Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-10-24
Tue Avalanche and the Shelby
County Platform.

"As Judge Wright showed this talk OF
Patterson, and the red-handed oommunis-
tic platform of the Shelby county Egypt
ians, is the lowest grade Of demagogy. y
Avalanche, 24th inst
Red-handed communstic platform, is
it2 Let us see what it is for:
l. 1t reafiirms the June platform.
2. 1t opposes monopolies, exlusive rights
and class legislation.
3. Lo bies that sell their influence 10
corrupt the due course Of Legislatures.
4. Git rides and free passes to members
of the Legislature-by railroads-as an
indirect means of influencing legislation,
5 That corporations are not created to
take part in politics, and that to vote or
shape legislation is not corporate fran
ehise.
6. That the 1908 iniquity was the first
of such corporate abuse, and should rouse
the people to a sense of the danger from
this source.
I. That corporations are the creatures
of civil government, and not the bosses Of
the people.
8. That law should be passed creating
a board to supervise railway corporations;
and that discriminations..f ..for and against
localities whereby these corporations are
the pluckers, and the people the plucked,
should be forbidden by suitable legisla.
tion.
8. That the illegal political assessment
system on office holders, to perpetuate
party power, is a crime to be punished and
not supported.
10, That those convicted of infamous
-, nh Il. IL
trades and professions, TO bring them in
competition and contact with our citizens
and mechanics in pursuit of their daily
bread.
H. For so molding legislation as the
better to protect labor from the illegal
exactions Of capital.
II. For the most efficient lien law for
the collection of debts due for labor and
materials.
10. For the correction of the abuses in
the collection of the poll tax.
IA. That our free schools should be fos-
tered as the sheet anchor of the State.
10. For free speech and free ballot.
l6 That government is a trust, and
should, in a republic, secure the greatest
good TO the greatest numter.
H. A cordial invitation TO all who find
more in this declaration of principles that
suits them than in any other platform, to
unite with us.
That is all. Now the Avalanche calls
this "red handed communism and the
loyestu grade of demagogy," 1t says
Judge Wright has shown it.
We deny the charge of communism
We deny that this is the lowest grade of
demagogy. We invite the people to
read and see if this is not declaration of
principles in their favor. 1t aims not TO
take away any mans property, but TO cor
rect tho'e abuses whereby the great masses
are kept poor, and the few reach such CO.
lOssal wealth that single man owns more
than all the people of whole State. 1t
is a sound maxim that those laws are best
whose operation make none too rich and
nonetoo poor.
We invite the people to watch well the
course Of paper that thus assails and
denounoes q policy suited to a republic,
and thereby iavors, as logical result, n
policy which will foster and fatten a
favored few,
The Avalanche Is in eclipse, II labors
under some spell 1t throws its influence
for monepolies, for lobbics, for the free
pass system. for unbridled license to rail-
way corporations to pluck and plumber
What has come DER the spirit of its
drcamY Why this great change2 The
advocate of the Gould methods, the apol-
ogist of Vanderbilt.
The people are thankful for the charities
Of these gigantic millionaires. But they
are not yet ready to sell out THEN dearest
rights for these charities.
Mr., Vanderbilt is reported recently "a