Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-01-14
rHE REsU1r ANp ms MEANIEe.

The municipal election yesterday re-
suited in Judge Flippiu's election by a
majority Of 1915 votes over his Radical
competitor, John League. Such an over
whelming majority was not expected by
any one. 1t reminds US of the Bart
lett" election August 6, 1874, only that
In proportion to the vote cast our major
ity is much larger this time. At that
time the Democratic candidate for Sheriff
received in the city 1893 votes; the Re-
publicap candidate 1863. Total vote
cast l0,5O2; Democratic majority 1854.
Yesterday the total vote cast was 7473,
aud Of this number Mr.. League received
less than he or his party ever received
before, namely, 1864 votes. AS q poll
tician and a man who carries the
First ward in his pocket he will
subside, and in time no doubt
repent and apply for ac aission into
the Democratic party. But when q
man arrays himself against the best ia
terests Of a community wherein he has
resided for twenty-five years, and been
repeatedly honered with Offices Of high
trust and great profit; who, in q word, has
fattened at the expense Of the public,
aud then turned against his best friends,
be may expect to find q permanent re-
TRACY from the cares Of a public servant.
Mr.. League richly deserved the rebuke
he received yesterday at the hands of
the people. AS to Barbour Lewis, he is
a public enemy, and recognized as such
BY all classes, white and black. He
knows now that be cannot control the
colored vote in a single ward. His
power over them is broken forever and
bis influence in local politics gore
E, like Samson's strength when his
locks we're shorn by Delilah. A more
quiet election was never held. but there
was an earnest purpose TO repudiate
such men as William R. Moore, John
League and Barbour Lewis, and TO vim
dictate self.respect, good government,
Law and decency, that was irresistible.
Il was an illustration of the old saying,
that still waters run deep. The colored
people came over voluntarily and almost
in a body and voted with us. All honor
to them for their assertion Of independ-
ence and their respect for law and order
and wholesome home rule. Let not
their services be forgotten in the ordi.
nary transactions Of life, for they have
discarded their drill-masters, dismissed
their self appointed overseers and dem
onstrated that they can think aud
act for themselves. This is not
so much a Democratic triumph in
q party n as a popular
expression in favor If reform and a ia.
dieious administration Of our public e.
fairs. Rings have been broken, tricksters,
dsmagogues and agrsrians held up to
scorn aud detestaiion. This is a new
era with the colored race. They find
that they can vote as they please and
that no anathemas Of Barbour Lewis and
bis kind can bring down a thunderbolt
TO destroy them. The spell is broken,
and hereafter they will vote as freemen
With whatever party commends itself to
their judgment as the best. They have
thrown of the collar Of their political
mastersAnd made one great step toward
the high plane Of useful citizenship.
While looking to the result let us not
forget the means by which all this was
broaght about. In the first place we had
agood. sensible committee. They invited
the Conservatives and Liberals to unite
with the Democrats in e%lecting delegates
AID nominating a candidate for Mayor.
The invitation was accepted with singu.
lar unanimity. They came TO our aid,
and the conservative or liberal Republi.
q who voted with us yesterday is en-.
titled to as much credit as any straight
out Democrat. The press has played no
uncomfortable part. The Avalanche, it
is true, declined to tear its shirt or To
take sides, which it had q perfect right
10 do. The Appeal, after irantically
opposing for 3 tins the admission Of
Conservatives into the ranks as q Trojan
horse full Of enemies, wheeled into line
and did good service for the ticket, and,
as usual, appropriates most Of the hon
Ors. We viii not dispute about this.
The LEDGER took sides from the
start, sustained the committee, the Con.
vention and the nominee from irst TO last
because we believed it was right, and that
In so doing we we're promoting the best
interests Of the community. We claim
DO more honor than is due a high private
in the front rank, who does what he be-.
heves to be- bis duty earnestly, faithfully
and iearlessly. When such a man as
Flippin is presented BY a Democratic.