Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-05-14
ADDRESS.
no lne cl.l.en. OF sheIby county.

The Democratic Executive Committee
believe it their duty to omit nothing
T" "a leave no stone unturned to bring
ont every voter in Shelby county in sup
mort Of the Democratic. nominees at the
Judicial election on the 10th instant.
They have not deemed it necessary to
present the old issues that have hereto
fore arisen to separate parties, ior IN
MANY. if not most instances, such have
been closed, but the great Democratic
nr;nciple is still vigorously spreading its
branches, and must efioresce, while free
dom has a remnant left of the vast legacy
beoueathed BY our patriot-fathers. While
il exists and finds restlng-place IN the
hearts of our citizens, despotism may
weave its snares and the unwary may be
enmeshed therein, while the minions OF
power lure them on; but the true hearts,
which hold to the eternal principles OF
the Constitution, will form an impregna-
BILE rampant beyond which the enemies
of the country, of peace and freedom,
cannot steal or force their way.
To be true Democrat is to be imbued
with the principles of l7T6, when men
were patriots, and preferred the progress,
the welfare and the happiness OF the
country TO their own advancement or
emolument. There were fewer spurious
Democrats then than now, and fortunate
for the country it was so. During the
struggle for ascendancy between Federal
ism and Democracy, when great party
great in numbers and Intelligence
made the most ardent efforts to secure
for the Constitution an Interpretation
that was foreign to its nature, and never
could have successfully obtained among
its trainers, the principle was established
that was recognized through two-thirds
of century and conducted our people
from an uncomfortable few to the very
front rank of nations, with an easy grade
10 the topmost round Of the ladder. In
an evil hour, led off by fanaticism and
the false though plausible theories OF
demagogues, the good government which
we had inherited and proved was REIN
auished to grasp shadow which con-
cealed the elements of discord, aud the
hitter consequences that were to poison
the nation life very naturally ensued.
Those consequences are upon us now,
and 10 mitigate the evil requires every
effort of patriotism and that self-abnega-
ton which is devoted solely to the inter-
ests of one 5 country. 1t is time when
selfishness becomes crime, and the ava
rice of Judas cannot be palliated, but De-
comes atsoeious in the eyes of virtue.
The man who would now thrust his
desire of advancement or his eagerness
for the emoluments of Office in the fore
ground to the abandonment OF those
who are resisting Entertainments OF
power upon Freedom and using their best
energies to stay the tide of corruption,
makes manifest this natural worthless
ness, and very plainly indicates that he
too would have sold his Saviour for
thirty pieces of silver. This is no time
for barter or sale-to trade for Office. II
tsare are those so base as to sell them
selves; 50 mean-spirited and corrupt as
to bargain for lucrative position, let
them abandon all respectability and
devote themselves now and forever TO an
alliance with scalawags, carpet-haggers
and negroes. They should no more seek
TO mingIe with those who claim TO be
decent and respectable, and hold their
opiuions and their services at their coun-
try 5 call If through cajolery, fattery,
deeaIf or tTeachery there are snch as
have obtained iaRaeBee, and would weld
il for selfish ends, LEI fhflA take their
rash levies' TO the enemy We can
not afford to bay them at so dear cost
as our own self-respect; and they would
soon fall like useless rubbish on our
HANDS or be perpetual plague hereafter.
We have the qualification ofannouneing
that. with the exception OF slight lndiea-
tons of individual effort assisted By q
few misguided friends, to secure valuable
positions for persistent aspirants, our
people are we'll consolidated and ready
for the dag of triumph. IL doomed TO
disappointment, as these selfish buck
sters must inevitably be, they may still
be able to draw off some of their deluded
followers, but il will only inspire the true
Democracy who never finch or falter, to
QFsster ekertions and more combined
effort in the country there is no defoO-
ton, and every man will DO his duty.
I Our candidates have created tine i'm
preston in every neighboFhood they
have visited, by the dignity Of their de-
pertinent and the suavity Of their man
legs. Their eminent qualifications are
eyeFyyhese confessed, and it is
conceded on 81 asnds ihat the conyen-
! ton did most excellent work In forming
such a ticket embodying so much that
is worthy of admiration, and containing
so little at which the most captious can
earn or cavil. That there are some who
have heretofore acted with the Demo
cratic party agaiRsf the eaTpetbaggers
and their misguided Tictims WHO have
been found plant enough TO be persuaded
that they can be elected over the regular
nominees, is by no means Anomalous.
Their governing principle, if II may be
so eallad, is ambition or avarice, or a
blending of the tEl, and before these
motives al other pqasidsrations take
wing Il must be remembered that the
Revolution Of rs had It's Arnold. who
forfeited all the glorious honors he had
won in the cause Of his country, on the
shrine Of avarice and disappointed am
,lion. There have been traitors to every
caass, ss9 iheFe will be to the end of
time. This Is re apology fer treason,
however, and in this Struggle, RhsH tae
lives and liberties of the people, and
their property, are at stake for eight
years TO come, if the government be per
niaad TO live so long, INSTRUMENTATION
and Seihshness cannot be tolerated with
lenieney aBd f9fbenrance. As men make
their beds so must meg lje upon them.
III the Past has no recollections EcTthy
&C preservation what can be said Of their