Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1878-06-09
RrOadciOth in the Xyiewams

New Orleans Times: At about the present
! stage of every campaign for the past ten
| years we have been accustomed to hear The
| profound and original remark that the solid
| citizens ought to come forward and take an
active part in politics. In this same connec-
| ton there always occurs great deal of I'M
| answerable argument to something like the
| following effect: What is the use of our
voting at elections if we have no suitable per
son to vote for? and how are we to arrange
| the matter properly unless we see that suita-
| BILE persons are nomnatod? and how are we
to do this unless we take part in the prima-
| ries? and so on, and so. Fine old gentlemen
| will drink this H. with solemn approval, and
resolve inwardly that really the upper classes
must interfere to arrest the downward ten
dency of our Institutions. Fine young gen.
tlemen will experience certain paroxysm Of
civic pride, and resolve audibly to go forth
among the benighted masses and show them
the effect of embroidery On self gov
eminent. There is no doubt as to
the proposition that the substantial element
ought to be represented in the preliminaries
of the elections; none as to the proposition
that leaven of wealth and respectabiity
will improve the mixture and its results
Touching the doubts as to their ability to
meet the necessities of the case, the fine old
gentlemen and the fine young gentlemen do
not take time at present to consider. Later
IN the campaign, their ideas become enlarged
and their. ,perceptlGns acquire sort OF elias
ITCHY, as it were. When 'the boys hear all
this they prick up their ears-not such long
ears as you would suppose, either, albeit they
hang on hard and lumpy heads-and smile
darby. They rather enjoy these little band
box diversions which break the monotony of
the ward business and touch It with vivid il
a fleeing radiance. They know, or think
they know, how 1t will end and, after all,
the boys are good natured. Some of them,
who can't take a joke and want to be attend
ing to business all the time, may grumble q
little and seem to be uneasy in their
minds, but the majority take it amiably
and treat the silk stockings with orna-
mental politeness. 1t is very funny to see
the oldest and best trying to bring their re-
straining and purifying influence to bear
upon really robust ward. A country boy
injected into the heart of New York could
not be more hopelessly dazed than the aver
age respectable citiZ IN turned loose In ward
politics. He wanders about in fuddled, low
spirited way until the thought occurs to him
that the best way to bring his influence to
bear is through the medium OF an outside
organization. Somehow there is too much
noise in the wigwam, and the boys are too
cross. Nobody asks him for his views i'll any
thing, and if the idea were not too mon
strous he would really suspect that they didn't
want him around. Finally he drifts away
into a regular silk-stocking club, where every
thing is smoothly disposed OF, but where the
Influence of politics IS never heard of any
more. Sometimes our leading citizens
don't retire from the ward club-rooms
quite so majesticaly. Sometimes they strike
big night, when the boys are red hot and
get mad with the crockery, and at times like
these it occasionally happens that there is q
deadlock about the door, and one or two
lamps are smashed, and a few pistols get to
splitting about, and then the wigwam looks as
If large centrifugal had been set in mo-
ton inside, and distinguished citizens step
out through the windows with the dazzling
conviction that their influence may be valu-
able ingredient in politics, but that personally
they would rather be at home. If we were
asked to offer suggestion in the premises,
we should be inclined to say that perhaps it is
wasting time to try to grapple ward politics
with pair of parlor tongs. 1t is a mistake
to assume that the boys are gong to be over
awed b. broadcloth effects. 1t is equally
mistake to take it for granted that they
are groping savages, who will be grateful for
advice and who can be rendered manageable
on the missionary plan. All that is said
about the necessity of participating in pri-
maries and giving attention TO the matter of
nominations is strictly true. Our local poll
tics need just that infusion-need it sadly
and conspicuousy. But it won't do to walk |
gingerly into the wIgwam, holding ones |
nose; not at all. Politics is practical sci
ence and those who expect to win at it must
take off their coats and consent to put up
with perspiration.