Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-04-28
sAMUEL ]. TILDRN

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the Presidency. The time appears
rather long to discussit just now, but it is
opportune. for upon its proper solution
perhaps our prosperity for sometime to
come will directly depend. W. have
made in the past fatal mistakes; have
paid in the past and are paying in the
present very dearly for having done SO;
hence, we feel that a calm and dispss-
sionate discussion of a candidate who
will likely come before the next National
Democratic Convention, his antecedents
and claims, may to no little extent con.
tribute to success. The late elections in
the States of New Hampshire and Con-
necticut certainly plainly demonstrate
that the floating vote will be cast for
those party nominees whose past public
lives give the best guarantee Of an
&c )nomical and constitutional ad-
ministrshon Of the government. 1t is
well enough to claim victories in some
Instances, but f~ruitless ones are often
times the %forerunners Uf ignominious
defeat, Then it becomes us to inquire
what is the course for our people to pur-
sue in order to substantially aid in the
election OF a national Democrat whose
character is a guarantee that the most
rigid economy, the most %scrupulous ad-
herence to the Constitution and the
most salutary measures of reform to
promote the general prosperity will be
the measures Of his administration. The
individuality Of the candidate for the
Presidential nomination should be looked
to only so far as it fills the popular idea
of a proper a~daptability to the require
ments which will be demanded Of
whom the ballot will elevate to the
White House at the next general
election. What those requirements
are seems plainly demonstrated in
almost every mode of expression which
has been resorted to since the Novem-
Der elections, and constitutes, above all
other requisites, ability and honesty.
Corruption has existed since. and during
the late war, in almost every hamlet in
the government. 1t has been tolerated
by the Radical leaders everywhere, al
most without exception. In the South
y debt Of two hundred millions of dol
lars has been saddled upon the people in
the shape Of State indebtedness, and
four hundred millions Of dollars in the
shape Of other bonded debt, just twice
The value Of every conceivable species
of property subject to taxation in Ten
nessee. Now, to say nothing Of the
burdens Of the general government
debt, ours Of itself weighs US
down, and to such a degree that under
present laws our prosperity is out of the
question. An example, for instance, of
our own city, which is doubtless just as
prosperous as any Of her sisters Of the
South: We owe in round figures
5000, 900. upon which we pay S3OO,OO
annual interest, or more properly, agree
to pay it. But few citizens are prosper
GUS, and yet very few are idle. The mi
grafton from among US exceeds the i'm
migration to Us. We recall the days not
long ago Of our general prosperity. Now
at is q tax upon memory to point out a
dozen from among US who are in hat
delightful condition. Climate, soil, geo.
graphical position and an enterprising
population usually produce general
thrift, and when these combined avail
so little In that direction, as has beer
the case with us and with our sister cit
ieS, and in fact the whole Southern coun
Try, the fault is the operation of thost
important statutes controlling trade
such a. the tariff, the internal revenu,
and banking acts, and others Of q kin
dred character made in pursuance arc
conformity to those. No better ~illustra
ton is needed than is found in the fac
that the annual taxation paid by tn
people Of this State is more than doubl
their whole circulating medium. Th
currency is curtsiled, which benefits tn
few to the impoverishment Of the many
National banking is fostered. nurture
and encouraged by payment Of an al
nual premium to those carrying it OF
Relief from these measures Of oppre
sion is what the people want, an
what they look for in Democratic gu
cess. Selfinterest, which involves jr
o the preservation of republican il
situations. should be the governing m,
tive with Us in our selection Of a Pres
dental candidate. Then let US discus
him from among all the others who az
pears best qualified by capacity, will an