Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-04-20
THE REPUBLICAN, RALLY.


grand rally at the Greenlaw opera
house last night. That is to say three
or four hundred persons, white and
colored, including a large per cent Of
democratic spectators were attracted
to the place out of curiosity or from
other motives. 1t was very quiet,
tame affair, and there was an utter abb
sence ofthe sound and fury which
characterized radical meetings in the
days Of Barbour Lewis and his noisy
followers. Yet looking at the leaders
or reading the names of those who
figured we recognize theidentical men
with very few exceptions, who have
been running the machine these many
years. This being presidential year
they have cut loose from all entang-
ling alliances and set up for them
selves with the full determination
of making square repubE-
can fight, The nationals, with
whom they affiliated, and under whose
name joint local victory was gained
in 1878, were notified that the partner
ship has expired by limitation, and
that under no circumstances will it
be renewed. A full republican ticket,
for everything from constable up to
president, will be announced, and
they intend to strip for the fight and
get in their work for what it is worth.
Such, at least, is the declaration Of
the leaders, white and colored. They
claim that they furnished the votes
that carried the last county election,
aud charge that the nationals have
acted in bad faith with them.
In other words, have not di +.
vided fairlA One of the
speakers alluded with some bitterness
to the fact that Hunt, the colored
registery, received scarcely one half as
many votes as one of the white candi-
dates on the Oolabition ticket. The
inference being that the nationals who
are all white, scratched the only
colored man on the ticket. There was
a ring of business although much of
was cut and dried about the entire
proceedings. The speakers, notably
Judge J. E. Bigelow, were constrained
to admit kind and fair treatment at
the hands of the democrats and an
absence of all bitter feeling. In fact
they seem to have more respect
for the democrats than for the
national independent greenback labor
party which scooped up all the Offices
except one. We might tell our radi-
cal friends the cause of this improved
state OF feeling. Irritating causes
have been removed, and the wrongs
inflicted upon an unfortunate and
helpless people soon after the war,
have been forgotten and forgiven.
The democratic party, which of all
others desires to give every man fair
chance in the race of life, is in the as I.
cendancy and thelaws administered
for the protection and benefit of all
alike and no one has cause to com
plain-under the republican rule that
we had this was impossible. The
tring of resolutions adopted without
discussion were spread over consider
able surface and constituted glittering
generalities without meaning much.
Any member Of the party can pick out
a morsel to suit him, or gulp the whole
batch at pleasure. One plank is de-
voted to honest elections just as if
the party had not been in the habit of
stealing whole states at time. It is
obvious that the leaders are acting to
keep in line with the national repub-
lican party so as to control federal pat
rOnage here, and that they have no
idea of capturing single one Of the
county Offices this year.