Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-06-16
souTHEPN POLICY.

Mr. Davis and Mr. Toombs speak on
their own responsibility, for themselves,
and not for Democrats Of the South.
They are not, and do not pretend to be,
leaders of the Southern Democracy.
They have no power and do not assume
to possess influence sufficient to deter
mine their course. Neither of them, as
far as we can gather from their utter
ances, considers himself in utilization
with any political party, much less a
leader of the Southern Democracy. 1t
is unjust to these great men to assign
them affiliations they do not seek and a
leadership they would not accept. And
yet as if to test the last degree of po-
litical villainy, the Radical organs of
the North point to the utteranees of
these men and affect to hold the De-
mocracy of the nation responsible for
them. They meanly conceal the
fact that no man in the South
is authorized TO speak for the Southern
people, and that the Democrats of the
South have been forced to choose be-
tween a party that robs them and abuses
them, and party that would take off
their burdens and restore them to liberty |
and prosperity. Perhaps the principles
upon which the Northern Democrats
now act are neither well known nor gen
orally approved by our people. But
there is enough in them to attract their
support as the best that, under the cir
cumstances, can be done. There is no
snch distinction in the South as Wing
and Democrat The war smoked out
aud burnt the last yestige of it; and
now the Southern people, cemented by
their common perils and suffer
ings, will support the Democracy of the
North in solid mass, no matter what
distinguished .Southerners may say
or do in the premises 1t is a mistake
to suppose that the Southern people
mediate another war They ought not
to be committed to it. They should dis
avow it, if pressed upon them from the
North. in public meetings, through the
press, and through every agency likely
to reach the people of the North. The
disavowal should be tempered with
calmness, but if that will not suffice, it {
should be Kissed red hot from the lips Of :
every Southern man who desires the
success of the Democracy in 1872. If
there is any possible mode of escape for
the Southern people from the villainous /
policy of the villains who Cypress them, !
except through the success of the Demo
cratic party of the North, name it, ]
Is conjunction of circumstances, in t
which it would be the interest of the
Southern people to go over to the
Radical party, possible ? Name it.
Why, the moment that corrupt party
ceased to prosecute the South, it would ,
fall down dead in its tracks, and what !
little soul it possessed would be in the
oppressors hell in the twinkling of an /,
eye. No, our policy is to cling to the
Democracy Of the North upon whatever {
platform they may construct, as the
best we can do. No one man, or
dozen men, are competent to bind our !
people. They will announce their will {
in mass. They want no more war, no s
more strife, no more robberies, no more |
hungry carpet-baggers, but they do want ]
to have peace, prosperity, and resdsci- {
tated country. Look at the vast projects {
of improvement in the South Without t
a calm, what will become of them2 No,
no, anything but agitation. Everything
for peace, prosperity, and the triumph OF
the National Democracy will bring us
that