Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-11-22
A PENSION BUREAU FOR LITTLE
TAMMANT.

A correspondent over the signature
"One Of the 1861 discusses the aims and
purposes Of Little Tsmmsny. Every gen
tlemsn who hiss attended ward meetings,
of recent years, is cognizsnt Of shameful
facts that have distinguished their seton.
The conduct OF these sssemblsges in the
Seventh and Eighth wards, of which so
much has been said, was not worse than
IN other districts OF the city. The people
who pay taxes and are primarily inter
estsd in the msintensnce Of good govern
ment, have been urged to attend these
meetings; but having once witnessed the
disgrscsful processes of misunderstanding
s~ssemblsgss, decent honesty stands slooi,
appalled, by the corruptness OF those who
shape results to secure Offices and sine
cures. There is q greater power in cities
than that welded by ward meetings.
More han half of the voters Of every city
are o politicians. They are simply men
OF business or active working men. They
want no Offices for themselves oEJriends.
They only ask for an honest, wise admin
istrstion OF municipal affairs and these
sre they who have now come forth, i'm
PEELED by the patent necessities Of Mem
phis' fortunes, pivoted on the result of
coming elections, to exert their influence.
II we make the contest one Of simple
psrtizanship, invested with all the repul-
sivs sdiuncts Of -psrtizsnship and OF ward
meetings, these industrious mechanics
and trsdesmen, having an utter sbhor-
renee Of al the machinery Of Tsmmsny
and imbued with feelings and purposes
now controlling elections in other cities,
viii stand sloof, and men viii D. clothed
with power 70 be used solely In behalf OF
psrtizAns. In fact, 80 thoroughly have pub
lie morals been corrupted that very many
people absolutely believe that offices were
crested for q defined class, for the meri-
toriOus few, and not for purposes of public
good. If there be q dozen or two excel
lent gentlemen deserving well Of the
public, but unit to serve the public, the
city should establish for them a sort Of
hospital, or create & pension list. 1t were
definitely better 20 pay Little Tsmmsny
ten thousand dollars as q grstuity than
suffer the government of Memphis, at
this juncture In our fortunes, to lapse into
its hands. It would be well for the city
councils to consider this matter.
But there is q latent power In the
psople which, OF great occasions,
when great interests are involved,
springs forth into light and accompanies
tasks. Business men and indus
trious people in ordinary times leave the
machinery Of poHticSl action to be moved
by those having nothing else to do-who
make s business Of trading and speculst-
IA offices. But now, when q brilliant
dawns and that 1t may not be over
shsdowed, the toiling honest people of
he city may be evoked to vindioste their
rights, sssert their power, select their
own rulers and defeat tins shrewdest
Vaccinations Of the most adrOit party
trieksters. We have bsen taught this
lesson BY recent events in New York.
PsrtiEsnship has recognized It In Louis
vile, Nashville, in New Orleans snd Mo-
bile. Here in Memphis an eager little
Knot Of sspirants for places refuses to
lccept the lesson, and by their folly
would digrsoe and degrade the Democratic
party by preclpitsting q conflict with the
II this were 9 congressional con-
,est, or one affecting State or Federal
there would be 3 shadow
IF right IN the policy of those
who would subordinate great public in
sueh as were never before consid-
sred by this people, to fraudulent prsc.
Ice Of ward meetings and to the selfish
purposes Of those who, having the least
interest In questions involved,
make more noise on the streets thar any
such men as signed the call for
popular convention.
Let us again, as in former years, when Z
here had besn no faint Of impurity rest 1
ng upon the administration Of local gov
rnment, lift the city cut Of the mire Of
and, however deserving or popu- Z
ar individuals may be, let us not forget I
our action must be prOmotive or de- l
Of the fortunes Of this city.
iere men signify nothing. The only {
uestiOn is what man can most wisely
I'd SUCCESSFULLY promote the prosperity L
I moAlplAHs Lei 0lshAo AaAAuaHg AAAo Q
3 noisy, babhling head. The people O
knock It entirely of, and then Little I
smmsny viii imagine, a. did Great v
smmsny In New York, that Democracy ?
dead. The party win live. We hope. Q
and all we ask is, that the little Q
that seeks to govern Memphis may L
OF, by its selfish folly, lessen the party's c
otency in his city, county and district.