Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-06-21

has ever complained of it until the off
Gals of Shelby started their fugleman
out on that PLATFORM 1t has been re-
corded as an event of history not a little
significant, that when the Russian Gar
introduced his great revenue reforms,
intended both to reduce expenses and at
the same time insure the certainly that
taxes, when collected, would reach the
treasury, a very similar cutlery to that
we have heard so lately was made. The
old governors and tax-gatherers who had
thus lost the power of enriching them.
selves by their extortions, expressions
and frauds, cried out Justify and bitterly
at the change. And the good conserr@
tiUes, too-those in every country whose
eyes expand with horror at the idea OF
any change which should take them or
their business out of the old ruts-cried
out ruin ruin and mourned in sack
cloth and eshes that the country was to
be destroyed. So here it is remarkable
that not only those who reaped the spoils
Of office, but also some Of our W good
people who have not heard that Robin
son Crusoe is dead yet were alarmed by
the proposed three commissioner
change. But this may be only the
result of the absence Of reflection
and examination of the subject.
NO GOOD REASON GIVEN AGAINST THE COM
MIssIoNERs.
If the MEASURE is not advisable, Ger.
tainly the right reason has not yet been
given against it. Our people have been
accustomed to mayors, and perhaps
some Of the foremost and most clamor-
Gus among them would make excellent
mayors themselves. But we have little
doubt they will come to the conclusion
that q change which, on examination,
they find is neither anti Republican nor
expensive, and which, in the absence Of
any better proposition, promises, with
greater economy, to administer the city
affairs with equal efficiency and advan-
tage, may be entered on without undue
imprudence or hazard; and that, once
convinced of the true interests Of the
city. they will support it with zeal and
unselfshly. They may well demand
that the Commissioners should be men
Of the city well.known and long tried for
honesty, capacity and fidelity. But they
will not be seriously alarmed, though one
Of them should act as chief magistrate
under the name Of commissioner instead
Of mayor, nor refuse a useful power un-
der any name. Nor will they complain Of
simplifying q cumbersome machinery
which has made the best men who have
ever occupied seats in our city boards
feel and exclaim, I'VE are powerless for
good"
DRIVEN TO ARREST EXPENDITURE.
We are driven to arrest in some
way the r%Hinous course of expenditure
hitherto INDUCED, or go under. What is
TO be done? Shall it be done by com
missioners or a receiver, or not done at
sll2 1t is not to be supposed hat any
citizen would be very much excited by
the selection by the Legislature and
Governor of a commissioner to act as
mayor, when he now cares so little about
the very same power the Governor and
Senate would thus exercise being exer-
cised by the mayor HIMSELF. His chief
Of police, or his subaltern, with or with
out his sanction, can knock him down
and bruise and drag him through the
public streets. Is he anxious about vot-
ing for the mayor who cannot hurt him,
and careless about voting for the chief
Of police, who has his life in his
hsnds2 His recorder can fine and i'm
prison him. Is he more anxious about
voting for the harmless mayor than for
the man who has his property and liberty
in his hands2 Certainly he has not
thought about rights of the people"
being taken away before this slogan was
sounded, or he would long ago have
thought Of these officers who come so
often aud so near to his business and
bosom. Besides, even if be did vote
directly for his Mayor, it might be quite
as uncertain whether he elected him, as
if be had done it more indirectly,
through a vote for the Governor and
Senator. Who that votes for a Mayor is
certain that a slate has not been made
up beforehand by three cunning and
popular or knavish men, designed to
elect one another, and which does elect
them all-the slate completely the
free use of the joint e%xertions, influence
and money Of all2 Such a thing has
been done in this world of ours. Who
would be hurt, il it should be stopped, if
bargain and intrigue and frauo should
be rendered forever in future impossible,
and so that every man who went into
Office by the votes Of the people should
be compelled to gain them on his true
worth, with no merits except his own,
and without money except his own2
To cOnclude-Being Of the people, we
abandon no rights of the people. and
seek to promote no interests but those
Of the people themselves. We ask moth.
ing whatsoever against the free consent
and will Of the people-neither commits.
sloners, receiver, nor anything else.
Though this association has among its
members a considerable number Of men
who possess comfortable means Of liy.
ing, perhaps there are not q dozen o.
them all whose means do not depend on
a dlligent pursuit of their business, and
not less than FIVE hundred Of their mum.
Der are compelled TO labor in one form
or another to keep the wolf from their
doors and families. This is truly a
Peoples Protectective Union, laborinp
unpaid ia the interests Of the people.
And we may we'll call on the
people to rally to and support it with
their influence, their votes, their mum
hers and their might Sinca We how