Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-07-30
POLITICAL FREEDOM.

POLITICAL FREEDOM.
To denounce men because they fail to
think and vote as you do, is one Of the
most ridiculous phases of intolerance.
On questions of religion or politics faith
plays no insignificant part; hence men
will die before they repudiate their reli-
gious views, and will suffer any indignity
ere they become convinced that their
political creed is false and fraudulent.
With men of equal intelligence, what
right has one to presume or assume that
his views are correct, and his neighbor' s
views all wrong? This is a piece of pre-
sumption created by vanity, intolerance
and ignorance. All men being free and
equal, in a political sense at least, the
right to vote is one guaranteed by the
Constitution, and one which should be
enjoyed without let or hindrance. To
convince a citizen of his error in voting
for particular cazdidates, you must
advance reasons and arguments in
stead of denunciations and epithets.
The late war destroyed what is
known as party loyalty or fealty,
which is kind of slavish obedience to
some puppet of power. At present
every citizen thinks for himself, selects
his own candidates and votes, regardless
of the denunciations of newspapers or
ofice.seekers. This is right, because it
is the best evidence that Republican
form of government brings forth men
independent enough to think and act re-
CARELESS of the little powers that be.
Parties are necessary to the body polite,
but the party should at all times place
men on the ticket worthy of support.
The Shelby County Conservative ticket
is a good one, and deserves the support
of every Conservative citizen, but if any
free.born citizen feels disposed to ignore
one or more nominees on that ticket, we
contend he is performing what is his in
alienable right, nor should he be de-
nounced for thus exercising that right.
Mr.. Curry is the Radical candidate for
Sherif-Mr. Jack Doyle The Conserya-
tive. Doyle has ever been a Southern
man, is identified with our people, is a
business man, and most respectable
citizen. Mr.. Curry came South with the
Federal army during the war, aided and
assisted in plundering our people, was
elected Sheriff by negro votes; made a
good Sheriff however, but used his office
to sustain his party. Curry is socially
an agreeable companion, and stands
we'll in the community. Should he be
elected he will Of course remain, as he is
now, an unadulterated Grant Radical,
in principle opposed to the South be-
cause in favor of sustaining the Wash
ington tyrant and the infamous laws
enacted by more infamous Congress.
So long as Mr. Curry could by his votes
keep our people DISTINGUISHED he cast
his vote on that side; hence the enfran-
chised citizen is under some obligation
to keep Mr.. Curry out of Office, if for no
other reason than the above. Nor has
Mr.. Curry ever recsnted his political
opinions. We confess we desire to see
Mr.. Curry beaten, because we think his
election will be disastrous to the best
interests of the people Of Shelby county.
A Radical Sheriff in a Conservative
county is one of these anomalous things
difficult to understand. We are certain
a Conservative would stand no chance Of
being elected Sheriff in Radical county,
because the UNANIMOUSLY proscriptive pol
icy of Radicalism is fatal to any elt-
ment of magnanimity or justice. The
cry no politics in local elections is a
farce, because if elected Mr.. Curry will
be the first to show the political power
of the Sheriff Office.