Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-07-12
MODERN INDEPENDENT JOURNALISM.


MODERN INDEPENDENT JOURNALISM
What in the world is the Avalanche
driving at? There may be method in its
madness, butitis unfortunate as to facts
Its whole demonstrable force and energy
are urged against the Democratic party
as though that party contained all the
ills and deviltries that were once believed
TO have been confined in PanGora's box.
1t talks glibly of the " Conservative
party as if any such party existed, and
refers TO it as having voted for Etheridge
and Senter Good Lord the vote for
the former did not contain a fifth of the
vote for the latter. How did il grow up
tosueh enormous proportions in so short
n time? There were many causes, but
least of all the progress Of party con
seyrafism. 1t was the united effort of
all the opponents TO that Brown
Iowism which had run over the
State rougIl-shod, and kept it so long
in hot water, usurping powers that
no other executive had ever welded. and
holding life and property at pins fee.
With Senter, there was promise OF ale
Walton Of this misery Stokes its
repetition; and this was the difference.
Is Senter a high-priest of Conservatism
n the estimation Of the Avalanche?
What did that paper think of the evil
dence he gave at Washington as to the
condition Of our people2 Was that a
sample of Conservatism? In what do
Etheridre and Senter harmonic, or do
they harmonize at al? Are they not as
diverse as different spheres moving in
different orbits2 But it may be asked,
what is the use OF controyerting the
crude notions, absurd speculations, and
notorious Misrepresentation and hypO-
theses Of the Avalanche? True, it is
time thrown away, and the insincerity
which attributes all bad to the Demo
cratic party, and sees all good in a
shadowy conservatism that has no real
existence, will not accept the most con-
elusive demonstration, but fly off at the
handle to attempt other impossibilities,
incongruities and absnrdities. 1t was
but the other day, alIuding to its city
cotemparies this Simon Pure Conserve.
tive remarked:
Conservative Democrat occasionally
slips in, but nothing is recognized ex-
cept simon-pure Democracy. And why
is this? Is it because they are opposed
20 oil modern men and measmcs2 is it
because they are in favor OF extreme
men and measures and the very counter
part of the Radicals who ruled and ruin
ed? Do they wish to build up new
party? Not being satisfied with the
name and principles of the Conservative
marty. they abandon its name and prin-
ciples and advocate extreme measures.
They adhere to Bourbonic ideas they
cling to the animOsities of the past and
stand stolidly with their backs to the
future They are too much devoted to
a strict construction OF the Constitution
10 accept any other party but the Dem
ocratic name of 1860.
What senseless twaddlel The Post,
in the zenith. of its Brownlow-conceived
patronage and the heyday of its Radical
consequence, had more respect for the
intelligence and common sense Of its
readers. A man Of moderate capacity
day or two sincefesired an explann-
lion why the Avalanche asked so many
questions, and suggested that it must be
wofully ignorant We thought to ourself,
If il be not ignorant it is worse, and it
will establish helaiter claim before many
suns traverse their annual track unless n
violent change should come over the
shirt of its dream. But consistency is
not a cardinal virtue in Independent
journalism, and il would not be incon-
sistent with the ethics of some people to
claim that as essentially Of their own
procuring to which they have been most
Numerically opposed. In fact. we should
moi ne al AZ SUI ltArcA Al AtAt ANdiauAhf
should claim that the Judicial Conyen-
ton was its own especial bantling. aud
had made just the nominations it antici-
pated. Of truly independent non-parti-
sans imbued with the highest inteli-
rence combined with the purest charae-
ter and the most top-loitieal attainmenis.
This is a way some people have, and it
possibly had its foundation when the
pbrase was first adopted. There, ! told
Won so. However, this i speculation.
Though we do not know what day may
hiring forth. We pass on TO another brief
extract from the long diatribe from
which we have already quoted, both for
present and for future reference. On
Saturday last the Avalanche said;
las wen known that there was no har-
NOW of sentiment nor agreement - ae-
s;on between a Breckinridge Democrat
- a Douglas Democrat or Bel Wing
Tins vas 40 in 1860 The Breckinndge
~ Secession Democrats earned the
South. got possession Of all the Soninefh