Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-05-11
pe.titutlen i'm the country.
GKRxAxrovS. May 9. ~


EDITOR LEDGER: A controversy un-
sought Involving the interest of large,
respected, and respectable, but destitute
class of citizens), has been, it seems,
choked of BY some connected with. the
nress at Memphis, influenced, perhaps, by
misrepresentatisn This occurs at a
time when a coucealment of facts is most
damaging 10 this class, and destructive
10 the interests of their plans A few
have succeeded in getting in print, and
before the public eye misrepresentation
and fals.hoods, while this class, the in
terest of whom the few would destroy,
have ret the pecunisry ability (thouEh
thew have the facts) with which to right
themselves in public print and obtain
help in the manner they propose.
Fearfully disjointed are the times,
when thoughts unbidden rise, having
the coloring of fscts-that perhaps the
press is subsidizedI and in the interest
Of the few, will disregard the wishes Of
the many. Or perhaps the time has
come when the interest Of the merchant
and the farmer does conflict. Is there
in sll your city not one paper which does
interest itself in behalf of this class,
hard working farmers) who must event
nally. after time sufficient has elapsed
for them to adapt themselves 10 the new
order OF things, control to great ex.
tent the interests of the South2 Many
Southern men cannot, or will not, un-
derstand the difficulties attendant upon
the transit from one system Of labor TO
auother; nor the fearful ordeal through
which many small farmers (once large
plan,ers) are passing now. Months ago
some ate their last piecs OF meat, some
have already fed their last feed of corn,
and are now baking into bread their last
bushel of meal. These are facts that
can be substantidted. And shall we
conceal them because some few, who have
the means to live (but nothing to spare),
think it is humiliating to publish these
ttu,hs2 Yesterday heard gentleman
(who, with his two boys, has in cultiva-
ton between forty and FIFTY acres Of corn,
and some few acres in cotton) say that,
on account ofthe amount ofrain we have
had. his crop was little in grass, but
now when the ground was in condition
for the pillow, bis meal vas all gone, his
meal was gone, and had but four bushels
Of corn on which to feed his horses. He
had the day before gone TO erery one OF
whom he thought he might get help, but
could get it not What to do he knew
not; was disheartenedi could think OF
no other plan than TO leave his family land
cronl 10 shift as best il could with the
WORK of the beys, and he strike cut for
some other country, where, perhaps, be
could make something TO support his
family on. This man Is not alone. Many
are in ike condition. And these are the
Kind Of men upon whose shoulders rests
the deliverspcs Of orr wasted helds, as
mach As upon thosevho york their capital
in the psrssns Of hired leborers. And
this il the class we want you TO gse Z
chance 10 vindicate themselves against
charges Of pAuperism, Of being impos'
tors and thieves; men whose lnruencs
must and will be felt, when under then
hands our fertile lands shall be made Z
yield sbuudantly their products, ane
when golden hued fields Of ripeniug graiI
shall proclaim SelfSustsining country
DEsTITBTE
We think our correspondent is mis-
taken, 90 far as the Conservative pres
Of Memphis at least is concerned, il
sspposing that disposition exists q
neglect or ignore any interests. an
especially those Of our poorer and nor
destitute fellow citizens NisinfOrmAiiO
may have caused neglect Bat nOthin
nore il possible. We say this in sheS