Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1885-11-26
nATE


The selection of q candidate to Oppose
Hadden is like the pursuit of knowledge
under difficulties, and affords as many
tribulations as Japhet experienced in
search OF his Iibidinous father. Like go
many sappers and miners, the opposition
are tickling the u~noffending earth in the
hope Of digging up a candidate, and every
few days they exclaim Eureka and there
is a general cackle oVer the discovery.
But this joy is of short duration, for the
new candidate declines, and then there is
another illustration of the m~utability OF
all earthly expectations. 1t does seem to
us that the people Of Memphis, taught in
the hard school of adversely, and after
starting the city in a new race to great-
ness, ought to rise above prejudices and
petty squabbles and unite on the officials
to be elected in January. So far as
the APPEAL is concerned, it is
ready to support the best man
without regard to party politics. Present
a better man for the sufTrsges of the pee
pie than David p. Hadden and he will re-
ceive the cordial support of the APPEAL,
regardless of party considerations, for if
there is any office which should be taken
out of the arena of craftsmanship it is that
of President Of the Taxing District. On
the contrary, it should be the farthest re-
moved from the Tancor and bitterness Of
political contention. 1t seems indeed
little less than a crime 10 drag politics
into such an office at such a time. As
public Office is a public trust the official
iucumbents are on constant trial befoie
the public, which is not slow to visit
censure on its servants. 1t ought to be
equally as prompt to award deserved
praise. Memphis is nov on the road 10
~unbounded pTospeTity-a prosperity un-
precedented in the history of the city.
How it got there is the question for the
people. Everybody comedies this honor to
the interchangeable labors Of DR.. D.. T. Porter.
1t was his business ssgaci'y, his energy
and his high order OF integrity that lifted
Memphis out of the Slough of Despond
and breathed into it the breath Of vigol-
GUS life. DR.. Porter has been to the pros
perity Of Memphis what Dewitt Clinton
was to the State of New York. By bis
ability, his energy, his public spirit and
his unfagging devotion and zeal in the
discharge Of grave and responsible duties
as the first president OF the Taxing Dis.
trict, and his fundamentally in securing
the passage Of the law which saved Mem
phis from inevitable ruin, he has eudeared
himself to a people who are ready to con-
struct a monument to perpetuale bis
name. His mantle iell upon the shoulders
OF David ?. Hadden, who has Eesloualy
labored to carry out the coed work begun
by his predecessor. The In ancial eondi-
ton OF the city, the streets that
have been paved under his adj
ministration, the well organized fire
and police departments attest the general
efficiency of his labors. 1t is something
to get a President Of the Taxing District
OF this character, and the people should
make no change Of proved capacity as a
mere experiment. II the tax-payins PEG.
pie Of Memphis can furnish a mere
efficient candidate they should present
him, for the terrible condition of Amer.
can cities comes from the indifference Of
taxpayers. A city cannot have cheap,
honest government without trusty officials.
These can only be secured by the vigilance
OF good citizens. The situation indicates
the reelection Of MADDEN. As he hiss
been tried for three years and the conceded
prosperity of the city, its great improve
ments and satisfactory management, dem
onstrates his efficiency, the people ae
acquiescing in the belief that it will be 10,
the besi interests of the city that he should
be again placed at the mead of its admins
tration.