Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-10-23

Inc Avalanche, OF the list INST, con-
tanned the following editorial:
"Never in the history ofpolitics was n more
corrupt or disgusting coalition conceived and
contaminated than that Of the Shelby county
Egyptians apd the sWeet-scented Edward
Shaw gang. We commend this fragrant Goa
litlOn to the LEDsER, whose political 0~ifacto-
ries seem to be ksenly sensitive in discover
ing coalitions where they do not exist. The
rankness of the flavor Of this Shaw coalition
under the very nose Of our contemporary and
on the very political hearth-stone where it
and its fellow Egyptians worship the false
gods Of reputation and free whisky. should
suffice a reasonable mind as a subject of COM
mentary, without going into the regions Of
fancy"
In last January, it united with Shaw in
support of two colored, who were upon its
ticket for the Taxing Government. These
colored men are r. II. Church and Mr..
West. They are both reputable colored
citizens. Church lisa man of considerable
fortune; West is well to do and sub
stantial colored man. They have done
nothing since last January that detracts
from their standing as citizens. Yetthey
are now lin the Avalanchian eye) part Of
Ed Shaw's sweet scented gang" Why ?
Because they support General Bate for
Governor and the legislative ticket, which
is pledged to a platform Of principles that
contains more which their judgment ap-
proves than the doctrines advocated BY
any other ticket. West was on the COM
mittee Of colored men that conferred with
the committee on behalf Of the Demo-
Gratis and took part in making this ticket.
Last January he was one of the Ava
lanehe's candidates for Board of Public
Works for the Taxing District, He was
then, and Is now, a good citizen. Shaw
and the Avalanche Joined fences in his
support; also in support Of Church. Hun
dreds of other respectable colored men did
the same thing. 1t was then known, as
well as it now IS, that they were low tax
Republicans, and were resolved no
longer to be dictated TO by the
Federal ring. II was then known
that they were opposed to the 1908 out
rage, and they were opposed to any
further effort on the part ofthe last Leg
~islators TO settle the State debt.
These colored men had begun TO do
their own thinking. That's the head and
front oftheir offending" They are now a
sweet scented gang according to the Ava
lancheon whip
The Avalanche is mad. It's power is
gone. Don't you see how red it is in the
face. The Avalanche, in the January
election, supported or at least leaned tor
ward the same ticket that Shaw did.
Church and West were on that ticket.
The LEDGER now supports a legislative
ticket with two cOlored men on IL, and
West, Church and Shaw stand with the
LEDGER, for the legislative ticket. We
insist that the abuse ofthe colored men by
the Avalanche is unjust, 1t Is unfair, II
is without good cause.
They have a right to differ with the
Avalanche, and the Federal Ring. We
know the Avalanche is great and good lin
lis own opticsG but then this is
a free country, and has it a right to
denounce as q ''s-weet-scented gang the
very men It worked in harmony with, and
supported FOR important public trusts no
longer ago than last January They
were then, and are now, good men-not q
Sweet. scented gang" Gang is the
word. Gang" by way Of abuse, TO de-
ride, 10 stigmatize as a gang, is the way
the Great and Good Avalanche now spits
upon these men. This is a grievous wrong
done by the Avalanche to these colored
men,
lst. Because lately II was "cheek by
jowl7 with Shaw in local politics-running
with what il now calls the gang"
ID. Because II supported members Of tho
gang for office last January.
3D.. Because many Of the gang are
quiet, reputable citizens, and who, even
measured by the Avalanche's exalted
opinion Of itself Ia very high standard
would not appear 10 a disadvantage.
But the editorial quoted is not content
with annihilating the late eolored friends
Of the Avalanche, including Shaw, ~
blossom crony," so to speak, but it strikes
the white men on the ticket, and the white
men who support It, o ponderous blow.
They are al FOR "free whisky and repu-
diation That Is the mild way The Ava
lanche puts II. These men ought 10 hide
their diminished heads They ought 10
get a permit from the Avalanche TO exist
Shine on. thou great sky blue light