Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-12-10
Upon Mayor John r. Flippln to An
nOunce Himself for Re. Election.
To the Honorable John R. FIppin.


DEAR SIR-We, the undersigned,
eommitte appointed by citizens Of Mem
phis, irrespective of Political party
moved by the important and critical attl
tude oar municipal affairs have assumed
and assembled together to carefully
consider present and approaching diff
culties that seem to threaten our welfare
as a people, to tender to you o call made
upon you by unanimous vote, to an
nounce yourself as a candidate for the
mayoralty of Memphis. not as the nomi'
nee of any convention, but as the Citi'
zen's candidate-the candidate of Dem
ocrats-because we want honesty, ca
pacity and reformation in the manage
ment of our city slfairs-cardinal vir'
tues of Democracy, which your past adj
ministration has so we'll exempli6ed, and
because as true and ferVent Democrats as
ever cried for liberty and reform, join the
call; as the candidate of workingmen, be-
cause of all men the workingmsn of our
city must have good government and a re-
moval of these obstacles to prosperity
which have already begun to disappear
under your efficient management as
the candidate Of the poor and the rich,
of the white and the black, of all sorts
and conditions of men, because we have
seen in your official career a just regard
for the rights of all men. We earnestly
and deeply feel the importance Of this
request. Many OF us, earnest partlsans,
appreciate every necessity for party
union and a strict regard for party or.
~ganizstion. but when by stratagem or IN
due advantage the powerful machinery
of party is placed in the hands Of dan
gerous or careless men, and cur local
affairs become the prey of designing
leaders or the toy Of thoughtless follow
ers, We believe that the political machine
should be left TO those whe usurp its
control, and that the people should arise
and resent the usurpaLion. To US the
signs of the times point to great danger.
We look back upon the past and see how
that, by incompetency, knavery, and a
harmless (?) speculation in our city's
financial concerns, a debt Of millions of
dollars has been heaped epon Us. Mem
phis hes for ten years been like an or
phan ward in the hands Of q careless or
an unprincipled guardian. Her estate
has ever been sacrificed and ~plundered
by the i~neapacity of the guardians OF her
welfare, or their cupidity and overween
ing desire for private gain out OF the
public purse. All tAis ne can see until
the beginning of your honorable term Of
office now about to close. We desire TO
see the permanent correction OF all these
evils, and to have the reformation inaug
urated by you to go on to completion, and
that we should take no step backward.
at a time when we can see the dawn of
prosperity to cur city and the whole
country. We tender you the warm sup
port OF every good citizen who has az
heart the welfare Of our city, and who
can lay aside his desire Tor private profit,
TO consider the public veal Soliciting
your early response, we are, dear sir,
your obedient servants. By order of the
meeting. W. N. BROWN, Ch'mn.
D. L. PORTER,
S. R CLARKE,
A. G TREADwELL,
w. w. GooDWIN,
Committee.
We also hand you a similar request
made outside OF the meeting aforesaid,
by men in hearty sympathy, as We be-.
lieve, with the sentiments above afore-
said.