Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-02-17
NrursJer VIII Ont,

EDITOR LEDGER: Ii old JOB ever eA
claimed, "Oh, that mine enemy had
written book" he must have known
that the putting of pen to paper is as GER
tain a way of finding out the foolishness
of some men as any that could be de-
vised. And q notable instance OF the
wisdom of hi, remark has recently made
its appearance over the signature OF
"Fair Play" who allows his ardent"
Democracy to run riot, and in kicking
mn His heels at "Fropt Street uucoD-
sciously displays the cloven hoof He is
NOT oppcsed to conventions, but expects
them 10 he infallibe; that is, he meas
nres the result of the late one by his own
Judgment, snd feeds his vanity with the
idea that his wisdom being so superior,
he can inform those who made the nomi'
nations that they have failed in ore in
stance at least, Wonderful man Why
was not the County Convention blessed
with his presence; then oil would have
been exactly right, the country would
have been saved, and no Objectionable
nominee would have troubled his SUI
premely sagscious soul He would have
a convention con posed of responsible,
law-abiding, tax-paying citizens which
is all right, as far es it goes but where mis-
sold and ardent Democracy ia that would
exclude q man because he had not BY
either fair or foul means amsssed enough
to become taxpayer, is beyond the COM
prehension of common mortals, and re-
mains to be shown by such as be, who is
40 liberal minded and so Democratic az
TO make other mems poverty bar to po-
liticsl rights. /. might happen that bis
sristocratic mind would catch q glimpse
of this absurdity we're he to realize the
fact that property-owners would cut but
g sorry figure without the poor llhofer,
aud 10 no plaee more 50 than at the polls.
Taking him on bis own contracted basis,
the late convention ought to have suited
him, for ell were responsible, ell were
law-abiding, and nine-tenths ws--s tsx.
payers; yet they fail.a % suit a man who
gave himself no trouble to to tell them
that bis fragrant flower was blushing un :
seen, too modest to expose its beauty,
and too DELICATE to appear before con-
vention. My dear Fair Play" so much
modesty and SO much delicacy are not
fitted for the rugged ussges of business
life. and are much too fregile for the office
of County Court Clerk. If your M jor is
as You represent hin, he would, in that
Office, be likea fish on q lime kiln--out
OF his element.
The qualification of candidates also
receives" Fair Plays" valuable stten-
ton; but unfortunately, for his original
ity has been much more pithily expressed
by the two words capabiity aud
honesty" Against which one of the
nominees will he dare to bring the CHARGE
of incompetency or dishonesty he
haa written three fcurths of column in
the Appeal, and no where attempts to
do it. Then what has he to complain
Off Any one in possession of their
natural senses would say, notbingl But
as be has got sixth one, which Rslly's
countrymen would call nonsense, of
course he has got complaint, and a
srevious one, too; Reilly is Irish--and,
" Fair Play" as in the days OF bis youth,
when the Know Nothing nightmare rode
him to death almost, wishing TO fight
such battles over again, presents himself
to the public in the character OF fugle-
man, anxious to shoulder his crutch
and show how fields were won" he is
afraid of az . Irish succession" Well,
since the successor is competent and
honest why not7 When the foreigner
lands upon these shores, swears allegi-
suce TO this Government, is-a "responsi-
Bile, law abiding, tsx- paying citizen,
as Reilly is, is he not Us much an Ameri-
can in heart and soul as any who
CHANGED to be born upon the soil2 All
true Americans say yes; and will prove
their sincerity By electing the whole
Democratic ticket, despits ths combined
efforts of designing Radicals, growing
Independents" and covert Know
Nothings.
But the weakest point OF all, and that
which displays Mr.. " Fair Plsys inof-
diusts vastly, is bis attempt to blarney
tae Irish by "truest and best ffisnds,"
"maguanimons people" etc. A county
convention may we'll afford to smile at
his pointing ont mistakes, when he un-
deriskes to fool by hsttery the very peo-
pie who are acknowledged to be the in-
vepiors Of that spenles Of "chin.mrsic "
| and are slso shreRa enough TO see that
their tried aud trusy friendship has been
returned BY the bAsesi ingrAiitude in bis
opposing the regular nominee, for no
other reason than because he was
Irish; r." and holds forth, for admiration
and election, modest" primrose, that
was instrumental in the singing Of a. I.
Stewart, Of New York. Oh, Honesty,
etc, etc. Does Fair Play see the
point, or does he wish full expose
TERRY ALI.