Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-04-01
LIT Us HAVE pRACR.


LET Us HAVE PEACE.
There is not much in the Appeals
column editorial of to day replying to
yesterdays LEDGER that requires reply.
The two articles taken together pretty
we'll cover the ground sought to be dis
cussed. We have too much respect for
our long established and deservedly in
auentisl contemporary to doubt its sin
cerity and zeal in what it thinks is right
or for the public good, and far be it from
us to indulge in "sneers" or "taunts.
We disclaim the imputation. The differ
encs between the Appeal and LEDGER is
more in regard to matters of detail and
tactics than principles. The objects
aimed at. we assume, are about the
same. We must say that our %neighbor
has its idiosyncrasies, but they do not
amount to faults or serious blemishes.
As to the Bartlett movement, We all
agree that it wa a local movement and
accomplished all that was desired. 1t
had a liberslizing tendency without re
curing a sacrifice Of principle from any
one. 1t was consummstely managed,
with Hosea Townsend and Henry Lynn
as chairman and secretary of the execu.
tive committee and was gloriously sue
c%essful. AS Democrats we may well be
proud and a%ppreciative of the aid
we received from the Conservatives
and Liberals regardless of their former
political affiliations. That movement
enabled the same elements to win a
Democratic and Conservative victory in
the November following. Without it
Barbour Lewis might yet have been in
Congress instead Of Casey Young, and a
Radical Mayor still presiding over Men,
phis. And now that we have the ascend
ancy it is not only bad policy but ungen-
erous and in bad taste to cast odium on
the means whereby success and har-
mony were attained, and to repel the in
dependent or unsfiliated elements in
our midst who have come over more
than half way to our aid in time Of need.
The word conservative, which is a Thy
brio" so offensive to the Appeal, has
been used with effect and success ever
since the war. There is, of course, nc
such a thing as a separate Conservative
party, but there are men who prefer thai
name to an exclusive Democracy, snd
the concession is SO slight and harmless
that We have always been surprised thai
any one should object to il. II the Bart
lett movement has not been permitted t
rest its enemies have themselves Il
blame. 1t was far-fetched indeed for The
Appeal to connect the position of Shell
by representatives on the question 9
taxation with the Bartlett movement. /
is we'll remembered " as a matter o
record " that Robertson Topp attempted
to lug this question into the Bartlett
platform, and that it was thrown out a
irrelevant and mal-apropos. The Shelb,
delegation may have voted for q resolu
ton favoring a lower rate of taxation
than forty cents introduced to check
mate the sixty cents folks who we're yer,
persistent, but no test vote was taken
and we believe that the peopl
Of Shelby county we're willing to abid,
by the State platform which would uu
hold State credit, but at the same tim
opposes an increase Of the present rat
of taxation, which, including the schoo
tax, is fifty cents. This, however, is 81
issue very remotely connected with tn
well advertised Bartlett movement. W
opposed the funding bill from first L
last, and fail yet to discover in It an,
marks Of craftsmanship. As to Be-
Hill, another side issue, we do not car
to discuss him. His speech did not d
Nny good, however honest and truthful
1t inaamed the North against us, an
lessened the chances of Democratic sue
cess next fall.