Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-04-29
sEOWINe A HAND.

TWAS not to be expected that the &C
ton or organization of the Democratic
and Conservative executive committee o
Shelby county would afford the Ava
lanche any satisfaction. 10 fact 1t coult
have been safely predicted that what
ever the committee might do would b
disapproved by our iconeclastic cstem
porary. The Avalanche las Intellectual
" fought the Democratic party for many
years, and has often thought that the
entering wedge had been driven which
would split the party wide open. But
these little wedges never get deeper than
the bark, and always glance off when
the Avalanche deals its heaviest blows.
Four years ago u nsighbor mildly aud
cautiously supported the Bartlett nov
ment, but now goes back on the platform
and condemns the committee for signify
ing its approval of that platform. OPP
position and q purpose founded upon
prejudice could not stick out palmer.
There is nothing in the reported pro.
ceedings of the committee to Justify the
assertion hat the officers elected in 1874
must be reelected. Each n must take
his chances along with the other candi-
dates. There is nothing in the reported
proceedings to indicate that the commit
tee enlarged its wi membership. Each
ward and district is entitled to one mem
Der on the committee, making in all
twenty-eight. That is the number COM
posing the committee. When a vacancy
occur it is filled by the other members.
When the Avalanche bubbles about such
little points as this, and then misrepre-
sents them, it shows a disposition to
find fault which nothing can pscifY
while the Democratic aud Conservative
party is in existence. 1t is very well
known that our majority is not very
large in this county when the full forces
are brought out on both sides. The Re.
publican party is compact, aud will poll
its full strength whenever there is q
chance to win. All efforts to divide Inc
Democratic and Conservative party per-
manently are evidently meant to give
the Republicans a chance to come in
and carry this county, and eventually
this congressional district. But Mem.
phis has not become Republicanized yet,
nor is it likely to be sooR. II some new
party had sprung up, ever if led by a
lot of party hacks from both and ell sides,
and Endorsed the Bartlett movement.
the Avalanche would have said it was
the very thing and showed a progressive
spirit fully up to the times. Tue com
mittee started off we'll. 1t is composed
Of good material, of men liberal in poll.
tics and straightforward in other deal
ings, who cannot be successfully assailed,
driven or asttered in the performance Of
their duties. We are willing to trust the
people to select delegates, instructed or
uninstructed, to the county convention,
and the people will no boubt be satisfied
with the nominations made. The public
welfare requires men of capacity and in.
tsgrity for the various positions to be
filed. A number Of excellent gentle.
men have announced themselves as can
didates, subject to the action Of the
Democratic and Conservative conven-
ton, and OF all the list we do not know
Of one who is unworthy Of confidence.
If there is such a one the Avalanche
ought to point him out. II, however
that convention should nominate any
one against whom any serious charge o
incompeteney or dishonesty could be sus
tanned, be will not be supported in thesI
columns. Thia is our style of independ
ence-a word SO often used to cover ~
a different meaning and purpose.