Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-08-07
NEYER-MOORE
Will Hon. William IL. Save the
Country Again.

Inc Following letter TO captain
Garrett, of this city, explains itself:
"WAsHIEGToN, Augusta, 1882.
Hon. s. s. Garrett, Chairman etc;
"MY DEAR SIR-I have the honor
to acknowledge the receipt of your
esteemed favor of the 9th ultimo,
asking if it be my intention to stand
for denomination, etc. 1t will be re-
membered that at the last convention
in our district | was nominated with
out my knowledge or consent, and
only consented after mature and seri
GUS deliberation to make the race,
because at that time il seemed almost
certain that the election of a single
Republican would decide the political
complexion of the Forty. seventh
Congress.
"The more reflected the more l
was impressed with the profound i'm
portance to all material interests of
the country OF the defeat of tie Bour-
bon bulldozing and tissue ballot De-
mocracy, and so feeling, entered upon
the fight, with what vigor and what re
suit the country is already familiar l
do not believe, in view of the rowing
spirit of progress, that the next:Con
gresg is likely to be controlled by so
slender Republican majority, and
am firmly persuaded that our own
district for many reasons will send my
successor to Washington with Re.
publican majority much larger than
| that which cent myself Believing this,
and having no political ambition to
crafty, have determined that under
no circumstances will | be a can
didate for re election. AS to any
desire for vindication of my official
conduct during the present term by
& second Endorsement at the polls, /
can truly say that having at all times
done what seemed to me for the best
interests of the country. | am quite
content that those who have already
so highly honored me may in the quiet
years that are to come imparlially
make up aud render their verdict,
never myself forgetting meanwhile the
deep sense of my own fallibility. Ii
anything could induce me to seek a
second term it would be the very
many gratifying expressions of conf
dence which pour in upon me, rot
only from our own district, but
from all parts of Tennessee and the
country. But desiring no official
honors, and knowing that we have
abler and better men whose tastes in
cline them to public prefermeut, l
shall gladly retire. am not 50 blind
ed by the Establishments of brief au-
thority as 70 imagine that my course
has pleased everybody. Indeed, |
have not found it possible to please
even myself. l am proud, however,
that my habit has been to make
war on policies, not upon individuals (;
to fight in an open field, not from be-
hind masked batteries, and that no
man, whether political friend or foe,
has ever for a moment found difficulty
in exactly locating me. Therefore, if
have been relentless apd unyield.
ing foe to Bourbon Democracy, it is
because Of its constant, violent and
vindictive opposition to every form OF
national material development and hu.
man progress. IT | have made con
tinued and vigorous warfare on its
narrow and exclusive policy, those
who know me best will not charge that
1t has been done for personal profit
1t | have fought the proscriptive
methods Of any Bourbon newspaper
that has thought proper to advocate,
by name, the expulsion OF respectable
citizens from my own city and district,
solely because they were Republicans,
! have done so at great personal cost,
and only because my ingrained love Of
justice and fair play to all classes Of
my fellow citizens wsuld not suffer me
to remain silent. If ! have
hated With a perfect hatred the
savage temper that has animated that
conscienceless party. il is bfealse it
has encouraged and tacitly, It not
openly, indorse1 all over the beautiful
Southland that dia6eS,H;oal spirit which
insPiTea the K. X. K, that stul.. I'D 4
ballot boxes With fraudulent tissue
ballots, that scared and drove out
honest voters from the polls, and
burned the school houses of poor,
dOisnseless polered people who were
innOcently seeking, ip q laudable and
lawful way, to build up and elevate
their lowly condition. If l have
striven with what feeble ability |
could command to defeat their
attempts to degrade the honor and
credit OF my State, and to disintegrate.
belittle and bring iuto disreputc the