The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-12-28
A Free Fight for All.

Dresden Enterprise: The next Legis-
lalure will be called on to elect a
United States Senator, a Comptroller
and o Treasurer, In addition to minor
officers connected with its organ'La.
tion. II is, OF couTse, unanimously
conceded that none but Democrats
should or could be elected to these
offices. The chief interest Ia conferred
upon the Office Of United States Sena-
tor, and there are some seven or eight
avowed and possible candidates for
this position OF high honor, The
Democracy OF all these candidates
has too long bsen tried to be ques-
toned for moment, and whoever is
elected among them will never prove
false TO the party thus honoring him.
We take IL that, 80 far as Democratic
loyalty is concerned, all these di,tin-
Cuished candidates are on an equal
footing. In the next Legiela ure the
Democratic majority on joint ballot
will be thiity.six. This majority is 30
overwhelming as TO preclude the posi-
biity OF the election OF any but q
Democrat, and one strong reason for
the necessity Of caucus does not
exist in the present instanc. As
no party intertet is 10 be served
by q caucus, and as ali the
candidates for Senator are eqnal
in party Iealty, and equally deserving
OF the honor they feeE, it seems to us
that the fair thing would be a free and
open race for all. The party would
thus be treating its candidates Impair
tally and would cement them TO 1t
Instead OF repelliDg them. OF course
but one man can he elected Senator,
and there is bound to be a number Of
disappointed candidates who will have
the sympathy OF their respective fol
lowiDps. Is II not wise party policy
TO 80 treat all these Contending Gle
ments as 10 make them feel that,
though they were defeated, 1t was
fairly and openly done without any
resort to star chamber tactics2 What
will best strengthen the party and
subserve Its intelests2 is the rara-
mount question, not what candidate
shall receive the coveted hoHor2 which
ia purely a personal consideration.
There is no party principle involved
in the caucus question; 1t is merely a
question OF eKpediency; and 1t is the
height OF folly 10 make 1t a test OF De-
moCIacy, 40 some are trying to do. So
far as the utteTances and actions OF the
party are concerned, the caucus has
never been o favorIte part tf its ma
chinery. 1t will be remembered that
| a resolution iavoring caucuses WIS in
tioduced in our last State Convention,
and 1t was promptly and emphat cally
dislpproved as rule that could be
safely prescribed. Were there the TO-
hottest possibility Of Democratic de-
leaf in the next Legislature, there
would be some occasion for Demo
cratic caucus--a piece Of machinery
that is only called into use under
very exceptional circumstances when
the success OF the rarity IN meneced.
without pretending 10 know which
candidate, or set Of Candidates, wou d
be benefi ed by a caucus, we are d.
Cidedly Of the opinion that broad,
conservi tive spirit should control the
party-thst spirit which is manifested
by i'm artial treatment Of Democrats
seeking It's honoIs. Any policy adopt
ed for The exclusive bsngh Of any ont
| faction can do nothing but brew diScoaten
and Wedksn The parry. such Is the eau
Gus now contemplated, and as such II
ahould he disspproved,