Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-07-19
COUNTY DEMOCRATIC TICKET
A REPUBLICAN ON THE SITUATION.

A REPUBLICAN ON THE SITUATION.
We publish to-day a letter from a
Republican" in order that one of
the ablest champions of that side
may have a hearing at the hands Of
the LEDGER. The letter suggests
its own answer, but we will allude
to an erroneous assumption III re-
gard to the LEDGER's position.
We did not and do not suppose that
the newly converted Nashville Re-
publican editor turned over to Sc
cure that little position. The
paper has a precarious existence,
maintained chiefly by Government
advertising, which is a fraud upon
the people, for the paper has a very
limited circulation. We were al
luding rather to the gush made
over a new convert by the old hoary
headed sinners Of the party. There
are personalities addressed ad hom-
inem in Republican," letter to
which it is unnecessary to reply,
more than to saythat any man with
a proper appreciation of the good
will and respect of his fellow-men
may well feel honored in being
selected to represent Shelby county
in the Legislature. AS far as the
honor is concerned it is almost OF
quite equal to that of a seat in
Congress, but it is not profitable in
a pecuniary sense. The pay is
barely enough to meet Ordi
nary expenses while in Nash.
vile, to say nothing of loss o.
business at home and the
enormous expenses of a canvass
AS to the editor of this paper, h,
has never changed his politics 70.
the sake of an office, and never will
If a Democrat who has consistent,
spent the best years of his man
hood in the service of Democrat,
and Conservatism happens to b.
chosen to an Office of any kind h.
should regard 1t as a trust, and no
apersonal reward. The offices be
long to the people, and not to thos
who happen to hold them for
time. Officials are merely and onl
public servants. This idea is nc
held or practiced by the Republ
can party, and hence one of tn
great troubles Of the times. If tn
party in Tennessee has change
since it stole the school fund thu
Isham G. Harris preserved a
through the war and held the pc,
pie down with militia, we are gla
to hear it, and to {" let by-gones ]
by-gones." The more recent ac
of the Republican party are enouG
without going back over six yea
to condemn it. We have seen
change in the policy and sentimen
of the Republican party that Won
Justify a Southern Democrat
any other in going over to the Ell
my. The election and Democrat
victory of two years ago frighten
them into some sort of decency 1
a short time, but they recover
their audacity and now 60 on as !
ual manufacturing ISLANDERS again
the people Of the South. IfFran,
Thompson, the well-known kee,
of a den of infamy, had not b,
exposed, any testimony he mi,
have offered against the people
the South would have been acce
ed and used as a campaign dc
ment. The Republican part,
just what it always was, and alw
will be while in power. 1t is
tirely distinct from the old I'm
party proper and has no claims u,
the country. The election Of II
would be to repeat Grant O
smaller scale. 1t would be a n
change Of signs on the same
shop. Any well-meaning, con
ent Republican and all the Cons
atiyes can vote with the DemocI