Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-08-31
vEEMPHIS APPEAL
THURSDAY, ga: AUGUST 81, 1879.
NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC TICKET.
FOR PRESIDENT.
sAMUEL,J. TILDEN,
OF Few York.
FOR vIoE-PREsIDEEJT,
THOMAS A. HENDRICKS,
OF Indiana.
FOR GOVERNOR,
JAMES D. PORTER,
OF Henry.
THE ONLY VITAL QUESTION.

The little stde-shcw planted near the
mammoth canvas, with its squeaking
organ inside and Its BIauton Duncan at
the door, Justify and husklly shouting
"Here's the giants and the Idrned pig, -
has its counterpart in the Peter Cooper
farce. When the big menagerie is on
hand the side performance receives
more pity than pennies, and when the
country is struggling for reform, it has
only contempt for the little factions
twaddling about their vsgaries. The
Democrats will not patronizs this little
Peter Cooper. sids.show. 1t would be
recreant to its paramount obligation to
the country and to public liberty should
1t sutfer q financial question: involving
no issue more material than that OF
maintaining or posiponing the period of
resumiDg specie payments, to interfere
with the supreme duty Of rescHing the
government from the corrupt aud law
less faction which now plumbers and
dishonors the nation. The effort to mag
nifty the currency question at the ex-
pense Of the great objects Of economy
and reform, which all honest men
sdmit to be the urgent demands Of the
hour, may serve the purposes OF those
who desire to divert public scru iiny from
the corruption, tyranny aud dishonesty
by which the Radical party has made
the name OF republic scorn amid the
nations, hut should receive no counte-
nance at the hands of the Conservative
people of the Union, who may well toll.
crate differences of opinion on this quss-
ton Of policy to secure harmonious co.
operation on the vastly more vital ques
tons touching the nations honor and
liberty which are now pressing for de.
cision, and on which good men OF all
parties should be- agreed. The people
must not be diverted from the vital
question Of the canvass-the true issue
before the country. This issue is the ar
raigument of the administration and
the R adical party fJr unexampled profit.
gscy in every department of public af-
fairs for the exercise Of despotic powers
over the southern States; for the ex.
traoriinary public frauds and crimes In,
the District Of Columbia; for the foolish
and demagogic treatment Of the curren.
CT question by the last congress; for the
scandalous prostitution OF the appoint
ing power; and for the defense and SUP.
port of the most conspicuous public
knaves by the President himself. Some
of these Offenses, and others of like ma
ture which it would need columns to
enumerste in detail, esrly attracted pub
lie attention, and sn attempt at reform
was initiated by the Democracy. But
the public mind was slow to see and sp-
preciate the actual condition of things,
and, Of course, Glow to act; but in 1874
the movement triumphed. 1t has since
gained momentum, however, by the
lapse Of time throwing a clearer light
upon the facts; and in November the
rebuke Of the administration In the cleo.
tons will be general and complete. The
reform Republicans either stood aloof
or went with the Democrats, and The
result was one Of the greatest Do
litical revolutions two years ago re.
corded in our history. Massachusetts,
with her seventy.fve Thousand Republic
can majority, turned her back upon the
administration, and chose Democratic
governor and majority Of anti admin
istrAtion members Of congress. The
State Of New York, which gave fifty
thousand majority for the Republican
Dix at the previous election, turned and
threw fifty thousand majority for his
Democratic competition, Tilden; and so
1t was that the revolution swept along
the whole line. TIE indignation and
disgust Of the country over the malad.
ministration Of the government was
universal; and from that time to this
things have not grown better, but worse.
One cabinet officer has folio we'd another
into retirement Ia ignominious success
lion, forced to resign for corrupt and
tcandalous practices; and hardly day
passes that there Is not new revela.
tioa Of some old official criminality or
s0me new crime committed in the name
OF Rspublicanism. At this juncture new |
elections are In progress. The same
public sentiment prevails as existed last |
year. The truth now is, as then, that
the country demands and must have a
change OF rulers; and that Whatever ia
70 happen, or whatever is to follow, the
punishment Of the guilty men who
b we disgraced the republic,a mama
must follow. This ia tba at
q most important duty resting
upon every conscientious voter. r. iss
duty which cannot be summed This
WORK has been begun, and it must he
completed. To interpose financial dis.
cusslons by way Of arresting this great
WORK may be good politics for the cDI.
pms VINO are arraigned, but it is wholly
OUT OF place In the revolution povun.