Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-07-18

racy was left to preserve the lineaments
and name of the grand old party, while
its recent adversary had disappeared in
the yeasty waves. Refrigerated by ac-
cessions from the debris of the late Wing
party, the Democracy has still battled
for the Constitution and resisted every
stride to Capitalization and despotism.
1t is stronger to-day than it has been for
decade. Around its standard must
gather all who love their country and
cling to free government. Individual
ambition and personal advancement can
have no place in patriotic hearts, until
the vandals are driven from their strong
holds, and once more the banner Of the
free shall float over the capitol. This
can only be accomplished by the success
of the Democratic party. No new, or
revived old third party, can arrest the
thieves and plunderers, and in that the
redemption of the country lies. 1t is the
duty of every Wing and every Democrat
to rally around the same standard. They
have common foe that is revelling in
what is properly and legitimately theirs,
and squandering the heaped up treasures
of the past, unmindful of the future, ex-
cept to keep possession, at all hazards,
of their ill-gotten gains. Wemust know
no more any distinction between Wings
and Democrats. There is none. They
fought shoulder to shoulder in the COM
mon cause. They are embarked in the
same vessel, which, waited by favoring
winds, will reach safe haven beneath
summer skies, or, baffled in her exertions
to reach port, must go down beneath the
black and bitter waters of despair. He
who would seek to awaken jealousy be-
tween Wing and Democrat now is an
enemy of his country, and should take
his place among the Catalines and Ar
nolds of the-past But let an old Wing
admonish his compatriots, and point out
the duty of the hour. The Milan, Ten
nessee, Times thus calls the wanderers
home:
"Once when the issue was between
the Wing and Democratic parties, when
the only question was not whether we
should have Government at all, but as
to the best policy of administering the
Government, we should have secuted the
idea of linking ourselves with the Demo
Gratis. Born Wing, raised with Wing
principles, and believing the party the
better calculated of the two to success
fully conduct the affairs of the Republic,
we were ready to do battle in the cause
and to fall with the party if needs be.
But these times have passed and the is
sues of that day end time have also
passed away, and greater and more alb
sorbing ones have presented themselves.
In the warfare now raging between the
Democracy on the one hand and the
Radicals on the other, the issue has al
ways been Government or no Govern
ment." The Radical party has tried to
avoid the issue, but each time they have
ignored it the Democrats have brought |
them back to it, until to-day it is
the one and only issue before the
people. The Radicals while shouting
their blatant loyalty have cried down
their opponents with the potent cry
of Rebel, and have, while protesting |
their love for the Republic, steadily gone
from bad to worse, until to-day the very |
life of the nation is imperiled. To-day |
they cannot avoid the issue. The raw
observation-disclosures of secession can
no longer shield them or aid them in
shifting the issue, and the question asked
is universal, To what are we tendingY
On the one side warning upon the inter
est and life of the Republic stand the
Radicals; upon the other, guarding the
vitals Of the nation, stand the Democrats.
The issue is fairly and squarely made,
the party lines are being drawn and the
contest is waxing hot. The question
now is with every man, with which party
he shall unite his destiny. To all that
love the Republic, all who look back
with regret at the almost total subver-
sion of the principles and form of our
Government, the answer can only be to
cast their destinies with the Democracy.
1t is the only organized party to-day
that presents front to the foul
ribaldry, filth and corruption at Wash
ington. The prestige Of Radicalism
has passed away and everywhere the
Democracy is triumphant New York,
Connecticut, Oregon and California have
come out from under the wickedness of
the corruptionists and Joined hand with
the only party to which we can look for
safety. For us we shall be found hence
forth together with all old Wings that
may love their country, battling for and
with that party. Tennessee must and
will go the same way Disconnected and
Inscriptions and ambitious men may
do otherwise. We would not control
them if we could The Democracy, say
what we may, is the sheet-anchor of the
nation and the only hope of the true
overs of the country Around its
standard are all the good and true men
Of the nation, Wing and Democrat,
united in one common cause Let Us
first save the country and then talk over
minor issues, and the only way to do
his is to vote with the Democracy.