Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-05-23
DEMOCRATIC JUDICIAL TICKET
THE RADICAL CANDIDATE FOR AT
TORNEY GENERAL.

The desire that some men have tc
hold office has been known to extinguish
every spark of virtuous principle in theiI
nature. II becomes malady with them
which is exceedingly hard TO cure.
They may be compared to the female,
who, enciente, longs for something, and
if not Immediately gratifed marks her
unfortunate infant whose advent into
this world is daily expected. Such an
effect as this, which the mind has over
the body, can be shown in one other case
only-that of the anxious office-seeker,
whose complexion becomes spotted in a
single night from anxiety to gain the
blackamoor vote. The first symptoms
of this mental disorder is an utter dis
taste to legitimate pursuits and the pro-
pensity to stand on the corners and talk
TO the busy passers-by. When a man
once engages in the business Of seeking
public position, he is ever afterward dis
qualified for the more ordinary avoca-
tons of life. He contracts habits of
idleness that lead him into all manner of
dissipation and debauehery. The com
munity soon begins to look on these
with disgust and adherence. Honest
men shun them as they would the rotten
carcass of dead animal The better
plan in all these matters is to let the
office seek the man and not the
man the Office If the people desire
that one of their number should be in
vested with the robes Of office, the thing
can be done without the sacrifice of
modesty on the part of a single ind
vidual We observe that some men are
continually up for position, without the
least regard to what may be the wishes
of the public, whose duty it is to reward
those thought most competent for official
trust. An amphibious politician whose.
mark every one has grown familiar with,
is Patrick Mulvihill, man much re-
speeted ia the past for his devotion to
the Confederate cause. This allusion TO
his history as Southern soldier is done
that our people may draw comparison
as 10 what he was and what be now pur-
ports TO be. What we ask is: is IL pcs.
ssble that such man can consistently
and without the blush Of shame on his
cheek, write himself down a Radical
negro worshiper? Patrick Mulvihill
came to Memphis in February. 1866,
from Mississippi, with the intention OF
making this bis future abode We are
informed that at the time he still wore
his Confederate butternut suit, and was
famous as a Democrat Me participated
in several Democratic meetings, and was
always conspicuous as a leading spirit
His lust for Office. however, overcame
what he loudly professed as his prinei-
pies, and soon he might be observed
herdng with those who had been so
bitterly denounced as enemies The
sudden deseriion to the Radical party
surprised every one who had become
familiar with his course during the war
It seems that after four years Of trial
that men who had suffered and toiled
with him must at last find themselves
mistaken as to his true character The
more the pity that weak human nature
is sometimes unable to cope with the al
lnremenis Of ambition. To this cause
alone, perhaps, is il to be attributed that
Patrick Mulvihill is nightly TO be found
with negroes on the most intimate Of so
eial and political relations. He desires
Office. and for that he would sacrifice
every other principle. But it would
be well If this ambitious individual
would ponder for a moment the thought
Of his eligibility to ill the Office Of At
iornev General, for which he now as
hires The new Constitution requires I
hat an Attorney for the State, for any
.ircuit or district for which Judge hav-
na criminal Jurisdiction shall be provi- /
led By Law. shall be elected by the quail
led voters Of sa-i eiresit o. district
md shall hold his ofice Cor o term Of
light years. and shall have been a resi-
lenf Of ne STATE fire years. If i've