Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-08-10
STATE POLITICS.

Our people must go through another
political contest in this State, and after
that will come a season of quiet and
repose. The repetition of elections it
seems could not well be avoided. 1t is
the work of the trainers of the new Con-
stitution, who thought it best that as
many elections should happen on the
same day of the year as could be well
brought about, and in the future we shall
not thus be troubled and annoyed. The
(iubernatorial candidates have already
taken the field, and in most of
the districts in the State candidates
for Congress have announced them
selves. and with the race in the various
counties for members of the Legislature
altogether will make the canvass one of
unusual interest to the people. We
would urge the friends of the Democracy
everywhere to thoroughly organize and
be ready for the conflict. Radicals are
intent on running a ticket for all these
Offices to be1illed, and to defeat them at
the polls should be the settled purpose
of good men everywhere in each of the
grand divisions of the State. The
crushing-out policy should be ours,
and if effectually carried out it may be
presumed that ever afterward Radical
ism with its black-brazened front will
never again dare show itselfin our midst.
A Convention will be held at Nash
vile, on the 18th of September, by the
friends of the Democracy, and its delib-
erations, no doubt, will be harmonious
and the work performed satisfactory to
the people of the State. If there should
be minor differences Of opinion with
those who oppose Radicalism, they
should be buried in the deep sea Of forget
fulness until more appropriate time,
when they may be fshed up and dis
cussed with propriety. There cannot be
wide distinction in the platform, it
matters not what may be proposed on
the occasion. We are charged with be-
longing to class of proscriptive Demo
Gratis, but charge more false could not
be started, and, in fact, we are at loss
to know the meaning of the words pro-
scriptive Democrats. Democracy means
the greatest liberty to every one, whether
foreign or native born. The Offices OF
the country are free for all classes, and
it is right they should be, leaving it to
the test Of merit as TO who shall be
chosen. If to oppose Radicalism with
all the earnestness of our nature enti-
ties us to the appellation Of proscrip-
tive, then indeed are we glad to accept
it. And neither are we submissionists,
ready to bear with patience and meek
ness whatever burden the dominant
party may seek to crush us with. We
are for the Constitution of our fathers, q
Just administration Of the laws, and an
equal representation from every part of
this tax-paying country Of ours. We
are opposed to the rule Of the bayonet,
and favor the government of the ballot.
If these, and such like conservative
views, make our policy distasteful to
some, it cannot be helped, and we will
abide the faith that is in us. No doubt
the convention that will soon meet will
lay down platform broad enough for us
all to stand on, and when our candidate
for Governor shall be nominated and
placed upon it, let us rally to a man to
his support The two gentlemen who
are most prominent for the ofice--Gen-
erals Quarles and Brown-are well fitted
for position as chiefexecutive of theState,
and a mistake would NOS be made in
electing either Of them.