Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-04-21
The FUTURE OF PARrIRs.

kNhANA - NAN
and persistent Misrepresentation OF
the RepublicaH'leaders They sue
ceeded for years in making the I'M
preston upon the great mass OF
voters of the North that Southern
men were still rebelsa at heart, wait
ing an opportunity to destroy the
government and practically to re-
duce the negro to a state of slavery
or vassalage. The Northern whites
were taught that the results of the
war could only be secured by con.
tinuing the Republican party in
power. The people believed this
seriously for many years, condoned
the offenses Of the party on account
of its professed loyalty, overlooked
violations of the constitution, usur-
pations Of power, and many crimes
of omission and commission. But
the deception could not always be
kept up in land of free speech and
free presses. A liberal movement
originated in the Republican party
in 1872. This ended in the disas-
trous defeat of Horace Greeley. Yet
it was a rift in the clouds through
which a food of light poured on
the people. In 1874 a popular wave
swept over the countryand the Dem
Ocrats secured majority in the low
er house of congress. Even this
did not deter the Republican lead
ers. Being in possession of the
army, the navy and the treasury,
the President and the senate used
all the powers of the government
to secure the success Of the party
once more. The canvass made in
1876, the Centennial year, was the
most spirited, earnest and desper-
ate ever known in the history Of
the government. Its excitement
viii never be forgotten. Tilden
carried the popular vote by a quar-
ter Of a million majority. Yet the
party managers, taking advantage
Of the good faith and law-abiding
spirit Of Southern representatives,
succeeded in counting in aud inau-
gurating Hayes under the strictest
forms Of law. That Nh. HAYES does
not represent the extreme wing Of
his party, but rather the element
which broke off five years ago and
has never been welded back
securely, is manifest by a course
which has invoked the anath-
emas Of the New England
Methodists, Wendell Phillips,
Senator Blaine, and all the carpet
baggers and other irreconcilables
Such opposition carries its own
answer and comment. The Demo
cratic party has made all lie gallant
struggles since the war, aside from
the financial issue, which has been
little mixed, on two main issueg-
reform and the restoration Of State
governments to the hands of the
people free from federal inter
ference. There is reason to believe
that the rules of civil service
reform will be enforced by the
members Of the cabinet, and
it is certain that the last State
government sustained by bayonets
will dwindle into nothing before
noon next Tuesday. Mr.. Hayes is
entitled to the credit of doing his
duty in this matter, and we are glad
to accord it to him. 1t is clear t
every mind that we are to have &
new order of things, and that sec.
tional hates and prejudices are
to be eliminated from parties and
politics. Parties will be pur
upon their good behavior, the Dem.
ocratic as well as the Republican
and the one which can promise tn,
greatest measure of peace and pros
perity to all will be the party
While we believe the Democrat
party will and should sweep tn.
country at the next general election
we know it cannot be done by de
nunciation. The people are tire
Of this sort Of thing and viii be to.
glad to drop it. We can best prov
ourselves worthy Of respect ant
our villifers of the bloody-shir
l r .o L,