The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-10-14
An APPEAL FROM DEMOCRATS To
DEOOCRAlS.

OF Shelby county, series o. RESOLUTIONS en- |
bmcing propositions appruycdby rs, because |
We believed them 20 be Democrats, as they |
were important aud timely was submitted |
IN good iaith to that body for consideration |
by individuals who, n loyal alhcrcnts 10 |
the cause OF Democracy, had earned the |
right 10 petition the convention OF the |
party. Those resolutions set forth the nccc,' |
sity Tor the passage and enforcement OF such |
laws rs would tend to regulate the liquor |
traffic. The petitioners fclt sure Of cour- |
tcous aud respectful audience, os within the |
past year HOO votes had been cast
and counted In Tennessee, most OF which |
| by Democrats, not Tor the mere rcguln.
! ton, but for the absolute prohibition Of the
| liquor traffic Thi, assurance was strength.
| cncd hy the recollection that during The
| heated struggle upon the issue 80 squarcly
made by the submission OF the prohibition
amendment many eminent Democratic ora.
tors and influential Democratic journals
! among them the most conspicuous was that
| great leader Of Democratic Journals, III,
| Memphis Appeal - declared themselves in
favor Of high license aud local option. BE
You'd the significance of these expressions,
We, IN Tennessee Democrats, have no chart
bywhich We can be- guided The party plat.
forms have been silent upon the subject, not.
withstanding the question oi the regulation
Of the liquor traffic i one oi government
and properly one for party consideration.
The Democrats and Republicans Of other
States have considered the subject aud
taken position ono way or the other Rccog-
niaing these things and particularly the
fact that the State platforms had left the
members OF the party free TO think aud
speak upon the issue which has forced itself
upon the public mind, we, ~ Democrats, APP
proycd the presentation 81 the resolutions tu
the convention Of shelby county. For thus
exercising an inairnablc right OF free ciii-
ycnship rs JciIcryDninn Democrats, we Wcrc
charged upon the floor at the convention, by
a delegate, with introducing iircbmni into
the Democratic convention, and those rcso.
lulions we're kicked aside 10y this so-cnllcd
Democratic convention without even the
scant courtesy Of formal reference TO .
committee We yield 10 no man upon the
floor of that convention In admiration 81
aud devotion 10 the Democratic party and
/ Democratic principles. The paper offered,
! coming NJ II did from true Democrats, was
, entitled 10 a respectful reception and CON
. sidcmcion. hut Il Is now apparent and ",
change Il as fact that the convention wa
forced. by the political bossism Of wei
known ring. 10 accept n prcnrrangcd tickc
Ia the interest Of -chcming politicians, e
the sacrifice Of the vital Interests Of our pco
. pie. The ticket 40 nominated, the PURPOSE
for which IL was made. aud the methods b!
which Il was done arc Objectionable In th,
u highest degree. The whole Transaction yio
J; lntes the fundamental principles of true d.
u mocmcy. threatens aud dcsadcs the part
integrity, and impcrils the public welfare
Believing then, as We believe now, that VIVA
the uetitlon contained was not only EN-
ncntly Dcmocmus but practicable an
necessary Tor the conservation u the pcac
and pr1,pcrity oi Tennessee, the lappincs
y u her people, n well as the pcrpc'uniio
!, IL true Democratic principles, the petition
"a err confidently relied upon our party trud
a. iiuny Ia guarantee respectful considerable
r. 81 tie petition. But instead. the pctitio
was unccremoniously refused considrratio
In by the convention. the petitioners part
fcalty challenged, aud hcir cNcommunic
ton. by plain inference, dccrccd. To be %
traclscd by men, whose Democracy in lar
II. part consists In scli.sccking and giving sa
n. hnrlnr 90 those elements Of society who
III lives and occupations are at war with all thi
- good men hold dear, and who have !
'o higher aim than 70 destroy every -aicgunf
a Of snbriciy anl obedience 10 wholc'nu
~ laws-this would be- no dishonor Hut Nh
this covert ostrici,m should be decrccd
the name Of Democracy j. Islander mp,
ell the party. an impeachment Of Democrat
~ manhood, an "oiIcnso that smell,
W heaven"
'y Justice wa never obtained by sdbmiol,
~, 10 a wrong We cannot believe tia, v
N. should tamely sabmit 10 party rcprimai
,ks aud abuse when We are innocent Of oncni
our and when. too, the right u ccnsurc and co
denim ~ nrrosaied by men who would n
the Democratic party solely 10 further y
M .,pnl ends We cannot aud we will u
on subwitt ~ such complete sacrifice of ~
'ly respect. OF 10 such n prostitution u Den
eIs crntic principles. The Democratic party
wv ono II measures, not men. Tho recent O.
,cption was convention Tor mon, !
measures. and was ~ manipulated aud @
we'd trnlled by designing men that u not OF
row i,p,rrd the resolutions to regHlais the liq
rattle but refused 10 consider the many
p,rlani questions ~ he brought before
lpe nest Legislature involving the material
forests ~ our county and people. n
Gained nominations by private pledge,