Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1878-05-21
THE FUSION AGAINST DEMOC-
RACY.

After many years of wandering in the po-
lhical wilderness, the Independents have
found a party that suits their fastidious
tastes. They have gone and done it-joined
the National party. Hereafter we are to
hear no more OF the Independents. The po-
litcal guerriIlas who have fought the bat
ties of Radicalism under the Independ
ent banner have surrendered to the
Nationals, and hereafter they will be the
most servile partisans. They are lubricating
the political machine, and it will soon be run
against the Democratic party, which will not
be half so damaging as the old Independent
machine. Many years ago, when the uncon-
querable Democracy vanquished all its
enemies, the fag ends of all other parties
combined under the banner of know moth
ingism. This new party was as prolific in
promises as the Nationals. 1t talked about
the corruptions of the old parties, insisted
that it had risen upon the ruins of both,
and was mott responsible for the rascality of
either. Men who had been rejected by 9TH
er parties, who had played the renegade to
both, fattered themselves into the belief that
they had found in this new hodgepodge
stairway to power and plumber. But the
elections came on, and the purified office
seekers, who had charge of the new party of
political saints, were ingloriously defeated.
The chronic haters of Democracy have re-
sorted to the same strategy, and the same
result will follow. Knowing how unpopular
Radicalism is in The south, they propose to
rally under the banner of the Nationals.
Just as the know-nothings did they are twad-
ding about the corruptions of the two old
parties, and arrogate to themselves all that is
great and good In politics. But this new
combination will share the same fate which
has overtaken the ephemeral organizations
that have lifted their puny voices against the
Democratic party. There can be no cohesion
in this new combination, made up of antag-
onistic factions. Many workingmen Joined
the Workingmen' party from honest motives,
but when they attend a meeting of the
Nationals and look around them and see
Eaton and Garrett, Smith and Pierce, and
Williamson, ministering at the altar, they will
ask, Is this the feast to which we have been
invited2 When such Democrats, honestly
deceived, see that they are used as cat's-paws
to restore Radicals to power, they will swiftly
return TO the Democratic party, which has
redeemed the south from the curse of Radi-
calism, which proposes to recover It's ascend
ancy in Shelby county by the votes of
men it once DISTINGUISHED and in 1869 voted
against enfranchising. The new combina-
ton strikes no terror to the heart of the De-
mocracy of Shelby county. 1t has triumphed
over the combined hosts of RadicalisEl, sus-
tanned by the bayonets of Grants administra-
ton, and it has no fear of an ephemereal
organization made up of the flag ends of par
ties, led by disappointed ofice-seekers. An
effort will be made to hitch on the National
party as a tender to the Hayes locomotive.
This will be obnoxious to many Radicals who
are hostile to the President and regard him
as an amiable hypocrte who has betrayed
his party. If the Democracy Of Shelby coun-
ty will nominate good men-a strong ticket
on the thirteenth of June, no combination
inprovIsed for the occasion can defeat it. All
the troubles that beset the country can be
traced to Radicalism. During its Infamous
rule the people of Tennessee and of the en-
tire south were DISTINGUISHED, prosecuted and
plundered. Military men were elevated
to civil offices, rings were formed, conscience
lCSS WCIC LuduG, eV-
cry State in the Union and every Territory.
Seeds OF corruption were sown broad
cast, while young and old were invited to
reap the harvest of national debauchery.
They were not slow in going to the seductive
feast, proffered, Delilah-like, to their
tempted lips. The allurements
went on till, robbed of all
rights, these people in their numerical power
sprang like unfettered giants to their feet,
exclaiming in the majesty of their might, the
nation is fraud, and its head usurper AL
lured by unfulfilled promises. seduced by pill.
ayers and plunderers in high places, who
kept the spoils and then turned with sneers
upon those they had betrayed, the cities and
the towns had been left fostering with fever
ish expectancy for favors never bestowed.
Bonds aggregatinR into the billions were
fastened upon the people, who pay the taxes
by hard toll to those who hold them and pay
no taxes. The Radicals of Shelby county
who approved these outraRes, shared in the
prosecutions and participated in the plum
der, hope to recover their lost power by rally
ing under the National banner, which they
are silly enough to believe will be support
ed by the Democrats they DISTINGUISHED
and prosecuted. The Democratic party is la
boring to rescue the workingmen and the
great interests of the whole country from the
wretchedness and distress into which the
profigacy of the Radical party has sunk the
labor of the country. There is no reason for
any man who voted for Tlden deserving his
party. If the Democrats have been deprived
of the power necessary to inaugurate reform
and to restore prosperity to the country, the
fault is with the Radicals, who stole the
Presidency. In the future, as IN the past,
the Democratic party will express its abhor-
renee to everything that countenances Vio-
lence; that allows dishonesty, and suffers the
preparations of frauds, peruries or thiev-
ing. 1t contends for an honest and wise adj ]