Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-04-09
STRENGTH OF THE DEMOCRATIC
AND RADICAL PARTIES OF
SHELBY COUNTY.

AND RADICAL PARTIES OF
SHELBY COUNTY.
1t would be well to look around us be-
fore engaging in the coming campaign,
and observe our strength compared with
that of the opposing party. 1t is the
part of wisdom never TO underrate an
antagonist in pending contest, but for
practical purposes it would be better to
over-estimate such an one, if.not too
greatly.
The Democratic citizens of this county
have fallen into the error of claiming
too large a majority of votes over those
of the Radical persuasion. In conse-
quence our people have neglected to
come out to the polls on election days,
hugging the delusion that the enemy
would be beaten at any rate. We are
now suffering the humiliation of our own
inactivity and want of proper foresight.
How this can be remedied in the future
is question for consideration. five take
the vote of the county in the various
elections held since the war, it may be
seen that the last vote of the Radicals is
fully up to any other previous election,
and that they maintain their strength
either by fair or foul means, it matters
not. since the field has been won When
Brownlow ran for Governor in 1867,
against Etheridge, his vote was set down
in this county at four thousand four hun
bred and nineteen, at which time great
number of our friends were disfran-
chised and only cast a vote numbering
two thousand seven hundred and thirty
FIVE for Etheridge Grant, in the next
election, received in this county five
thousand one hundred and sixteen votes,
a larger number than any yet cast by
the Radicals for one of their partisans.
1t is true that Senter received seven
thousand three hundred votes, and at a
time when everybody was allowed to
vote; but these votes were given him by
Democrats, who desired his election over
that of more Objectionable man, Will
Stokes The point to be cyphered out
is, what strength can the Radical party
develop in this county in stand-up
fight with the Democracy, everything
being equal. If we take Mr.. Curry
late vote, it might be set down at four
thousand seven hundred and ninety-six,
which, in our opinion, would be an over
estimate Of the true Radical strength in
Shelby county 1t can be proven that
large number of fraudulent votes were
put in the ballot-box at the late county
election, aud that too by men in the in
terest of the Radical candidate for
Sheriff.
To carry out our rule, however we
will estimate the Radical party vote in
this comfy at four thousand and five
hundred, which is not too much, as we
regard. If, then, the Democrats are
successful in polling an equal number Of
votes it would make the total vote of the
county nine thousand. A pretty fair
average for the last election shows less
than that number, while the previous
election foots up less than eight thousand
as the entire vote Of both parties
But if our antagonist can bring
up to the polls a force Of forty-fve
hundred votes at any time it viii re-
quire some effort on the part of the Dem
ocrats to overcome this almost unequal
strength. The largest vote ever polled
in the county was given Senter and
Stokes which amounted to ten thousand
six hundred and sixty-six, the result of
almost general enfranchisement Of the
people. So many people again, perhaps,
will never be induced to come to the
polls on election day. and it will be the
fault Of our own partisans if such is not
the case.
From the publication of the above
amounts it may be found out that the
Democratic polling strength in this
county, upon safe count, cannot be
regarded as more than five thousand
votes leaving our majority at about FIVE
hundred over that Of the Radical party.
These figures may, Of course, be easily
varied as the disposition Of the people
induces them to act We would not
play the part Of an alarmist, but merely
caution our friends against being too
sanguine in the coming election for
Judges. What is required is work, and
that to be properly applied, or the 10Th
Of Nay viii be lost TO rs, and the party
meet with a second defeat, more disas-
trous than the one We now suffer under.
An effort is only required on our part TO
gain the desired purpose