Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-12-20
Who IS 10 DO TIE rIsHTIEei

When men talk about another civil
wal we naturally inquire, who is to do
the 6ghting2 that is, eat the bareback
aud salt pork, dig bitches, carry KNAPP
sacks and 60 to the trout with eighty
rounds OF ammunition to the man. There
are thousands Of officers all over the
land. Every village of a thousand in
habitants has its fifteen Brigadier Cen
erals, ninety Colonies, two hundred
Majors, aad an unlimited number Of
Captains. These, OF course, are exempt,
except as leaders of armies, command.
ants of posts or Quartermssters. The
privates in the late conflict on both sides
we're killed, lost or promoted. Very few
of them got home; al who did are con
tent to rest on their %laurels. The men
who never got mad until after the sur
render would now have another chance;
they aud the boys who have grown
up since the war would constitute a
formidable army in numbers. The
former could do the talking, and
the latter would have to do the
fighting. War is a very serious business
TO those who have really faced its dan
gers and endured the hardships. 1t is
also a costly luxury, The American
people would do well to pay up the ex
penses Of the last war before rushing
into another one. That seems to be the
prevailing idea all over the country, ex
cept with a noisy, excitable few, whose
influence is not widespread. TIE
Southern Democrats will give their
moral support to all constitutional and
rational methods adopted BY their Nor
them brethren to perpetuats the bless
Tags o. a free government. They will
not, however, rush into a war on the one
hand, Or sell ont on the other. II Hayes
should be ~iuaugrated, and become Pres
ideut, de factc, he will have On opportu'
nifty to turn out the bad men Of bis
party holding Office in the. South
aud can 6nd good men to take
their places, whether they are prom.
inent Democrats or not. We do mol
believe that his party would permit hin
to make many changes, whatever NIGH
be his inclination. We believe tina
Tildeu was fairly elected President, ant
if cheated ont Of the place that a gros.
outrage will be committed. A digDihsd
earnest protest will be al the recourse
left US In the eyes Of the world we vii
be justified and vindicated. bot as TO
sending a single armed mar to Washing
ton to see Tildsn %insugurated, the Souti
il about as likely to SeDd an army Il
the City Of Mexico 10 participate in thu
next Presidential inauguration. This i
our country; it is yet called q free y
try, and we hope always will be. Pn j.
sentiment, stimulated by free press a.
the counsel of prudent men, can cortec
the great evils complained Of; the bay
one. must yield to the supremacy o
civil law if we are to return to a purl
elective government by the people
The party il power has shame
fully abused its iFuSlS and opportu
mites; it has been Tebsksd at thl
bsllotbox, bat is not yet q7ite retired
Greatly as we have hoped and praEeI
for Democratic success sld relief iron
the domination Of a reckless party. an,
as much as we yet hope that Tilien ma,
be President, the Democratic party cau
not afford to FIRE a gun or post a singl
picket TO secure that result. The rem
edy for these things lies ia peaceful
measures, well defined by organic az
statutory law, as well as precedent on
Democratic theories Of government.