Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-06-15
MANNING AND CHALMERS.

tuctuSctNcs as c'sipludleS lOE congress IN the
Second Mississippi Congressional district, and
the contest will assume a national impor-
lance. Both are men of ability, eloquent
speakers, and as both are training for the
fight, a brilliant canvass may be expected.
The contest involves many personal issues,
and as both men aggressive in debate,
courageous in the expression of their
opinions, qsick 10 resent personal afront,
and are men of great nerve there is immi-
nent danger OF personal collision. Already
the muttering thunders Presage the coming
storm. Even before the canvass opens
feeling of asperity has been developed, and
it is easy TO see the end unless wiser coun-
sells prevail. 1t is hoped That the friends
of both candidates will interpose and see to
il that the canvass be Invested of its per-
sonality, and conducted on The highest prin-
ciples of courtesy. This should be done be-
fore the passions of men are iBAamed. As
the Second Mississippi Congressional dis
trict is a near neighbor to Memphis, and its
people make this city their trading point, it
is not surprising that our people should feel
a deep interest in the contest between Man
ming and Chalmers. The APPEAL partak,s
of this feeling, and as it has a larger circu-
lation in the Second district than any other
newspaper, it will not be silent observer of
the contest. We are surprised to learn that
the little the APPEAL has said as to this cleo
ton has been construed an Enforcement of
General Chalmers's course. As matter Of
news and public interest, we have opened
the columns of the APPEAL to General
Chalmers, and will continue to do 30 in the
future. We have also spoken kindly
Of him personally, and will continue to
do so. for however much we may deplore his
dissfft ction, we cannot find it in our heart
to assail a man who has been our comrade
in war and our political coadjutor for nearly
thirty years. While the halIowed memories
of the past inspire a loving kindness
for General Chalmers and will prevent
the expression of any unkindness
toward him personally, we are constrained |
by our duties as a journalist to con-
denim his course and oppose his election to
Congress. Van H. Manning has been al
faithful member of Congress. He possesses |
ability, industry and energy, and has been |
vigilant, prompt and efficient as a member |
of that body. Even if General Chalmers |
had remained the faithful and I'M
swerving Democrat upon whom the |
people once leaned in confidence |
and delighted to honor, there would |
be no justice in giving him the place so
satisfactorily filled by Mr.. Manning. But
now that he expects an election by the Re-
publican vote no true Democrat can con-
sistently vote for him, and General Chalmers
will learn before the close of the canvass
that in his disafection he will be hated by
his old party associates in the same proper
ton that he was honored and admired while
faithful to his party. General Chalmers
has made the greatest mistake of his life,
and his desertion of his party has caused his
friends in Mississippi and throughout the
South unspeakable pain. Travellers in
Europe never weary in describing the elo-
quent ruins-the castle whose roofess ban
quet hall and Shiny donjon-keep tell
OF nights of wassail or woe; of an epoch of
brutality, rapine and oppression, or perhaps
some shattered abbey, fitting monument of
betrayed religion and age of spiritual
darkness. Restoring nature may have ten
derby retouched the work of destroying time.
But these ruins still preach sermons of more
pathos and beauty and power than
the perfect structure ever told. General
James R. Chalmers, in the ruins of his po-
litical fortunes, teaches the same sad story.
By his fidelity to his party he sprang into
the very highest prominence of public life.
His lucky star gave him, while yet in his
prime, prominence, honors and opportunities
th at few men are permitted to reach after
lifetime Of patient toll. He possessed abil-
ity, capacity, ambition and much of
the inspiration of eloquence. He be-
cine at once a leader, the hope of
his party, the cynosure of the Mis-
sissippi Democracy. But he has wasted
his noble inherltage, lost his splendid oppor- 6
tunities. The illustrious temple of his fame, I
30 far as his public life is concerned, is de- t
laced and crumbling ruin. According to
his own explanations, his devotion to the 1
Democratic party is measured by the desire c
ol the party to see that he gets Office. He t
went to bed a Democrat, but arose in the a
morning an enemy TO the Democratic party, i
aud dressed himself in a new suit. The d
naturalists tell US that when the spring toad
irst crawls out he does not like to make his O
appearance in society till he has thrown off a
lis old, WORKOUT garments and put en- new F
,nes, and he begins by pressing his elbows C
bard against his sides and, rubbing down
ward, he kicks until the skin on the back
bursts, and then he works it into folds on
his sides and hips; now grasping one hind t
eg with his hands he hauls eff one leg of d
Al L. | .
He next takes the cast-off cuticle and swal- b
lows it with croak of satisfaction. Cen 5
.ral Chalmers is turning to Republican by e
he same process, and he will soon be found s.
wallowing his old Democratic epidermis Il
which he used to regard as a coat of mail. v
General Chalmers will find to his sorrow
that he is mistaken if he supposes Dem G
,crats will hearken TO him when he bland b
" says he is Democrat. He will be sup
,orted in his factious contest by the Repub- c.
leans, and if elected he would be the repre- a
entaiive of Radicalism as truly as though c.
lie were the regular nominee of the party b
We have carefully studied the reasons a
which General Chalmers give to sustain his Fl
actious course, with the hope of finding tC
omething that would justify US in continu- C,
ug the support We have always given him. el
Bat in all our experience in politics we p
AVE never seen the desertion of party W
'redicated on such himsy reasons as those h
iven by General Chalmers. His complaint N
4 the Democratic party for not filibustering ell
n his interest is silly and ridiculous, for his m
loom was sealed, and any effort TO prolong ia
he agony would have been as farcical as the ii
'etulant complaints of a man about TO be Ii
Hanged over the dinner which had been fur b
,ished him. If General Chalmers had been al
my other Democrat he would have been al
'usted out of his seat in Congress, be
md to desert the Democratic party tn
because it would not tilibuster TO proloDg
be contest is that sort of revenge which Don
cameron threatens when he says to the Re- iii
'ublIcans OF Pennsylvania, that if they do at
lot sustain him in the election of his ticket OF OF
e will oppose protective tariff and turn II,