Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1874-12-05
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.

Refrsnchment aud Economy wanted.
EDITORS APPEAI-Our neWly-eleeted
representatives appear to be anxious to
legislate for the people to the best of their
ability, and several OF them have repeat
edly asserted that they were for reform
in every practical way. And believing
they are honest in their intentions, ask
them to commit this brief extract from
the message of "honest Bill Allen" the
Democratic governor of Ohio, in his mes
sage to the legislature: SIT Is question
for your serious consideration whether
the compensation of our county officers
is not dispropOrtiOnate to the salaries of
other public officers and persons in pri-
yate life. Public servants should not be
50 high as to make the getting of Office
a profession, and to enable candidates
and applicants TO buy their way to pub
lie places" Now, if this applies to Ohio,
with nearly million dollars surplus in
her treasury, how much more 50 does it
to our impoverished and tax-ridden
State, where public servants are sap
ping the life of our commercial and agri-
cultural prosperity. Our representatives
were elected as TeformeTs, and if they
fail to strike at the root Of the evil, and
resist the temptation Of the lobby, pur-
chased with the excessive fees of Office,
then will they have dug their own
graves, politically speaking. We have
too many courts and too many fees and
perquisites attached to the clerks offices,
and, in fact, are entirely too much Off
eered. like the Confederate army in its
last days. Will our representative LOOK
to it, that there is reform in this quar-
Ter at least? DEMOCRAT.
Governor Brown Endorsed.
EDITORS APPEAL-In your editorial
Of the second instant you have pointed
out the only method whereby an ex-
preston Of the will Of the people with
regard to the gentlemen prominent as
candidates for United States senator
can be obtained. The caucus system
prevailed in the golden age Of the re-
public, and what good reason is there
for not restoring it now? The signs Of
the times seem to indicate that the CREST
Conservative party of the Union is
about to be restored to power and Te-
spOnsibility. Questions, of the grayest
importance to the south, will soon
come before the United States senate;
ii becomes therefore the bOunden duty
of Tennessee to be represented in that
august body by her representative men.
The temper Of the people will not brook
the selection OF old friends, however
good and patriotic may have been their
old men have contracted old
hatreds, and there will be no mOditiea-
ton Of their strong feelings and preju-
dices, so long as the breath of life ami
mates their mortal bodies. The times
demand q different order Of men. The
two sections Of the country were arrayed
against each other in mortal combat;
the north prevailed, and the south long
since scquieseed in the result and &C.
cepted the situation. Ii has been APP
parent TO all that since the surrender OF
Lees army there has been less snimOs-
lty between the soldiers composing the
two opposing armies than between the
old politicians Of the two sections; and
II the terms Of reconstruction had been
left to the leaders of the opposing armies
TO arrange and settle, no sane man doubts
but that long ere this fTaternal feeling
would have been restored, and We Of the
south would now be in the full tide of
regeneration and prosperity.
These premises being admitted, who
among all the candidates named has
qualifications superior to those Of Gov
ernor Brown? And besides his personal
illness for the position, has he not been
Endorsed, and his administration vindi-
Gated by the result Of the recent elee.
ton? And does he not richly merit
further honor ST the hands Of the peo-
pie? Another prominent candidate for
the senstOrship has seen proper to assail
Governor Brown and his acts;
and what are the charges
brought by this distinguished gentle
man against our wise and popular
governor? One charge is that he was
Wing before the war. Now, my dear
sirs, if a man is TO be read out Of the Con-
sentative party because he was q Wing
before the war, that great party would
be sensibly diminished by such process. |
The Wings. as q party, were opposed to
the attempt Of righting the wrongs of
the south by an appeal to arms, but
when the struggle came, and their sec
ton was invade 1, they all entered the
ranks and fought manfully until the end
came, Another charge is that he was a
rebel. Such charge at this late day
amounts to nothing, and could only be
made by q man whose fidelity to his
State and section was not in accord with
the sentiments of the people at whose
hands he now asks an office OF high
honor. Let q selection be made by the
Democratic members Of the legislature
in caucus assembled, and the result must
be satisfactory to the people of this great
WING OF 1874.