The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-03-03
A BIRDS EYE ASPECT.
GLANCE ALONG THE SURFACE OF
THE GREAT POLITICAL POOL.
The Waters Appear Calm and Undis-
turbed. but Forces from Both Parties
Line the Shores With Cart Loads OF
Rocks to Heave In.

ural eye can discern. Apply the field
glass, however, and powerful undercur-
rents may be seen lashing themselves into
fury. This is an eventful year for the
country, in political sense, and more es-
pecially this favored section. II there is
any one thing the American citizen likes
more than another II is agitation Of the
political waters; consequently he Is glad
TO be living in this present year Of 1888.
Casting his intuitive eye hence few
months, he secs the mighty struggle TO
purify the county court OF Shelby. He
sees also an onslaught on an army Of as
pirants against the breastworks surround
ing the offices OF sheriff, trustee, chancery
judge and assessor. He beholds vast
array OF noble martyrs who affect to be-
lieve and mako others believe that the
public is in sackcloth and ashes, imploring
them TO take the reins, salaries and per-
quisites and paddle the dug out OF state
safely from out the breakers OF corruption.
And he further sees these noble and self
sacrificing patriots consulting the oracles,
beseeching them 10 smile benignly upon
the country until they can take hold OF
these patriots decline to serve? The mil
lennium has not yet dawned. He does not.
In this part Of the great State Of Tennes-
see there is notable distinction between
the two ruling parties other than the rec
cognized issues dividing them. This ID
their generalship and organization. Here
In the Republicans have a slight advant-
age, but somehow fail 10 make II count
when the battle is pitched The head,
front and full weight Of authority Is lodged
with not exceeding one dozen souls.
When manipulation OF forces for struggles
becomes necessary these dozen gentlemen
ten white and two colored-surround
themselves by the seclusion OF rcar-room,
prepare their edict, make IL known by So
cret emissaries and the work Is done. This
has its advantages, for there can be little
or no vague misapprehensions and loss OF
sleep over troubled minds. The rank and
file Of colored constituents and white con-
tingents fall into line a. naturally rs tho
fellow who made bis bed on log over
stream OF water and rolled off, Factions
and deserters are unknown 10 any appre-
cable extent That they fail 10 countu upon
How is II with their opponents7 Not well,
by d. s., though they generally follow in
the steps Of the bed bug and get
there at tho proper time. On .
close calculation there are at present
forty-nine separate and distinct factions;
each faction has it's leader, Its idea Of how
the machine should be run, and Is divided
into innumerable smaller rings Above
all these there is one recognized monarch
or regent, 10 whom all 20 with grievances
and suggestions. II he does not satisfacto-
rily point out that the string Of patronage
Ii long enough 10 encircle and gather them
all into the fold, his name is Dennis. Now
Dennis has been In the ring long time,
and Is onto the boys little racket Dennis
il, therefore, not Dennis, not II he knows
himself. An APrKAL reporter hss sought
this man Dennis many times and oft OF
late, and departed with the Same startling
pointers "I'm surveying the waters, don1
you knowf The oufposts have begun %
move about mystcriously, and poke their
sticks into the wsten 10 set the waters In
motion, but II don't 70, don't you know.
They stir up few bubbles, initiate them q
best they can, then sit down on the hank
and wait for the frail little craft 10 spread
Il over all the surface. There is IN explo-
sion, heard half an inch away, and the dis.
turbance Is heard no more. That's all
there Is al present But wen get the COM
motion yet as my name Is not Dennis"
But when Il comes TO prognostlcating for
the Stale and country ut large, this gentle
man, whose name Is not Dennis, throws
out solid slices Of wisdom from his stand
point. He opens his mouth and says
1--WE arc In q pcrilous plight Between
Taylor, Atkins and Mcconnell for Cover
nor, where will We weigh anchor7 have
been In these woods many moons and can
reason from the standpoints OF experiences
and observation. Dear mel In 1850, We
made the fatal mistake OF relegating Gov.
Marks TO the shades OF his law Office, and
with him the Democratic party for sea-
son. Alvin Hawkins jumped onto tho
gubcmatorial chair with both feet Two
years thereafter we fsbcd for that same
chair with William ID. m Bate, and landed
the fish. We have kept Il In the trap ever
since. II Is now proposed 10 open the gate
and see II our game Is sufficiently domes-
ticated 10 be allowed q little freedom
These dsrned Republican fishermen arc
hiding near the bank, and the moment
they see the fab stick It's nose out they'll
throw him hook baited with prohibition,
and dang my buttons II don't believe
it'll grab on. in the struggle that'l II follow,
there IL danger OF knocking the trap 10
splinters. That's Just what they're alter.
Suppose the presidential contest turns
upon Tennessee, and our trap 10 gobbled
by the Republicans. Man alivel It's ave-
full TO contemplate, and not al all improb-
able" 4 lI.l
"This man Cleveland Is a wonderful
prodigy politically speaking" remarked .
leading Republican, who don't talk poll
tics, TO an ArrEAL reporter yesterday.
mot more than eight years old, no has
| grip on the trousers Of the Democratic
party that cannot be looscncd without
losing the trousers. Truly, no "a power
| ful force-more 10 than the great mass
Of the people give him credit Tor being
| He was sharp enough 10 sec the coming
issue and seize Il by the horns. That issue
In free trade and protection, at present SUI
gar-coated by the appellation tariff re-
form Great industry, this sugar busi-
ness. Maybe any other man Of fine intel
| ligencc, with the same opportunity 40
| Cleveland, would have gone down into the
sugar hogshead. brought forth n handful
and thrown Il all over the issue with tho
same success, but II was<his destiny, don't
you know. Now, he Is tho party. lie has
framed the platform and planted his big
feet right In the center, erecting a wire
fence TO keep OF intruden. All this
convention business arranged 10 como
OF at 81 Louis Is mere
matter Of form, and useless. II cannot
do otherwise than promulgato tho
Cleveland platform and 60 before tho
country with him at the wheel. Then
| uhai'a tho uaa of e.afuU 40 Tho axnanaa ~