Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-08-16
pROTFsTATION.

We can lay our hand upon our heart,
conscious of no narrow or absurd preju-
dices inherited of the past and its
feuds, and say in all candor and kind
ness, that we honestly do not believe
that the word Democrat is as certain OF
success as the word Conservative. And
This is not because of any prejudice o.
our own. but because of an intelligent,
instructive consciousness of widely ex-
istinc prejudice among others. Should
we draw upon ourselves unworthy sus-
n;cions. contumely and obloquy because
we prefer to be on the safe sidel The
Democratic voters are secured, in any
event They should not quarrel with
well-meant suggestions looking to
strengthening Of their alliance, and that
too. in the face of their own unfortunate
errors and failures of the past, and in
the face of the express instructions OF
acknowledged leaders at the seat OF
government. -NashriUe Banner
The editor of this sheet is ready to
Law his hand on his heart and declare
that no narrow or absurd prejudice, in
herent of the past and its feuds, would
prevent him from embracing the name
Democrat. Why then should there be
an objection with those of whose opinions
the Banner is supposed to be the reflex
We are told of this widely existing pre-
iudice among others, but who these are
the Banner does not say. Are they
not of the same school of this editor
himself. who from the beginning,
almost has opposed the Democratic
party2 People may lay their hands
on their hearts whenever it suits them,
and it is no difficult matter, but to change
the lifelong condition of that or
gan is indeed hard to do. 1t is
not by words, altogether, we judge
men. hut by their acts. We know that
some of these very individuals, who are
now so willing to swear their prejudices
against the party named Democratic, have
long since been buried, or were those
who only few short months since fav-
ored the organization of what they
termed the Liberal party in the State
They have grown no better, but continue
in the opposing ranks, ready to lend a
helping hand to any move that looks to
the disintegration ofthe Democratic party
Their excuse now is that there are some
who cannot be made to come into the
fold of the Democracy, and that for the
time they will herd with them only for
the purpose of influencing these at the
opportune moment in adding to our
strength. To such we should set the
good example of adhering closely to the
Democratic party, and there will be no
difficulty in bringing the stray ones
back to the union with their friends.
If mems minds are obscured by the thick
darkness Of prejudice, they should be
shown the light of truth that they may
worship it. 1t is not good policy to pro-
fess principles and avow prejudces in
order to convert those who be.
lieve in the latter. Nor do we believe
in the honesty Of men who would do
such thing Let a man show
by his works what he is Whatever
errors we have committed in the past
are apparent to our intellectual reason,
and we propose ourselves TO take the pre-
cautionary steps to avoid them in the
future We do not want any suggestions
from an enemy, nor will we accept coun-
sells but from sworn friends, for they only
can be trusted