Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-04-23
DEMOCRATIC JUDICIAL TICKET.
THE CANVASS.


haye.deemed il somewhat their duty to
suggest to the candidates for Judges and
Attorney General programme 70 be
carried out in the present campaign.
We attribute our last partial defeat TO
the fact that interest enough was not
manifested among the friends of the De-
mocracy. And to arouse the people to
the Importance Of the occasion, thereby
persuading them to come ont and vote
on the day of election, it was thought
proper to publish list OF APP
pointments which the candidates have
themselves agreed TO fill. We know 1t
has been objected to making the cleo
ton of Judges political in its character,
but under the present state of affairs 1t
is impossible not to do so. unthlnk-
king men may rail as much as they
choose against the system of thus
elesating partisans to the dignity OF the
bench and sacredness of the Judicial
ermine; still. nothing better is proposed
by them as a relief from great evil, which
Is TO elect Radicals to the ostresponsible
nosit;ous in the land. We have ar
pued before, when the Convention for
framing the Constitution had the subject
of the election Of Judges under consid-
Grafton. that it was In the very nature OF
things,when the people were called upon
10 elect any officer whatever that poll
tics would necessarily become involved
in the matter, and could not be helped.
Ii has been the ease before this, and is
emineutly so at the present even to the
election Of Magistrates and consiables;
such il the genius ofthe rampant kepas-
lican democracy Of the day, and can't be
otherwise thought of until Badicalism has
been purged of corruption and sin. As
for our party, we are willing to lay down
the truncheon and to cease partisan hos
tility over the Judges Offices, but then
the opposition ia not, and that compels
us to rally our forces 20 the field at pres
ent. It would be madness TO stick to
and carry out theory, although right in
the abstract, yet must prove rniDoas, Tor
the reasoa that the enemy will take I'D
vantage. Of IL, And we simply mean BY
this, that if the Democracy of Shelby
county did not place candidates in the
field and elect them by concentration
of superior numbers that the Radicals
byItheir organization would choose men
OF that party for the positions to be filed,
for which they have the smallest amount
of capocity or honesty. There is no
stopping on middle ground with political
parties in thiS or any other country, and
the election Of officers by the people
must be more or less tinged with
the hue Of partisanship a. all times.
We cannot, if we would, destroy
the interest the people feel in the eandi-
dates who belong to this or the other
party; and our nominees will not hest
rate, when taking the stump on to-day
week. and thereafter, to declare boldly
that they are the representatives Of Dem
ocratic principles. and look to that party
solely for their election, To run and
receive the votes q the Dsmopratic
party does not necessitaie the Judge
elected thereby to render partisan decis-
ions after getting on the bench. He can
decide the law a. well afterward as if no
such decorations had been publicly
made This, however. Is termed drag
ging the judicial ermine 10 the filth Of
partnership" But i should be renem-
bered that the official robe Is not put on
until the expeetant has realized the
hopes Of his friends in being indicted
into Office. Then be is no longer a Dem
ocrai Or . Radical; at least At should be
SO. aud we pledge our candidates to it.
Can such a guarantee be given BY llia
Opposition, II Radicals shall ever again
ascend TO the bench Of Shelby county
We could not trust the sci already here
aud demand that a new importation
fra be made. and Of honest meH-
Never since the organization Of the
State Government have the people o.
shis county been permitted to vote al