Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-02-18
His Honor the Mayor Declares
his Principles in Rela.
ton to the Sec
Ond Term.
He has Acted and will Act with all
Parties to Secure II.
LEAGUE, NOT PRINCIPLES!

Recognizing the fact that public men
have the right to change their views on
the questions of the day, we give below
an interview our reporter had with
Mayor League yesterday, his interview
Of last Saturday having been published
in the Appeal of Sunday morning, more
than three days ago:
Question. Mr.. League, you are Mayor
Of Memphis bya majority of the Repub.
lican votes of the city of Memphis, ]
believer
Answer. | really don't know, but
believe that the colored people and
other intelligent citizens, or a very large
majority Of them, voted for me.
Q. You have acted with the Republi'
can party for years. How many2
A. | have acted cordially with every
party since 1860, which seemed to have
for its object the election Of John
League to Office, and shall! continue "a
do so.
Q. Has your Republication ever been
doubted by the leading Republicans d
the city,
A. Some Of them doubted me When
offered myself as a candidate for Mayor
but | made such pledges and promises a'
satisfied the most radical and incredu
lous Of them.
Q. What we're some Of the pledges you
nader
A. ! promised TO give the colOred peo'
pie a fair proportion OF all the Offices
and also 20 appoint Captain Phil Athy
Chief Of Police, which they very much
desired.
Q. Well, Mr.. Loague, you have snc.
ceeded by your political shrewdness in
securing your election to a great many
Offices in the county of Shelby and city
Of Memphis. What do you think Of the
gullibility of these people2
A. Well, | can think Of no people
among whom I have ever lived who are
more gullible and enduring.
Q. What do you think Of the DISPOSE
ton Of The white people in our own State
and States adjoining toward the negroi
A. Well, ] see no use for the colored
people except so far as their votes are
necessary to secure the election Of
Loague to Office. cannot say what the
feeling Of otheFs toward that race iR.
Q. Do you think the general effect o
General Grants policy will be to drivl
such Republicans as yourself away from
that party?
A. Well, no, sir; that alone would no
have that effect so long as that party
had a majority large enough TO cleo
such Republicans as myself to Offices
but the fact that the party in opposition
TO the Republican party now seems to b
in the aseendency has won my arden
admiration and approval. Ia othe
words, the Legislature of Tennessee el
hibited so much shrewdHsss in e%lectinI
a man to the United States Senate VIII
has never been true to any party tbs
party SHALL in the future have my earnel
support, provided it has a majority {
votes in this laiitrde.
Q. Well Mr.. Losgpe, what do you thin
Of General Grants administration 4
iar2
A. dislike very much to be asked thl
question. as | was nee an applicant fc
coDsulship to a point in Ireland, and
might make such an application agai
60 him should he be reelected Presiden
and | shonld not secure my election q
Mayor for another term.
Interviewer-K. (which means 10
rect.)
Q. Mr.. League, you have, 10 your maj
sgement Of the affairs Of the city
Memphis, been characterized by a greG
anxiety for economy and opposition {
all rings and cliques. | believe that [
be your reputation. Now. what do 20
think Of a Mayor Of a city who goes int
Office with a few thousand dollars il
vested in the stock Of certain bank an
uses the power Of his Office to secure an
retain the deposits Of the city in sue
bank against the well defined and el
pressed Judgments Of the General CouI
ell Of the city,
A. ! do not know to whom You allud'
hnt a, far as ! am personally concerned
Won haze stated my position fairly an
cnpS;d;x. ! am opposed to all rings az
eliuues. Ibsiieve 10 the people esp
claily that portion Of them who has
.lseted me to Office. ! am opposed I