Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-12-01


manacles Of slavery, as unworthy Of the
priceless boon of freedom conferred upon
them by that great party which saved
the country in the hour Of peril quota
ton from a campaign documenp am
unable to say, but the melancholy iact
remains the same; regardless OF what
punishment Is to be meted out TO 'hem,
they did, 10 the number OF thousahus'
vote the Democratic ticket.
1 know n district in one of the north
ern tier of counties where the returns
show that of the eighty odd votes polled,
all we're for Lindsey, although there are
several gentle Africans living in that
favored locality. Thinking an interview
might shed light on the gloomy affair, |
said 10 a sovereign Of that district, How
happened it that Smith did,not get any
votes at your polling placer
Because. said he, as he paired a toe
nail that protruded through hole in his
boot because nobody voted for him.
This answer would have terminated an
ordinary interview, but as ] was after in
formation bearing upon the future welfare
OF the party that saved the Government
in the hour Of its trial, / continued:
ANY negroes in your beatY'
AYES, about dozen ON EN-"
did they vote2
They did in the cool,
"Who for9"
Lindsey, of course"
THAT seems funny, considering the
unanimity win which they supported
Smith in the Southern part of the
State"
"Yes, Is little funny that the mig
gers should have sense enough to vote
the Democratic ticket. The Radical
school teachers are learning them some-
thing. The more the niggers are edu-
Gated the more they will see that it is to
their interest to vote with the people
among whom they live, who like them,
who care for them, who give them part
of their cotton crops, instead of running
after a set Of id dead beats and car
pet-baggers.
And scalawagers," added, not want
ing my friends from the North to bear
the entire brunt of Democratic wrath.
'Yes, and every other kind of wager
and wiggler. Why, on election day the
niggers came up TO the polls, and said
they wanted TO vote, and TO give them
some tickets. Some of the men says:
Boys, how do you want to voteY And
they answered that they wanted to vote
like all the balance were voting. A
Democratic ticket was read to them, and
they said that was the very thing-just
what they wanted, and so they voted IT,
Not only was Smith defeated by six or
eight thousand votes, bnt the Leglsla-
ture is largely Democratic. They have
also gained Congressman and multi
tude of small officers. In short, the
Democracy has gained victory in Ala
bama. 1t may not be pleasant to have
it that way, but that does not hinder If
from being true. 1t is doubtful if the
Republicans ever get control here again |
that is, if the Democrats behave them |
selves. and from the number OF lessons |
they have learned in the school of expe- |
rience, taught for the benefit of those |
who will not learn in any other, it looks |
as though they ought to-
With the coming in of Democratic |
administration, there will be a grand |
going out of railroads. The State will |
hereafter keep ont of the railroad and
turnpike business, and if those impor-
tant public works are carried on, those
who want them must build them. This
is one part of the Democratic pro-
gramme that is pretty near right, and if
it had been adopted years ago the State
would have been comparatively out of
debt. Fewer railroads and less debt
would be preferable.