Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-12-03
re TEARS.

Inc Appear - Chtuot euis mi
but devotes a column and a half OF its
valuable editorial space mainly to give
a history of the late Democratic mass
meeting at the Greenlaw Opera House
to prove that the word Conservative
did not appear in the call or in the APP
.psaTs reports Of the speeches. Well
who disputes itf Those who we're there
will remembefth Colonel George II.
Phelan, in his speech, defined the word
Democrat to mean Conservative. De-
mocracy, in contradistinction to Radl-
calism, he defined to be the very
essence Of Conservatism. The meeting
was called simply to appoint a commit
tee to supply a vacancy which for some
reason had long existed. TheCountyCom-
mittee might have acted, but declined
and properly, we suppose, to take the
responsibility. If however, the county
committee had been authorized when ap-
pointed to set for the city it would have
done 30 in the name Of the Democratic
and Conservative party. Why, then,
should a city committee differ essentially
from a county or a State committeeY
Why should the Appeal cautiously object
to the word Conservative" and bolt
from its own party2 We cannot for the
life Of US see any reason, founded upon
sound public policy, much less upon con-
sistency There wereC Conservatives atthat
meeting who have generally voted the
Democratic ticket, but who lever have
and never will admit that they are
straight Democrats. Some ofthem were
once Republicans; others were Old Line
Wings, and yet cherish some of their
early aversion to the name Democrat.
This is fully as reasonable and natural as
the newborn horror at the name Con-
s~ervative." A rigid, hide-bsund Demo
cratic party cannot carry the city. county
or State, nor would such a selfish, parti;
San concern deserve success. The name
democrat" as we regard it, embraces
the Conservative element. The mass
meeting adopted no resolution on that
point whatever. The committee was em-
powered to conduct the canvass and one
Of its FIRST acts was to declare as its sense
that Democrats, Conservatives and Lib
erals be invited to unite in the move
ment. This was either right or ie was
wrong. If it was wrong, then a resolu-
ton of an opposite effect would have
been the thing. Some Of our Bourbon
kid-glove friends would have made it
read thus:
Resolued, That il is the sense Of this
committee that no Democratic Conserv-
attire or Liberal citizen is entitled to
participate in the election of delegates
to the convention TO be held for the nom
ination Of a candidate for Mayor OF Mem
phis.
A beautiful and select party would be
left after excluding these c%lassesl The
Conservatives bad a right to ask whether
they we're entitled to participate in the
election Of delegates. They had asked
the question repeatedly, and the commit
tee had, dishonest, candid men, to answer
yes or no. They answered yes, and an
swered as decency and common sense
and dsty dictated. The people will sus.
tain them. The committee is in full &C.
cord with the usages of the party. Its
action has made a Democratic and Con
sentative success possible. Let the peo'
pie turn out, regardless of factions
and feeble opposition, and see to
it that a good man is nominated,
and his election will be an as
sured fact. We cheerfully concede
that this is a Democratic commit
tee, il that will soothe any troubled
soul, but it is not of the Bourbon sort
It conforms its standard of Democracy
to the State platform, which was similar
in spirit to the Bartlett platform, au'
has been heartily Endorsed by ever,
Democratic and Conservative CONVEX
ton and meeting held in this count,
since, where there was any expression a
all. Go ahead, gentlemen Of the com
mittee, you are all right and the peopl
are with you.