Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-08-09
raE SHELBY COUNTY DEMOCRACY.

OOlEAACAA ~ 49, /
large number of absentees and the
recent overwhelming defeat OF the
party in this county, the mass
meeting Of Democrats at the court
house yesterday was respectable in
numbers and spirited in action.
The proceedings were in part pub
lished in our last issue and the reSo-
lutions as adopted appear in this
paper. A list of delegates was
made out to attend the guberna-
torial convention, which meets at
Nashville on Thursday, the 18th
inst. Resolutions written by mem,
bers Of the legal fraternity, and no
one outside of that Chassis supposed
to be competent for such aduty, are
usually clothed in verbosity and
mounted on archaeological stills.
Hence it often happens that a party
platform resembles a bill in chan
cery. both in length and ~tautology,
when a few clear cut sentences, ex-
pressive Of facts, principles and poll
ey would be easier grasped by ordin-
srv minds and far moro effective.
At this important crisis in local and
State politics, it is we'll enough to
define our position, though a long
aud attenuated line Of breastworkS
cannot be defended so easily by a
reduced force as . more compact
position. However, we have no
serious objection to offer to the
resolutions; the most Of the matter
is excellent, but it would be more
forcible and incisive if reduced
down to the form Of so many tele-
graphic brevities. The action taken
yesterday is definite and in the right
direction, showing that the party is
progressive, fully up with the issues
and the demands Of the present,
and that a temporary defeat only
has the effect of producing unity
of purpose and greater determine
ton than ever. There are ter
resolutions, a lengthy preamble anC
one amendment touching the lier
law. The third resolution, which
is the first one Of importance, de
mands that silver shall be placed
upon the same footing with gold il
regard to coinage. The fourth de
mands the retirement Of nationa
bank notes and the substitution o
sreenbacks, and also the repeal o
the tax Of ten per cent. upon th
notes of State banks. The fit.
denounces the Federal Legislation
whereby the law was changed an
the contract modified in the inter
est Of the bondholders aud capita.
lists. The sixth, which goes muc.
farther than the st. Louis platform
demands the repeal Of the resuml
ton act and the issuance Of Leg
tender currency in sufficient quar-
titles to meet the legitimate d
mands Of trade and industry. III
seventh urges that congress sha
extend aid to the Southern Pacif
railway, and shall improve Il
Mississippi river aud its trib'
taries. In all these resolution
nothing is said about the tar
question. The eighth resolutiC
gets down to State questions, al
rather vaguely declares that this
no time for any adjustment Of
State debt, but that whenever o
is made it shall be submitted to t
people before becoming a law. T
ninth, a model Of brevity, decla.
against using convict labor outsi
of the penitentiary oxceptin mil
or on public works, and the ter
demands a reduction in the fees
officers. An amendment was oiie
and adopted fayoring a lien
Taken as a whole, these r%esoluti
are up to the demands Of the lc
and will be heartily Endorsed d
supported by the masses, as wei
have an important bearing upon
convention, which meets next We
1t must be conceded that the pl
took somewhat a new departure
terday, but the leaders and plato
makers are only following the /
bIazed out by an independent p
in the direction of popular dem
and tendency. The word Bourl
SO often hurled as an epithet at
Democracy, certainly does not
ply in this county, The party
has always been cosmopolitan,