Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-05-30
WORDS OF ADVICE.

The Radicals and independents
of Memphis and of this Congress
sional district will no doubt make
an effort to defeat Hon. Casey
Young for reelection, just as they
endeavored to defeat him last cleo
ton by supporting Barbour Lewis,
and as they endeayored to defeat
and succeeded in so doing, Landon
G. Haynes, the Democratic nomi-
nee, by running Barbour Lewis
against him as the Radical nomi-
nee, and also Colonel A. j. Kellar,
of the Avalanche, as a So-called
Independent candidate, but really
as an ally of Barbour Lewis, or
what Colonel Mulberry Sellers
would call a side speculation" Of
Radicalism. The New York World
of a recent date contains the fol-
lowing words of advice which will
attract attention:
We observe that the attention Of Dem
ocrstic politicians is mainly concentrated
upon the Presidential canvass, and GER
tsiuly the struggle for the control Of the
executive department Of the government
is important enough to warrant great in
terest; but in our anxiety on that subject
we should not lose sight Of the necessity
of retaining the positions in the legisls
tive department which we have already
won. The President without Congress
would be powerless. The Senate could
control his appointments, the House Of
Representatives could cripple him by the
denial Of proper appropriations, apd il
both Houses we're strongly opposed to
him, they might, as Republican politi
clans, stick at nothing when party power
is at sta ke, and strip the executive of its
prerogatives, as they did in Johnson's
time.
To give value to the election of a
Democratic, President, it is essential
hat q Democratic House be chosen to
support him. The Senate will be so con-
stituted that after a Democratic victory
in the nation all wise measures for the
general good will be apt to receive its ap
proval, and with the Executive and the
popular House united it will not be dis
posed to show fight on merely partisan
issues. In the next Congress Democratic
leaders, having the advantage Of two
years Of experience and responsibility,
will be ready to take hold Of Federal az
fairs with skill and vigor, and will prove
faithful allies to a Democratic President
When we consider the true purpose,
the full mission Of the party, no argu-
ment to establish the importance of Be-
curing a working power in the govern
ment is needed. The design Of the cam.
paign is not merely to exalt some we'll
known statesman int the highest public
position in the gift of the people, and
make a few changes among Federal
ofieeholders. 1t is to overthrow the Re
publican party, the rule Of which has
been so disastrous; to remedy the evils
which it has brought upon the country,
and to establish Democratic methods
To carry out this comprehensive policy
we must have the control Of Congress.
Unless we secure the House Of Repre-
~sentstives no system Of retrenchment
will be possible, no revolution in the
civil service. The Democracy is not
coming into power as an experiment,
but coming with a duty to perform and
coming to stay. The public debt must
be funded, the tariff regulated, a humane
and rational Indian policy established,
the currency question taken out of poll
tics, and the functions Of the Federal
government brought within their proper
limits. These things cannot be done in
a day, and for the completion Of them
the active and continuous cooperation
Of President and Congress must be Sc
cured. Even the poor work OF exposing
the frauds that have been committed, as
we see from the experience of the past
few months, can only be imperfectly
done where it is the interest Of one
branch Of the government to counter.
mine and traverse the other.
Especial effort should be made, there
fore, t o hold the House of Representa-
tives this fall; without it a Presidential
victory would be q barren honor. VII L.
it is probable that we shall not lose oui
majority in Congress il we carry III,
general election, yet there are many 10
cal causes which might operate to deader
political interest. and bring about the
loss Of close Congressional districts il
Republican States and in Democratic
States where preponderance in one sec
ton might overbalance deficiency il
others. The next Congress must b,
Democratic, and the only rivalry o
Democrats in their several States SHOULD
he in getting the very best men eacI
State can command into the severa
State delegations.