Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-11-14
THE END OF. RINGs-THE PEOPLE
AROUSED.

THE END OF. RINGs-THE PEOPLE
AROUSED.
The New York Tsmmsny ring has beeI
in existence for many yesrs. It's Powel
has been omnipotent. The Grand Sscbemi
met and issued their DEGREES with all Tho
pompositY and authority Of & scepterec
king, and woe to the unlucky wight who
dared to disregard the uksse Of Tam
many. The hall in which the roguss met
wss used as 6 kind Of ente-room to g
nominating convention. The gang met
and apportioned out the offices, and no
man dared TO aspire FOX office unless be
hsd q pass in his pocket. The result was
Tsmmsny grew powerful, and as s matter
OF course, corrupt and rotten. The pur-
lieus Of public offices and the Legislative
hall swsrmed with needy sycophsnts or
i~usolent corruptionists, ready TO rob,
cheat. swindle or bride in behalf Of every
;hing thai psyed. The faint Of Tammany
corruption spread like 8 vicious pesti-
lencs, and 1t brought with it disease and
death
But the unbroken SUCCESS Of the New
York Tsmmsny ring for so many years has
msds many feeble imitstOrs. All over tbs
country, in every city and village, we End
little TsmmsnY rings, busy as bees In q
clover field. They never consult as 20 the
interest OF the psrty, put simply inquire
what will promote the purposes of our
ring; how can we manage to place this or
that seedy dead-best into office. In but
toning up their coats they seem to think
tina all the wisdom of the country Is en-
veloped, snd when they hear Of some here
tic daring 10 have an opinion Of his
in opposition TO the plsns Of the snointed,
they swear as if they were in Flanders,
grit and gnssh their ivory, compress their
lips into a semicircle, clench their harm
less fists, and stamp their high-heeled
boots.
But the fate Of the big Tammsny win
put an end 70 the little Tsmmsnys that
hsve been organized throughout the
country. The corruptions Matched in
that seething caldron, the New York
Tsmmsny are not without their lessons
1t hiss provoked the indignation OF the
people, and they are determined to rise in
their msjesty and put IN end to the cor
rupt trading policy Of cliques and fsc-
tons, u 10 purify the offices. They 1
have decreed in their honest hearts that
there shall be 6 speedy end Of all purchase
and sale of offices, Of all jobbing and cor
Tuption, OF all rings for the promotion of
personal interests and mercensry schemes
at the expense Of the public good. The
new era Of uprightness in govern
-..-A - % E---a1EE- IN H.
administration of the various offices
Of trust, honor and profit, is about to be
iraugursted not alone in New York, but
in Memphis, and In every city and town
cursed by the intrigues Of clques, who,
30 they are permitted to sppOrtion out the
offices among their hungry crew, care I
nothing for diminished expenditures, re- i
duced taxes and steadily decreasing pub
lie debt. The rule OF roguery has had its {
Gay. The ring Of common swindlers has I
been broken. The public offices can no {
longer be put up by spectators and 3
bought and sold like a herd Of 7
c sttie. The free hooters stockmsrket has
teen closed. The great public heart has /
b3sn aroused. From this time forward a
class Of citizens hsve been brought into
the field who have never participated in
politics before; and woe to rings, cliques
aud clans when the masses resolve, in &
their honest hearts, TO control elections n
themselves. The tide Of corruption which 1
is sweeping over the country like q IL
wave, deluging all that is pure and "
molly and fastening upon the taxpayer IN IL
told burdens, has been brought about by q
the seedy rings whose leaders stand upon Fl
the street corners, and having made for 81
tunes for themselves, would take careofthe u
interest by spportioning the offices "
among themselves. For twenty years "
the rings have been suffered to run the g
political machine after their own fashion, h
and the better classes Of our people hsve n
sbstsin6d from taking IN active part In "
nominating meetings, conventions and di
elections. Sometimes they have reused th
themselves to the point OF protest and de- It
lunciation; but in the nominating meet m
Dgs and on the day Of election they have Mt
)een too much occupied and disguised to D.
axe an active part, and have been con- OF
to remain at home snd make money t.
o psy the high tsXss imposed upon them til
y the corruptions Of the managers who an
Jack ward meetings, conventions, and M
tuff the bsllot-box. But for the future, rs
viii be changed. The people have SD
{ length determined to dc their duty. tn
hey have learned how potent is their hu
trength, snd that In q free governments les
very man has q duty to perform in Sc Gr
scting and electing good men to office. thr
hey begin to see Whist has been 30 often So
sid in these columns, that every good eff
.tizsn owes his vote to the community, OF
, sound morals, to right political prin- Ma
Piles and to his children, for whom al
3 is bound 10 preserVe the inherit ris
nee OF representative institutions. II the
10 man may absent himself from the or,
ills because Of indifference, business or pos
sGsure, 50 may smother, till general ne Tw
ecs OF the franchise would disorgsnizs triJ
d destroy the government. Such self pie
sfrsnchit ement is civil suicide, and VIII
.ght to be regarded as a criminal offense. 7
not constitutional liberty worthy Of ben
.sservEtion? And how can it be pre- pro
rved if the primary duties Of citizsn- mot
ip are disregsrded3 The questions de- ica
led at the polls are often of more than heeI
binary significance. They affect our
nporsl prosperity, our social purity,
r intercourse with other nations, w
r growth and character Is q peo- usb
and our well being and hap of 4
less as iamlies snd communities. Wise legiI
} upright rulers are essential 70 the re
of any nstion. Bad men, in g-as
places, are public tempters. nno,
BY corrupt the youth by their evil ex- scLo,
pie, snd they betTsy thestste for selfish thru
Is. But II & men 10 not use the The
ncbise, bad men viii certainly get thai,
D office, snd fstten at the public ex- rsns
If these same men who neglect orss
franchise were deprived Of the ballot. mn
y would fight for their rights. But mere
is the ballot worth so long as it is m 1IS
usedT It is 3 great weapon Of power and
n properly employed and how good, nom
lligent citizens can fsil TO see then OBJ Of 90
ton thus to employ it Is more than we state
comprehend" Honest men can bel Ar
cted by party meetings if the people ticIe
turn out and crush the little rings msjo
cliques. This they have resolved on. tee, Z
lest citizens have taken heart, and for This
future they VIII be found at the mass nnius
'tings, and then st the polls, working do 80.
he selection Of good men, and against but d.
little creatures who, so they secure The by Ii
care not whether the public good That
Frustrated, or corruption made tn ne +