Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-11-24
THE PEOPLE FIT TO GOVERN THE
CITY.

The solution of the problem how to
soveru great cities, is exscting every
where 8 deal Of attention. The question
that lies at the bottom Of the inquiry is
Whistler the theory should be adopted
tbst q CITY a commercial communities
not 8 political, but s joint stock sssocia-
ton, Is It q system devised for political
OF for commercial ends? Is it the pri-
mary duty Of the merchants, trades
people snd ~workingmen of Memphis to
vote in municipal elections with reference
70 political or psrtizsn results, or should
we think only Of men and measures thht
may gid with gold the fortunes OF Mem
phisf All successful municipal self
governments, of which we have any his
tory, have been conducted by homo
geneous communities animated by a
strong D OF fellowship and identity of
interest. Such are facts and influences
now operating upon all classes OF this
people. In the perfection Of our railway
system and to this end, in the perfection
Of municipal credit, the rich and poor
are alike thoroughly interested. So true
Is this that there exists no necessity, st
this iuucture in our fortunes, for the con-
cession Of exclusive governing power 70
mercantile and mechanical classes whose
fortunes are primarily involved in the
success Of measures to which the present
municipal government has devoted itself
so successfully. 1t is hardly true OF
Memphis, as hiss been alleged Of New
York, that every home is for sale, and
that every occupant of every house has
his trunk packed, and that you could not
annoy him more than by attempting to
regulate his conduct by a standard not of
his own making. Nor is there here an
overwhelming multitude having no at
tachmeut 70 the place, feeling no response
bility Tor the good or in-iortune Of the
the city. The population of Memphis is
surely Heterogeneous enough, but there
are crest facts and interests now consid-
cred, strong enough to beget common pur-
poses and common seton, and to render
futile the efforts Of those who would sub
ordinate every consideration OF public
good 70 aims Of selfish, personal or psrti-
ss1 ambition. Voters here are by no
LlchAa AlAsEA " VIC NAO1O1E VI ~ AApss
There Is not sven community race; but
we have perfect community Of interest.
Schemes Of public enterprise contem-
plated involve alike the fortunes Of the
rich and of the poor Of whites and
Of the colored population, and the con-
Of purpose affecting tbs rail-
systemof Memphis begets necessarily
g consolidated public opinion recognized
everywhere and it VIII as surely result in
consolidated popular action. W. have q
strong, intelligent voting force of Ger
mans, smother Of Italians, another Of
Irishmen, another of Americans. Among
all this apparently confused mass there is
degree Of homogeneousness, essential [,
to 3 prosperous municipality, growing out I
the common liability to tsxstion and 8
evolved by the anxiety of all to perfect, !
through the agency Of wisely and econom- ?
IcAlly administered public credit, 8 mag ,
railway system. Destroy public 5
confidence at home and abroad In the =
.ity government, let the world believe .
hat We are incapable Of choosing !
wisely those who must administer q
shs financial fortunes of Memphis,
at once Ia city becomes inca
psble Of adding value to property or Of
snrichinR or giving employment to the :
working people. It is impossible to be- !
that the mass of voters are so stupid I
hat, in order to invest q few fsvorites I
ONCE, they will sacrifice their own 7
interests and those Of q city just setting 8
'ut on q newly opened highway Of mag 7
lihoenoe. We can never be prepared to o
lssert that these only. should vote who ?
BAY taxes. Edmund Burke, the profound '
st Of all thinkers, said that Hths revenue u
Il the State is the State. In fact, all de- 1
lends on It, whether for support or re- 8
ormation. $ . . Through the revenue .
lone can the body polite ever act in its q
rue genius and character, and therefore u
t viii display Just as much of it's collee- A
i've virtue, and sc much of that virtue Z
which may characterize those who move u
!, and are, as It were, its life and its O
principle, as 1t is possessed Of s n
1st revenue" We have yet to learn 4
hat the masses In Memphis would g
Sc the city government, IS did q
auAAla1I IL WOW A0Ahf nAmPAl &c . =
leans Of plundering Taxpayers, and we Il
o not believe, as Mr.. Burke alleges, that i
le "revenue Of the city is the city" in NJ
le eyes Of any save the few reckless r
hce-seekers. Il Is not true here, as In b
lew York, "thst all persons In that city
OF reached by direct taxation, do consti-
to all intents and purposes, 8 true to
-olstsrist, and do exercise the same per- NJ
influences on politics, snd would, b
allowed to take as large 3 share in the bi
ee government OF any State In the world re
they take in the government of that ps
ruin tina government utterly in 8 ct
short space oftime." in
There are no such dangers just now i'm re-
over this city. The action ofthe ho
unity Democratic committee shows this OF
be trus, and we have boundless faith In or,
e future prosperity Of Memphis TO the Iar
" extent that we nave confidence In Do
3 good senss ofthe people. ma
- spl
Jay COCKS LITTLE JOR. Gle