Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-05-28
THE DEMOCRACY OF SHELBY COUNTY

The signal victory achieved by the
Democracy of Shelby county on Thurs
day is death-dealng blow TO Radical
ism in these parts. We have demon
strated our superior strength, which can
always be maintained if the men OF the
party are true to themselves and to prin-
chile II is no excuse for any one to
leave our ranks because he may have
failed in his purposes of getting INTO
Office, and every act of the kind can
be characterized in no other way than
the worst sort of treachery. Ii persons
are induced to join the Democratic party
merely to fatten and live off the spoils,
we beg all such TO leave at once and go
to the enemy. We have no sympathy
with them, and even less, respect. II is
the most stupendons fallacy TO claim to
he Democrat, and yet run against the
regular nominees ofthat party. Nohonest
politician will do it. The footing up OF
the number of ballots cast shows that
in this election there were sac hundred
and Erf,-tour more cast than in Wright's
and CuIry's contest. The city in the
last election voted only 1884, while IN
the former the amount was 1888, making
a falling off from the former of 44i votes.
This however, is counterbalanced by the
very large vote in the county, which rs
accounted for on the ground that the
negroes were compelled to vote in their
respective civil districts instead OF being
permitted to come to town to vote, as
they had been in the habit of doing here
tofore. We are still behind in our last
election with the vote cast in the Stokes
and Senter campaign, which is set down
Mt 10, 6G6 votes for the county, being 6ls
votes more than was cast in the Judicial
election. The figures, then, prove that
our people failed to come out and vote
as they should have done day before yes
terday. This may be greatly owing to
the busy time in the country with the
crops, which have just began to grow.
We have no reason for changing our
opinion, some time ago expressed, that
the Democratic party in this county
could boast only of a majority of
Eve hundred. 1t is fatal delusion to
persuade the people otherwise who may
think it unimportant to attend at the
polls on the days of election, believing
that we are perfectly secure in our ire
mendous majority as reported. The
truth should be known, that the public
NAV take such measures as viii prevent
a disaster hereafter to the party that
looks first but not exclusively, to the
great interest of the whites. The expe-
hence that we have learned in the last
NO elections should teach us the
necessity and vast importance of
more thorough party organization 1t
$ now matter involving our political
Aviation, since the respective strength
# the two parties are so nearly equal.
IN every election in this county there
must be severe contest, which will be
lecided in favor of the party that exer-
Use the best judgment in keeping its
in perfect tact. Our peo-
lie are possessed with superior intelli-
.ence, and should not permit themselves
0 be controlled by few white Radicals,
,aeked up with the ignorant blacks of
he county. We have the political des-
inies of the county in our hands, If we
nut act with discretion.