Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-11-08
THE PEOPLE.

THE PEOPLE.
A day or two since | was hailed by a
prominent Front street merchant, VINO
expressed great anxiety as TO the future
Of Memphis. Said he, " have read all
your papers carefully, and / agree with
you on all the main principles but, in
the name Of mercy, how are we to esect
the reforms you proposeY The public
parasites swarm all over the body poll
tic, and will be hostile to any movement
which will send them out to earn their
bread, like Others or seem as an unfa'
vorable commentary upon the mode OF
administering the public affairs. With
the present influences in Office no re
form whatever can be accomplished.
And how will you keep them out2 Pol
itics is business with many Of those
parties; they are cemented together by
common interest; know exactly the
song to sing to catch the ear Of the
voters; are apt at combinations and ring
.ormations-against which all your
"papers" are no more than puff OF
wind. However, do not understand me
to have surrendered; | am for making
an effort in January, and great one,
which will have for its purpose thorough
reform and publication; if that fails,
my property is for sale, and | will not
higgle about few thousand dollars. l
shall face the loss like a man, and go
elsewhere and make it good.
If the reader happens to possess an
interest in Memphis, whether that inter-
est be in an humble situation to labor at
small wages or in a block Of brick build
ings. the case of the Front street mer-
chant is his. II the town is to be de-
stroyed by repeated visitations of pestl-
lence, let us know it and quit IT we are
not equal to wrestling the government
from those who have stolidly refused to
do their duty, let US also know it and
quit. We have the issue fairly drawn,
now let us takes sides and strip for the
fight. Let our battle cry be, REFORM;
inscribe it on our banners, and let us
marshal under it all the hosts who are
willing to fight on the side of Memphis.
Let us organize the great peoples party,
for the people, and make last struggle
for the existence of our city. Possibly
the reader may think this high-wrought
hyperbole. If so, / would ask him if we
can exist after many more epidemics
like the last2 But we will not have any
more. How do you know Is 1t not
probable that smallpox will be epidemic
before Christmas; and what is to prevent
the cholera from deelmating US on its
next annual round? And in what way
will yellow fever be kept at bay2 Don't
know. Ask any intelligent physician,
and he will tell you that there is but one
way to stop the ravages of those diseases,
and that is by the crushing force of
Board of Health, having power and au.
thority, and the will to use it. Had the
case from the Bee been promptly iso-
lated, as was the case in New York
few days since, we would have had no
yellow fever here. But it was not seized
upon and isolated, and what has been
the resull7 Tho same thing is likely to
happen again every year. What do the
people demandl
/. That the credit of the city of Mem
phiR DO raised to respectable position
by the collection Of oil Delinquent taxes,
the prompt payment Of the interest on
the funded debt, and an economical ad-
ministration of affairs.
z. That Board o. Health be ere
ated with powers TO suppress epidemic
diseases.
3. That the city be drained by sys
TEN OF sewerage.
A. That the public officer shall be the
public servant, and bs made to do bis
duty without fear or favor, and the in-
slant he proves recreant dismiss him
from the public service as promptly as
the merchant discharges an inefficient
clerk. We MIST consider only the pub.
lie veal
s. Place no man in Office who Is not
thoroughly and entirely competent to
fulfill his duties, pay him no more than
he is worth, and see to it that he earns
what he receives. Let the greatness
and glory of Memphis be the ending
star and chief land mark. Every man
Who has an interest in Memphis can
rally on the platform announced above,
and unless every man does rally on it his
interest will not be very valuable in the
future. There must be q complete and
thorough upheaval of the people; they
must rise in their might and assume the
coutroi OF Affairs.
GEORGE w. Cir.