Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-09-23
POLITICS srAr1srICs AND FACTS.

lTlCS-oTAIloAAOo 0NS
Figures are not apt to deceive, what
ever partisan politicians may do. Cold
FLOODED numerals cannot either be In
creased or diminished by taking an en-
thusiastic view of them. They stand Out
in bold relief, capable of being under
stood by the great mass of the people
and are not susceptible of being changed
BY demagogues or ounces. The contest
now waging furiously in this State over
the Office of Congressman for the State
at large can best be explained by
figures. so far as the ultimate result is
concerned, and these figures prove
clearly that in all probability L Cheat
ham and johnson remain in the held
and are as strong as their friends claim,
Horace Maynard, the quintessence Of
offensive Radicalism, will be elected.
The political enthusiast presents figures
of an imaginary character, but the
ststistician refers to the record for facts.
There have been three general elections
in this State since 1868. The Preslden-
tial election of that year saw two-thlrds
of the people of Tennessee disfran-
chised. The official vote of the State
was az follows: Grant received 52,62si
Seymour, 26,l29; majority for Grant,
2e,499; total vote. 1851. In 1859 a
gubernaterial election was held, the dis
franchising laws having been repealed.
The vote was: Senter, 100, 1888; Stokes,
55.O3e; Senter's majority, G5,297; total
vote, 1888 In 1870 another contest
for governor was waged. The result was as
follows. Brown, Il, 979; Wisener, fl 800;
majority for Brown. 37,479; total vote,
I29.479. These are the data to 60 by in
calculating the present contest The
census shows larger voting population,
but it has never appeared outside OF the
census reports; hence, these reports will
not cut much figure at the ballot-box.
The Radical vote that Maynard will Sc
cure is easily counted The Stokes vote
is the most reliable-55, 036--as it is
well known the negroes failed to vote in
strength at the Brown election in 1870.
It would be an error to take the SenteI
vote as the Conservative strength, be
cause large numbers of white Radicals
preferred Senter to Stokes, both being
Republicans. The Conservative vote il
1870 was, as has been stated, 1878. j
is evident that either Cheatham or John
son must secure over 55,036 votes lth'
Radical strength in order to be elected
Should either get 80, Os6, it would leav'
but 23,942 for the other Conservative
candidate. VIII any sane man dare t
say that neither Cheatham nor johnson
will get this latter number2 If eithe
candidate get one vote over, Horec
Maynard will be elected. But it may b
said that the Conservative vote in 1877
will be larger than that OF 1870. Let u
admit it, and travel into the realms O
speculation. Make the Conservative vot
10000 and subtract the Radical vo,
with one added for a majority IS
O37. This leaves S4.96S votes f
either Cheatham or johnson. If eith'
.acnre "A 9e3 MAYNARD will be electe,
Il is easy for partisans to state thu
Cheatham will not get that number I
that johnson will not get it, but al
these statements based on facts, Bot
candidates aud their f.iends claim
much larger vote. We believe th'
CheAthah will ge, over 6ffy-6ve thol
sand votes IN the State, and VII b
elected; aud we further believe thai til
fights between Chesthsm and Maynard