Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-06-16
TYR purY OF NoK-RADIcALs.

The election of l73 delegates VIII De
held on Thursday, the 25th instant, and
the county convention will assemble on
the ID of July. For time the canvass
was in the hands of the County Commit
fee and the Executive Board. Then the
work devolved upon the subcommittee,
Int after the 25th of this month the
responsibility will be transferred to
whatever delegates the people may elect.
Judicious action depends greatly upon
full vote at the primary election. The
maiorities settle the question. They
can choose delegates Of capacity and
Judgment, or leave the matter to care
less or interested minorities, who may
look only to the success of few favor
ties, and not to the whole ticket. This
is a danger to be apprehended, butit the
people will turn out and elect the best
men as delegates, ticket can be pre-
sented representing all the substantial
classes, shades of liberal opinion, and
national ties deserving recognition,
which cannot fail to be elected, from
Sheriff down to the smallest clerkship
on the list. But we desire to impress
upon those likely to be delegates that 1t
might be very difficult to elect ticket
not embracing the leading nationalities
or failing to make an equitable division,
between the city and county. We have
no big majority to fritter away, and
it is highly important in filling nine
important county Offices TO distribute
them as nearly as possible among the
various classes that constitute the non
radical population Of Shelby county.
As to the colored population, that can
not be reached or influenced. 1t belongs
to half dozen shrewd white overseers,
who enforce very profitable political
slavery for their own benefit. When
the blacks become educated and intelli-
gent enough to do their own thinking
and to form unpreiudiced opinions, they
too will be welcome to present any COM
petent and suitable representative for
Office. But under their present leaders
and policy this will hardly occur With
the concurrence of the whites during
the nineteenth century, merely because
they make political war against the
Southern whites every time they think
they have the advantage in numbers.
So the Bartlett ticket is necessarily a
white ticket, upon which we hope to see
the various elements and nationalities
represented as far as available, where
competent men are to be had. The
iberality of the Bartlett movement
must be proved by its works
rather than well worded resolutions,
and if the nominations Of the convention
fall short of reasonable public expec-
tation the ticket will fare badly at the
hands of the people. We are advised
that some shrewd outsiders are working
to get one or more favorites on the ticket
and hope to trade of the rest with the
other party and get through. No
doubt they expect to manipulate the
radical ticket and run in one or two po-
litical or personal pets for other offices
on that side. These well laid schemes
will come to nsught and the entire Bart
lett ticket be elected il our people will
do their duty. These words of warning
the people will do well to heed in time.
1t is earnestly to be desired that mer.
chants, mechanics, clerks, laborers. in.
surance and professional men, farmers
working men Of every class and all
who feel an interest in the future welfare
of the city turn out, even at loss Of time
and convenience, and select men who
can be trusted as delegates. Every mar
should be politician a. such time a
this, in certain sense. He should b
politician enough to comprehend tn
true interests of the community and &C
with q view to the good of the creates
number.