments Of political reform and Demo
cratic ascendancy The new Democratic
party of Tennessee, which was almost
too feeble an organization to attract the
notice ofour reckless Legislators, soon out
grew even the stigma of being called
rebel party, took advantage of con-
test for the spoils of Office in the over
confident Radical party, and by uniting
temporarily with the liberal wing Of
the party secured ascendancy and the
control Of the entire State Government.
This event surprised the Democrats of
the country no less than it excited the |
wrath and fears Of the Republican party |
throughout the country The stubborn,
bitter Republicans vowed vengeance, and
drew the reins tighter wherever they had
the power, and that was nearly all over
the cvratry The liberal Republicans,
who Aad honestly fought for their idea of
the Union and nothing more, learned
lesson and kept on in a consistent, con
ciliatory course. Such journals as the
Cincinnati Commercial, Chicago Tri-
bune, 81 Louis Democrat, and few
Eastern journals, continued to urge the
enfranchisemen of all who had been in
cdentally deprived of the right of suf
frage by the war. In some States--Alis-
souri, and West Virginia, for instance
- this was made almost the sole
issue of the campaign previous to
the fall elections The Democrats, !
following the example of Tennessee
made no scruple at affiliating with the
Liberal Republicans, and the result was
practically, if not theoretically, glori-
GUS Democratic victory wherever such
policy was pursued Even Arkansas, !
our sister State, so long doubly cursed =
with reign similar to Brownlow's, has .
gained some ground and is in a fair way !,
to be restored to her political rights
And Alabama, where Grant sent his
hired bayonets TO deter the people, has
redeemed herself, in spite of usurpation \,
and o. s Grant, by electing the entire W
Democratic ticket Eight out Of ten G.
Southern States carried by the Radicals a,
two years ago went Democratic since n,
Wherever an election has been held, Il,
in the North or in the South, TT
HE result has been the same. The true :.
Democracy of the nation has come to the Al,
rescue and made overwhelming gains. n.
The Administration unfortunately for the
peace of the country is in the hands of
he shoddy proscriptionists. The White :.
House is controlled by rings, and very =,
mall rings at that. Grant said, Let
Is have peace but that was a broader :.
oke than ever was perpetrated by the :.
late lamented" He meant let us have
m, at
Deaceable possession Of the spoils. The r
people have partially recovered their
sober second thought, and have risen in
heir might 10 rebuke and, if necessary, !
sweep from public view those who have Hi
oros.ituted trust and places Of honor for de,
base partisan ends. The ball which was hin
get in motion in Tennessee has rolled VOC
over nearly dozen of States since, and chs
there is every reason to believe that the mo
Democrats and the Reform Republicans hui
viii carry the Presidential election in =
1872. Possibly there may be three fro
-ickets--two Republican and one Demo- kel
ratio. In that case the Democrats will mn
,lect their President Such result inl
would not be more surprising at large
han the election of Gratz Brown in Mis-
iouri. The work is not done, nor can
he Democrats rest for moment; but Ye
wonderful changes have taken place sol
The old song about rebels, eopperheads gu
md disloyalty has lost its force, and only fe,
eebly sustained by the New York Tri
oune and few smaller and much feeber
journals, which borrow, their light from
his once powerful source. A majority wa
IF the most influential Republican pa u, u,
1ers of the country still pursue with u"
rreat effect the more reasonable course va
hey took two years ago. The pen is ="
nirhtier than the sword, at least in times
# peace as the Administration lately
earned ia New York, North Carolina di
and Alabama, and viii learn in Georgia De
and elsewhere These papers direct the
Reform party and mould the opinions and W,
control the votes OF millions The work de
goes on and the eternal Hatites are
SLED with dismay Ben Butler proposes
war with England in the hour of En-
Gland supposed complication with Rus
sia, hoping thereby to divert the atten- AT
hon Of the people from the political
revolution in progress Grant explains u
the AcGarrahan and the Cox business
IN BIZ alarm, aud viii do anything his at
adviser may suggest to escape the just
indignation Of the people. But 1t is too pa
late. The usurpatons Of the President ii,
cannot be forgotten or forgiven. His
sincerity Of repentance would Be doubted. =.
under the Circumstances, even BY his
own party At the election Of 1860 ~
which dierupfed the country there var.