Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-10-31

and wheel calamity into line.
Let us give Radicalism its coup
de grace, never to be recovered
from The LEDGER supports the
Legislative ticket with equal earn
estness and good will-not only
because the nominees were Endorsed
by q regular Democratic oonven-
ton, but because We believe them
to be honest faithful, able and IN
oorruptible. They are men Of the
people and for the best interests Of
the people; and whether we shall
in future indorse all that they may
do or not we believe now that,
standing as they do on a low tax
reform platform, they will strive to
do what they think the people ne
quire at their hands. 1t is a mat
ter of regret that at suoha an impOr-
tsmt national and State election as
this, falling as it does in the GEN.
%tennial year and fraught with veal
or woe TO the country, that there is
one blank on the ticket at our
masthead, one Democratic nomi-
nee, that We cannot con-
sistently, conscientiously and
honestly support. The LEDGER,
as an independent Democratic
journal, cannot support halfway
measures or halfway men. There
fore we cannot support James D.
Porter for Governor. He has been
weighed in the balances and found
wanting. Timber was scarce and
soft when he was scared up for
Governor, especially the last time.
Shades of Blount, Carroll, Grundy
and White, and Polk, Jackson,
Trousdale, Harris and Andrew
johnson, defend us when such in
tellectual inanity is to fill the
gubernatorial chair of the grand
old Volunteer State for even two
years. An accident the first time,
he became a misfortune and a
stumbling block to the party the
second. His case was doubtless in
view when the sacred writer said (:
The weak things shall be chosen
to conGound the mighty" There
has been a time when it was thought
necessary to support any and every
nominee, even if a jackass should
slip in on the list. That time has
passed, as far as the LEDGER
is concerned. "He that excuses
accuses" is an old saying. He
that excuses James D. POrter's
miserable blunders, his weakness
and vanities, accuses him of all.
We have given our reasons for OPP
posing him heretofore. 1t is un-
necessary to rec~apitulate. We sup
port Tilden and Hendricks because
they are able, honest, enlightened
statesman who, If elected, will re-
deem the country from misrule and
inspire new hopes for the, Republic.
We support the Legislative ticket
at the head of this column individu-
ally and as a whole, not merely be-
cause they happen to be personal
friends, not that they are the ablest
men that could be found in the
county,but because in our judgment
they merited the nomination, and
viii respect theyoice and consult the
interests Of the people. They are
not encased in official dignity and
~reticence, but ready to speak out
like candid men, as far as they
are informed, Oh Rpy and all
questions. They are frank With
the people, and not suspected
of any concealed purposes.
The LEDGER is in hearty accord
with the great Democratic party
and always supports the regular
nominees With zeal and earnestness
when consistent With Q sense OF
duty to the public. This depends
Of course, upon their political in
tegrity, ability and Gtpess. We
cannot therefore support Porter Tor
Governor, and would not if there
we're no other candidate 10 the
field. If some or any Of his COM
petitorS are weak or unworthy that
does not aIber the case in his favor
or make it our duty TO support
him. While keeping in view thu
welfare Of the party at large aud
the importance Of Democratic sue
cess, we cannot be brought to feel
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