Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-07-23
WHAT THE CAMPAIGN MEANS.

1t is only two weeks until the county
election, in which so much is involved.
The opponents to the Bartlett ticket are
resorting to all manner of misrepresenta-
tions to excite the prejudices OF those
who constitute their chief strength. For
instance, the negroes have been told that
Governor Brown, in his speech at Bart
lett, proposed to put them back into
slavery, and many Of the ignorant ones
no doubt believe it. The leaders know
it is false. Governor Brown made
very plain and strong speech, but it was
fair in spirit toward all classes, and he
even said he would be ready to shed his
blood, if necessary, to secure to the col
ored man all his legal rights. But social
equality he denounced, as became a
true man. Another assertion banded
about is that Mr.. James Reilly is a
traitor to the Radical party, when 1t is
well known that he never belonged to the
party, and has kept aloof from
politics during his term of office.
Mr.. Reilly, however, is able to take
care of himself, and is doing splendid
service for the whole ticket That is the
head and front of his offending. 1t
happens that the Radicals have no
organ to represent them, nor do they
want one. They are better of without.
If the six thousand negro voters could
all read and take the newspapers they
would soon know more than most OF their
leaders and act upon their intelligent
judgment rather than at the dictate OF
few selfconstituted political masters. 1t
is to the interest Of these three hundred
white Radicals to keep the masses of
the colored people in ignorance that
they may control them by appeals to
their prejudices. And now Hon. Bar
bour Lewis comes back to rally his
hosts. He will find things greatly
changed since he was here in January
when no party lines we're drawn by the
white conservatives at a municipal cleo
tion. he can crack his whip but only
his colored followers will obey. They
Of course will come to time. We take
It for granted that the colored vote will
20 nearly solid for the Radical ticket,
and would again advise our candidates
TO spend their money and their time
among the white people where it viii
do the most good" Some of the col
ored men complain that no overtures
have been made to them this time, as if
the white people did not want any Of
their votes. There is a good reason for
It, and they will have cause TO make the
same observation until the 9th Of Au-
gust. The white people OF Shelby county
have spent thousands and tens Of thou
sands Of dollars in different canvasses
among the negroes without ever win
ming them over. The colored brother
has a wonderful weakness for bor-
rowing two dollars just before an
election, and always hints if he
does not promise that he will be on the
right side when election day comes, but
It is always a right Radical side. That
two dollar business has played out, being
an improbable investment. A COuserva-
tive colored vote is about as rare as
a prize in the Havana lottery drawing,
and more expensive. We remember one
canvass when the Executive Committee
spent $1,000 among the negroes, and
lust polled 20 negro votes as the net
result There viii be more money than
that spent again. bat among different
class OF people. The white people have
been put on the defensivei they are