Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-03-02

A public meeting was held in Giles county a
few days since, and the following preamble
and resolutions adopted:
WHEREAS, The Supreme Court of Tennessee, at
the present term have declared the If the last
legislature, approved April 6. 1881, entitled AN
ness OF the State of Tennessee" unconstitutional.
and therefore, void; and, whereas, the effect OF
said decision is to remand the question of settle
ment of the debt back to the people; therefore
Resolved. That the people OF Giles county, in
faction and acquit scence in the action of the Su-
preme Court in rendering said decision: and
settlement of the State debt OF Tennessee upon
such terms as will be fair and just to our cred
itors and at the same time satisfactory to the PEG
Res0lred That we recognize the fact that the re-
suit of said decision will be of little avail To the
people II the Democratic party remain divlded,
and we hereby call upon all Democrats OF what
mon cause to restore the Democratic party to
power throughout the State and toward the settle
ment of the debt on fair and equitable basis.
Resolved That we call upon the executive COM
mittees OF the two different factions OF the De-
moeracy in Giles to meet together at such time as
they may see fit and proper for the purpose OF de-
yising means TO bring the entire Democracy of the
county into harmony of action in the next cam
paign.
This is the spirit which animates the
Democracy Of Shelby county, and-which
will be expressed in mass-meeting at no dis
tant day. The only impeachment to a COM
plete reorganization of the Democracy is TO
be found in the Wright Executive Commit
tee. II has been announced that several
members of that committee refuse to afiili-
ate with the boilers; that any recognition OF
the Wilson Executive Committee would
make boiling respectable and be a base be-
trayal of the trust imposed upon them by
the last Democratic convention. This spirit
is to be deplored, and we hope wiser coun-
sells will prevail. Fifty thousand Democrats
voted for Wilson, and if the principle shall
be adopted, that for this act they are to be
shut out from the Democratic councils it
will distranchise large portion of the
party. In the last contest the
APPEAL condemned the fatal policy of the
boilers. But at the same time it believed,
with 10000 of the Democrats who zealously
supported Wright, that the convention which
nominated him committed grave and mex
cusable errors. An overwhelming majority
Of the Democrats who supported Wright
will most earnestly and strenuously protest
against any ouch exclusion as has been pro-
posed. There are to-day just as good Demo-
Gratis among the Wilson supporters those
who adopted a different view of their duty
in that unfortunate and disastrous campaign
Just as honest, just as sincere, just
as devoted to the Democratic cause
and TO refuse TO consult with them
in recognizing the party would be
a gross and inexcusable outrage. Both wings
of the Democratic party committed mistakes
in the last contest, and the breach can only
be healed by the two executive committees
meeting together and uniting in a call for a
State convention. 1t is only by such conces-
sion that the party can stand together in sup
port of the same ticket. If the Democratic
party of Tennessee is to be rescued from an
other disaster; if it would save itself from
peril, it must aim to forgive and forget the
past; to liberalize its ruling councils; to
broaden its organization so as to take in all
Democrats without regard to past differences.
The folly of INDUCING in internecine strife is
too apparent to need any discussion at our
hands, and we believe we utter the almost
opinion of the Democracy of
Tennessee, when we say that they do
not intend to permit the political power Of
on account of any unseemly dissensions in
their own household. The great and over
majority in the Democratic ranks
care only for the great. principles OF their
party, and not merely for men. While they
respect and cling to leaders who have been
honest and faithful to their party, they only
recognize them as the means of promoting
party success, and advancing party princi-
pies, and maintaining party organization.
Hence, in the selection of any Democratic
official, the JeffersouIan standard-"Is he
honest; is he capable ?"-sheuld be the main
question asked; not what leader he trains
with, or what man or set of men he chooses
to follow. Factions have DESTROYED the
strongest organizations, and if they are per-
mitted to grow up rankly in the Democratic
party in this State, the day is not far dis
tant VIII en- the scepter of power will pass into
the hands of the opposition. To avert this
dire calamity should be the earnest
labor of every true Democrat. Through
"union and harmony" alone can this import
ant end DE reached. Ia Inv oklus tIIslI
slant presence in our councils We are only
performing slhPle Ouly, HoM which We
dare not shrink as Democratic journalists. A
little calm reflection will, we trust, induce
the Wright Executive Committee to view this
question in its proper light, and join with the
Democracy OF Tennessee in uniting around
a common altar in order to save the State
from the rule OF the Republican party,
which, in the Southern States, has heretofore
been synonymous with ruin.