Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-10-07
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Did We not hear it2 The bugle bias
of the millenniuml Distinctly it come
from Nashville. There is no mistak
about it this time. 1t is real SCUM
signifying something, Well, to explain
An association, composed of men of al
parties, has been formed at the capita
of the State that will, if its principles
and propositions can attain ascendencJ
over the popular mind, effectually dis
pose Of rings, Tweeds, Halls, Murphys
Hodges, and everything that posters tn
body polite. Now the body polite j
ill. 1t has been physicked almost t
death by the doctors. Some humane
persons propose to change the treatment
/. restore its health, bring about har
monious state of things and inauguratt
the gushing millennium. To accomplish
so good thing, the association pro
poses:
lst The protection Of the rights Of
every citizen in accordance with the
Constitution rs it is. I'd. The discoun'
tenance of useless agitation of past is,
sues. 3D.. The restoration of fraternal
feeling and relations with the people OF
the North. 4th. The dissemination OF
constitutional principles and the Jincul-
cation of an earnest, abiding faith IN
the genius of free institutions and their
eventual success in all quarters of the
globe. 9TH. The maintenance Of law
and order. 9th. The promotion and en-
enlargement of immigration. 7th. The
establishment of an efficient system of
general education. 8th. The exposition
of and strict adherence to the principle
of local self-government, and the promo
ton among the people of those feelings
and convictions which win cause them,
through the operation of seli.goyernr
ment, to establish state of things
which will no longer furnish reason or
a pretext for the interference of the
Central Government in local affairs.
9th, General amnesty. 10th. Opposi-
ton to Reputation in every form. nth.
The modification of the present tariff
system to revenue basis. 18th. Reduc-
ton of taxation 18th. Civil service re-
form; and finally we pledge ourselves
from this time to give our support to
men of uprightness, merit and liberty,
regardless Of political antecedents, be-
lieving that the time has come for all
men OF progress to turn their back upon
the past and grasp manfully the deeds
and possibilities of the future. q
Oh u. d
1t will be as difficult to find one to OBJ
ject to this programme as it will be to
find people unselfsh and patriotic enough
to carry it out With one or two excep-
tons, any political party would adopt it
as platform; but would 1T be true to il
when the victory was won and the fingers
in the public pie2 Professions are
cheap, and men do not mind the breath
that is lost in making them; but sticking
to "a promise. or carrying out principle,
against the suggestions of greed and
avarice, is quite different thing Who
ever, when he came before the people
for office, failed to profess unalterable /
attachment to their interests2 Name
him. But did it ever occur that when
his triumph came he held himself bound
by professions made under duress of
starvaton2 1t is all right and proper
in these people at Nashville to resolve
as they have; but if they mean to
form new party they will find that
they cannot succeed The Democratic
party is an honest party, and will
neither Cypress the people with bayonets
nor steal the money they pay into the
treasury. If the Radicals who have
gone into this movement really desire
reform, let them join the Democratic
party. Nobody pretends that the party
in power will reform itself, or, standing
shoulder-deep in corruption, admit that
it is corrupt 1t is triAing with common
sense to appeal from all existing party
organizations to a new one-to some
thing that exists only in the brains Of
enthusiasts. There is no chance for
the reformation Of public administration
that does not exist in the Democratic
party. Out of power, the sublimest vir-
tue and the Hottest patriotism can ac-
eomplish nothing. The friends of re.
form and honest administration want
power. Let them work for that The
may be at hand, but common
sense will scarcely expect it to break
like another sun through the resolutions
we have quoted.