Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-09-30
BETTER LATE THAN NEVER.


refer to its coneiliatory policy, con
cerning the date Of which we must
confess lamentable ignorance,
amounting to total observation. An
editorial in yesterdays issue, the Goth,
begins with this paragraph.
The conciliatory policy of appealing
to the reason and the best interests of
the people of Tennessee, inaugurated
by the American and pursued by such
men as Senators Harris and Bailey
by all the speakers of the democracy
aud by the American and most of the
newspapers engaged > in pressing the
claims Of the democracy on the state,
is rapidly bearing good fuit. There
are still, however. many who decline
to hear reason and insist upon exercis-
ing their power to do just as they
please without regard to what may
be the best policy. They say the other
side may have the best of the argu-
ment, the intelligence and all tha',
but they have votes. These are ex-
pressions we continually find in the
papers which are supporting the bolt
ing movement. We have always en-
deavored to be candid ard positive,
urging that a principle cannot be
abando2ed for harmony, while we
have tried TO appeal to the reason and
the best sentiments of our opponents
and to make it clear what is the best
policy We have abundant evidence
of the value of the conoiliatory policy
we have pursued, working in close
accord with the eminent men who are
pursuing the same line
This reminds US ofa couplet about an
old gentleman who when sick saint
would be, but when we'll would not
be, or words to that effect. The
American more perhaps than all the
state credit papers together dictated
the terms, Infused The spirit and
brought on the fight. which caused
the split or the bolt, If you please, in
the Nashville convention. II was ag-
gressive, dogmalic aud mastery. II
denounced as traitors and heretics, in
a political sense those who differed
with it and fat.ered GER
tain few who could be thus in
huenced to work with superseryice-
able zeal The Memphis Appeal, a
solid high credit paper, implOred the
democracy to poss over this issue for
the present, and let it come up some
other time upon its own merits. This
went fox nothing The American
was on the ground, as it we're, and
the Appeal too far off
to reach the ear of the
convention. The American and a
certain element forced the question
upon the convention, and forced an
other element to retire The i'm
mortal seventy or eighty who with
drew were hooted and jeeFed, and
afterward ridiculed, and maligncd.
They and those who sustain them
have been denounced as repudiators,
demogogues aud dishonest men,
seeking to besmireh the fair
fame Of the living and the dead, The
canvass opened with a blast of trump
cts, and everybody not found in line
under the high tax banner was read
out out Of the party and denounced in
terms Of derision and scorn. The
American eytn went so far as to
broadlyintimate that those who did not
support its ticket would not be recog.
nized byth national administration as
democrats in the event Of Hancock,
election. This is not a matter of any
consequence, but it shows the
spirit with which the high taz
element in certain partsof tht
state conducts the canvass. A
first it seemed to be the policy to ruI
Wilson Of the track but it worked tn,
other way. Judge Wright was so badl,
used up by his powerful young oppo
nent that he had to be Withdrawn anC
sent off in company with old Mr.. Haw
kins, with whom he can haveno seriou
controversy on the debtquestioh
AT the last moment, when Wilson
cha2ces Of election seem almost as
sured, the extremists, who have beel
indulging Ii vast amount Of boastin
aud unnecessary denunciatiOn begin t
talk about conciliatioG. Senator Har
ris may be entitled tocredit for max
ing speeches in favor of harmony, 70
he isa' 'man'of splendid mind and broa
views; the Appeal may be entitled t,
credit for a sound conservative polio,
calculated 10 bringabout good under
standing: the Nashville Banner, ,whic
supports Wright in a very oiTectus
way, is certainly courteous, liberl
and couciliatory; but as for the mo,
Of she state-credit papers and stun
speakers, they have done all the
could to widen the breach, and ia
crease the difficulties aud stumbling
blocks Of the situation. Wilso
has following of nearly {
quite one hundred thousand voter
and these have all been stigmatized
dupes or willful repudiators by a
arrogant class who do not recogui.
such thing as an honest difference
ofOpinion The people submitting
all this are very quiet, but they wi
be heard from little later on.
s..,aseesseaa.1.l.a-s1-.-..