Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-05-29
STILL HARp1NG ON MY DAUGHTER.

Mace the LEDGER and Register in false
nositiou, but takes good care not to quote
a line from this paper to Justify such an
assault. Here is specimen:
evidently the editors of these paper;
are unduly excited. They have allowed
;mprIlse or passion to lead them astrsy.
Is 4 political or moral sin, that Gard
ner and Day cannot see things as Mem
mis- nretends to see them Is 1t crime
To differ in opinion with Memphis or. q
Memnhis editor ? or, Memphis doctor
Who gives to Memphis the right to die
tate 10 others the course they must pur,
sne in the discharge Of official duty
Who robed Memphis with imperial power
over the conseiences and conduct OF pub,
lie officers ? Must the people outside OF
the city stand awed into silence and
dnmb with fear when the city speaks ?
The editors mistake, Memphis is not
West Tennessee, nor does the fact that
some Memphians are anxious for the
asvInm proye that it should be located
near Memphis, nor that there is any site
around it that is not obnoxious to some
of the various requisites named BY the
experts, nor that Day or Gardner are
either fools or corrupt.
Now if the author Of that highly
wrought up paragraph were as candid as
he is Jealous, he would admit that this
paper at least has never made any spe-
cial plea for Shelby county, but has said
more than once that good sites could be
found in various counties, and that all
these presented should have fair con-
sideration, those in Shelby county
mong the rest, simply this and nothing
more. II the commissioners will con-
descend to ever visit Memphis again,
those who have sites to offer will no
doubt do so and in the best light possible.
But the writer revives the old song about
yellow fever and small pox and says that
the very refugees from epidemics
are asking that all the lunatics in West
Tennessee shall be collected near the
scene of all these calamities. He is
perhaps aware that the said refugees
paid their board bills wherever they went,
and must know that these epidemics
have always been confined to the city
limits. As to our criticism of the two
commissioners who live in the Eighth
Congressional District we have referred
TO facts as understood, and are perfectly
willing to leave that question to those
who are in nowise interested IN the locs-
ton of the asylum. If we happen to
prefer Brownsville little over any other
place next to Memphis it is because we
know her people well, are closely con-
nected with them in commercial inter-
ests and as neighbors, and because we
are led to think that Haywood county
can offer some very eligible sites. We
notice that those who are interested in
the Humboldt site are very bitter toward
the experts. Perhaps if these Middle
Tennessee gentlemen, who are certainly
disinterested, had reported in favor Of
the Humboldt site they would have re-
ceived the loudest praise from those who
now abuse them without stint; and had
Governor Brown disregarded the opin.
ions of the experts, instead of censure
he would have been greeted with Shy
locks words:
"a Daniel come to judgment; yea, Daniel!
q wise young judge, how / do honor thee "
THE MISSION OF THE CHANGERS.
That the Changers in the West will
take a hand in politics when a con.
venient occasion is presented seems
reasonable as well as probable. We no.
tice that in Oregon they have nominated
a full State ticket. This looks like bust
ness, and as the farmers are furthest re
moved from political or other trickerie
1t is be hoped that whenever they take
part in State elections it will be to el'
vate the standard Of politics and to pu
the management of public affairs int
the hands Of honest and capable mar
The purity Of government depend
greatly upon the vigilance Of the peopl
who are to be governed, and the neare
the government is brought to th
people the more interest they will tax
in its workings. To certain extent "
hold that every citizen should be a pol
ticiau; he should be well informed upoI
the current events and issues Of the day
know something Of the theory Of th
government and the modes by which it
abuses can be corrected. The Granger
have already done some good The
have taught the people the advantage
Of concerted action and set them
thinking that they have some right
which monopolists and Office holders ar
bound to respect. Many reforms will 3
accomplished doubtless through thei
influence, and the masses Of the people
whether Changers or not, will infus