Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-05-05
GLASS HOUSES.

The Avalanche seems dreadfully afraid
that gentlemen who served in the Federal
army during the war, and have since
made their homes with us, will receive
some deadly wrong at our hands, because
forsooth we denied the assertion that the
"War Democracy were not the vital
Democracy of the North" 1t says;
The LEDGER declares that the War Demo,
Gratis were meaner than the Radicals, ana
that the Peace Democrats were the friends
Of the South. This is hard on Major Halsey 4,
Perkins, Edgington, Governor Hoffman, OF
New York, and about three fourths OF urant
army. who were and are War Democrats.
Without commenting upon the artful
lodging herein displayed, and the very
minute display a, sarcasm, we distinctly
expressed that there were honorable
exceptions" among whom must be re-
garded those who have shown their
sympathy with our bruised and broken
country, and have made their homes
among us to endeavor to render our
burdens lighter by sharing them, No;
we did not allpde to Irving Halsey or
Marland l.. Perkins, and such other
Democrats as themselves, but to the
Ben. Buffers, the John A. Logans, and
men of that stripe, who are still strug-
Cling and squabbling for the highest
places in the Radical camp, after exer-
cising their best abilities to impoverish
Southern cities and destroy our armies.
What we said of the "War Democrats
was true to the letter, and will " stand
the test of scrutiny and oftime.' 1t was
the Peace Democrats who presented the
only barrier to the tidal wave of mad
fanaticism and avarice of power that
thirst for more blood which the ferocious
beast experiences after tapping it. In
their ranks the WAR Democrats who
had been deluded by Radical promises of
Union-saving and preserving the Constr
tuition, discovering their error, again
took refuge, but, alas how many had
been demoralized, and out-radicaled Rad
icalism itself. Such as these will the
Avalanche and its proselytes write them
selves when they finally have departed
from the true Southern policy, which
can only be preserved by clinging
to the fundamental principles of
the old and time-honored Democ-
racy. They are standing sideways
now, and how long it will be before
the other segment of the circle is turned
is possibly in the near future. The edi-
tor makes furious war on old secession
leaders" although he does not display
much affection for Radical leaders,
whom he considers splunderers and OPP
pressors Of the people" He should be
chary of personal vituperation, for it
might not be polite one of these days
in an Independent newspaper. Changes
are constantly developing themselves, as
only few weeks ago the Avalanche had
an article most circumstantially proving
that Louis Napoleon had been dead six
months, and only day or two since all
of its editorial acumen was wasted in
demonstrating that he is still alive and
kicking and swaying the destinies Of
France.
In closing this reply to its intimation
that we were warning upon friends,
through shortness of vision, will it per-
NIT us to ask whether it supports ard
will continue to support Major Halsey
for the Second Circuit Court, for whom
it shows so much concern, or will it fol-
low the fortunes of his Radical or indie
pendent opponent?