Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1878-06-08
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
A Few Timely Suggestions.

| A Few Timely Suggestions.
EDITORS APPEAfr-A Jealous interest in
| the success Uf the Democratic cause, In Au-
| gust next, together with an earnest desire
| that perfect harmony fnsy mark the delbera-
] tons of the approaching convention, and Its
( nominees receive that free, cheerful and en-
| thusiastic support which Invariably secures
| victory, constitutes your correspondents ex-
| cuse for the present communication, IN which
| he proposes to remind our executive commit
| tee and the cofTentIon of certain things,
| which both the experience Of tae past and
| the signs of the present seem to point at as
| necessary to be done. We want victory In
August-a victory in the widest, deepest and
| truest acceptation of that glorious word; a
| triumph which shall not merely elect our
| ticket, but such triumph as shall crush out
every opposing organization, dis pats every
vestige Of antagonism, quench the falntest
spark of political schism, and plunge cur
enemies into such utter confusion and despair
that Radicalism ''in every shape or semblance
of disguise may henceforth be dead and
| powerless in this community We want no
resurrection of that hideous thing which
for so many years laid the touch OF
deadly palsy upon every growing enterprise
| and killed every hope of peace and prosperl-
ty. Least of all can we anticipate, without
shudder of apprehension, the dlreful Calamity
which would be visited upon this happy COM
munity if by any chance we should be de-
livered up for eight long years to the tender
mercies of Radical Judiciary. angels and
ministers Of grace defend US" My sugges-
tons, offered as little as may be in the spirit
of censorship, and with due respect and def
erence to the able committee which is now
guiding our affairs, are as follows:
First-Let US never forget the character OF
the foe with which we have to deal; his IN
scrupulousness, his disregard of principle,
his constant resort to strategems, his appeals
to every baser passion and instinct of human
nature for the accomplishment OF political
end, his hypocrisy, his double-deallng, his
whining cant of patriotism, his ingenuity in
accomplishing frauds frorii the lowest office
to the Presidential chair, bis dishonesty and
oppression in office, his baseness and ingratt-
tude to the ignorant dupes who are deceived
into supporting his pretensions. All these
may be readily recognized as the cardinal
virtues which go to make up the character of
Republicanlsm, individually and collectively.
We must not simply conquer the numbers of
such foe. We must overcome his subtlety
and cunning. We must fight against a
cupidity as absorbing as to approach subllm-
ity. Let US not imagine that Radicalism is
subdued because it is quiescent. The Gagged
lioness can cover at the keepers feet and
simulate obedience when the lash is held
above her head, but woe be to that keeper
who for one moment relaxes his vigilance,
and INDUCES the hope that her lust for blood
has been stated or her desire for revenge dis
sipated. A moment Is space enough TO seal
the fate of her over confident victim, and his
ite-blood pays the penalty of his rashness.
When Radicalism is silent, it is plotting mis-
chief; when it assumes the appearance of
humility, 1t Is scheming with most asslduous
cunning for every vacant place. Let pre-
pare to meet 1t with such strength and unity
of purpose, such combined and aggressive
power that its cohorts will make but a short
and feeble resistance.
Second - We must cling to the time.
honored custom of our political fathers, and
require a strict adherence in the convention
to the two thirds rule This rule has
everything in its favor and nothing against
it. 1t is sanctioned by party usage, and
there is no better test, OF the
the ability of one to secure the ballots of two
thirds of a convention. Whatever objections
may be urged against it will apply with ten
fold power to majority rule. To depart
from such a custom at this juncture would be
almost ike abrogating one of the funda-
mental principles of the party, and such de-
parture would be morally certain to lead to
danger and discord.
Third believe Democratic success may
be safely predicted IN August, but such be-
lief must be largely predicated upon the gen.
eral opinion that the convention will give us
men of unexceptionable character. Indeed,
so strong is this idea among the people (as
will clearly appear upon the briefest inquiry,
that the convention should not only feel au
thorized, but should consider it a solemn
duty, to throw overheard any candidate who
appears before it as the special choice Of any
of those petty cliques and combinations
which have heretofore rendered conventions
the objects of suspicion and distrust. Let US
not be satisfied merely to fill up the ticket
with the rpOulTad names Such
will court and merit defeat. Every man
whose name is put upon the ticket should be
not simply a negGtiCe adjunct, but a pOSitiUe
element Of strength. Not simply an Individ- |
ual upon whom the party is expected to be- |
stow its strength, but man whose known in
tegrity in private life and acknowledged abili- |
ty for the performance of the duties which he |
desires to undertake, will bring such accessions !
to the support of the ticket as to make the |
election by the people a fcregone conclusion. |
There is an independent spirit In the politics |
OF Shelby county just now, but 1T represents |
an independence, [ truly believe, which de- |
sires only the selection of men of high char
acter and abilities. If it shall force our party /
to choose such men, it will have served good |
purpose, and every true Democrat will be |
ready to say "Amen!"
Fourth-I would urge, as in the interests |
of fairness and harmony, that no unexpected |
candidates be introduced to the convention.
All candidates Tor any ONCE snOulu nave Inelr
names regularly presented to the convention
to be voted for upon their merits. In case of
a clock" which sometimes happens where
two favorite candidates are supported by their
friends through successive ballots, it is
unfair and impolitic to bring in third man
merely for the sake of relieving the clock"
Such man is often nominated by mere ac-
cident, when the very fact OF the continuous
voting for the two other candidates proves,
beyond controversy, that one or the other OF
them is the choice of the convention-can
didates brought into contest in such a way
can be nothing but make-shifts, aud can add
nothing as d general rule, except weight to
party ticket. Every gentleman who desires
certain Office should be placed in nomina-
lion at the same time with other nominees,
and then fruitful source of possible dissatis-
faction aud discord is easily removed. | shall
support the party ticket whoever is nomi-
mated, but would much prefer to support 1t
rom motives of admiration and Just pride
n the gentlemen who compose it, than to be
solely by sense of fealty to
party. DEMOCRAT.
Mothers, Mothers. MOthers-