Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1874-05-06
The JOhnstOn-Cheatham Compromise
The Negroes and the schools
The Twenty Cent Tax.
The COmiJg State and County COnTen.
tiOns-Judge Nicholson and the
U. 5. SenatOrship.
Judge Porter as a Candidate-Pure De-
mOcracy-The Suggestions Of the
Appeal Endorsed, Etc.

eminently wise and practical, but while
on the subject, will venture a further
suggestion, in the hope that ii will be
promptly taken up and considered by
the press of the State. 1t is this: Let
the tOo-long- -humored custom of requir-
ing candidates for governor to "stumph
the State, be now and hencefOrth abOl
ished. As is well said by the APPEAL,
Ha canvass for governor, now that We
have railroads and telegraphs, is not as
it used to be. 1t is quick and vigorous.
A campaign speech or two, delivered at
prominent points, and heralded the next
day by the press all over the State, Is
about all that is done now in most
of the States.n There is no reason why
it should not be so in Tennessee.
In the days of stage-c coaches,
horseback mails and weekly newspapers
only, the people very naturally looked
to the personal utteTances OF candidates
for their information regarding the can
vass. But the times have changed and
our peoples needs and desires have
changed with them. The telegraph and
the newspapers have well-nigh deprived
the Wstumperi' of his occupation, or at
least of the utility Of it. But there are
other and, to our minds, Weightier, reS-
tour should become an absolute thing,
and we will briefly state some of them
without elaboration. The qualities which
20 to make upA popular stump-speaker
are not the qualities required to make
competent and successful governor. A
man may be wonderfully blessed with
the "gift of gab'i-may have the power
of moving multitudes to tears or con-
vulsing them with laughter-and yet be
sadly wanting in these staider qualities
of craftsmanship so essential in the char
acter of a great States chief executive
officer. We do not mean to depreciate
forensic talent, by any means, but simply
to call attention to the fact that much of
the very best material for the govern
or's office in this, as in all other States,
does not belong to the stump-speaking
class. \ ct so imperiOus has grown the
custom Of requiring gubernatOrial can
didates to closely canvass the State
travelling from county to county, incur
ring needless expense, ,sOrely taxing their
physical health, belaboring each other
with disgusting personalities, and, too
often in obedience to a depraved public
taste, making bulfoons of themselves for
the temporary delectatiOn of the multi
tude-we say such has been the eff
feet of the custom, that many men, Of
modest worth, fitted to adOrn the exec
utive chair Of any State, have felt them
selves so repelled from the political
arena, because of its unreasonable eXac-
tiOns, that they have not allowed them
selves to cherish even an aspiration to
the Office of governor, and thus, too
often, has genuine merit been pushed
aside while blatant demagoguery has
l. HHarN 10 IN haa
sway. Besides all this, the people
are really firing of such personal
contests between gubernatorial cOmpet-
itors.. T8ey are coming very seusibly
to think such mere "ground-scuf1lng'
for the highest Office in the State as be-
meath the true dignity Of the occasion
and certainly not very elevating in its
influences. They care not to know
how a candidate may attitudiniZs or
gesticulate; whether he is ''good at anec-
dote," or can "deal heavy blOws,' or is
an "artful dodger" or can make the
multitude weep or cry at will. They
are rather concerned to know what
measures of State policy he advocates,
and upon what principles will he admin
ister the government. And this the peo-
pie may better know without such cam
paigning tours as have been peculiar to
Tennessee. Instead thereof, Let the par
ties present their candidates, and, as in
other States, let each, under the auspices
Of his own party, or OF himself, make
such speeches, at such times and places
as may be deemed desirable for all
practical purposes. Should an occasional
Joint discussion be agreed on, well
enough. But as to the smaller matters
of the canvass, let the newspapers take
care OF them. There will be no lack of
means to "keep the facts before the peo-
pie" so long as printing-offices are sup
piled with the usual quantity of black
Ietter.-RnoIUille Press and Herald.
1t is possible that the drill-masters
may believe that they are doing their
country a service in pursuing this poll
cy, but no sane man will deny for
moment that they are laying the toun-
datiOn for another defeat next Novem-
ber, unless they change their course
SOBteTUilLe Falcon.
We have seen a circular issued by
Memphis politicians (or people they
prefer, perhaps, to be called, which lays
down as the first, middle and last plank
for platform, that no candidate will be
supported by the signers unless pledged
to tax not exceeding twenty cents on
every hundred dollars. This wise circu-
lar gives notice that its signers will ad-
vOeate low taxes without regard to the
fate of parties. Indeed, carelessness,
nay, recklessness as to the fate of par
ties, appears to be the leading idea of
the trainers of that platform. They
might, had they deemed it prudent,
have said that they were utterly reck-
less IS TO the fate of the state, the
people, credit, honor and good faith.
it is apparent, however, and it was not
perhaps necessary to declare it on the
face Of the Instrument GQrksUille To- /
baccO Leaf
Superintendent Fleming was inter /
viewed by a reporter Of the UiiiOa and
American the other day as to the results /
Of the negro convention and the civil I
rights bill ON the public schools, and |
said: 1.-THE law is absolutely impartial |
in its provisions, as affecting the two
races. The same school age is prescribed
for coloTed as for white children; they
are counted alike in the sppoTtiOnment
Of school moneys; they are entitled 10
pursue the same studies; they are sub
jected to the same schGol-officers and to
the same general school regulations, and
no special regulations are tolerated that
prefer lne flgnl5 OF one race 10 lnOse 0i
the other. Colored people are eligible as
teachers, school directors, county super
and State superintendents,
Just as they are eligible to the civil Off
ces Of the State or general government
The only distinction between the races
recognized by our school laws is in the
mode Of organizing the children into the
schools.
With the exception Of Madison,
Crockett, and one or two other counties,
West Tennessee will vote In convention
for Judge Porter. In giving expfession
to this, our candid opinion, we do so
with not the least intention Of dispaTag-
ing the claims of other worthy gentle
men whose names have been mentioned
IN this connection. So far from this,
should It occur that we are mistaken in
this opinion, the Intel5iqencer will give
most cordial support to the nominee
OF the convention, although its choice
should fall on some other worthy candi-
date instead OF Judge Porter.-P1riS IN
tel3geRcer.
We are as anxious to prevent a DEM
Ocratie division on any other question as