Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-05-13
poL1rIcAL PARTIES IN TENNESSEE

Parties are vigorously forming ior he
contest soon to come off in our State.
An effort is being made to organize what
will be termed Conservative party,
composed of whipped out Radicals and
soft Democrats who advocate universal
suffrage. These elements will combine
and make up, we apprehend, the opposl-
tons strength We conjecture this for
the reason that the Republican party
alone could not hope for success in the
State in q straight contest with the
Democracy, and twill naturally seek to
ally itself with any body which would
aid them in breaking up our organiza-
ton. The universal suffrage, conserva-
tive portion of the voting popuiRtion
will naturally gravitate toward their
sympathetic Radical friends, for whom
they have had liking for some time
past. The two combined are not
strong enough to cope with the
young Democracy Of the State, as trial
will prove most conclusively. We should
20 into the field With our banner I'M
furled not abating one iota of pre-
viously formed opinions We desire no
compromise with the old enemy Of the
Government and the people of our Com
monwealth These have prostituted the
right of suffrage, and to-day stand in
open hostility to the Constitution Of
those who founded the Government
White men have been placed on level
with the negro TO conserve partisan ends.
The treasury Of the State has been plum
dered, and the people loaded with bur
densome and Onerous debt. We have
been made to submit TO Northern rulers,
who came among us with the avowed pur-
pose Of holding Office and getting rich at
the expense Of our labor and the hard
earnings of the Confederate poor. Ten
nessee has been insuited BIZ this party,
now attempting to get into power HDder
anotlfr name. in a manner that
cries to heaven for revenge And
retribution was sent TO us last
fall in the defeat of Stokes and
the election Of a Democratic Legiss
lature, which has been engaged in clear
ing away some Of the debris Of our
wrecked fortunes. Much remains yet to
be done, and by consistent and com
bined effort on the part Of the true men
of the State next fall, we look for per-
manently good settlement Of Affairs. as
regards the local government Of the
State. The tax upon the voting privi-
Iege in the State Constitution is
wrong, and viii condemn the men
who placed it there to the shades Of pri-
rate life. In fact the entire instrument
itself is botch, and will reflect discredif
on all who were engaged in making i
The thing Of conserving to negro suffrage
before it was forced upon rs by the Fif-
feeuth Amendment. was an 0dious act,
and she Conservative party must wear
the stigma. The party to which We be-
long, thank heaven, will never cease 70
war against the equality Of the negro with
the white man, and will never lay down
the cudgel until that decision has been
reversed. II may be urged as q poll
he reason that the Democratic party
should nov give up the constest against
he principles Of the Fifteenth Amend
nent. and make he most Of il We viii
not consent 10 It; and believe. IS elections
n the North have already proves, that
he whiemau' $ party sill gain more BY |
stad6lsf opposition 70 the negroes 70.
;.r dan ,rill ise lost. The elecfisR in St. I
.ouis attests this fact where the foreign 4
ose. and many Of the native-born whites /
eseried the Radical party since the en- ]