Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-05-25
THE MEMPHIS FOOLS.

Tit letter of Gen. Lee TO the Memphis
Convention was not one which equired
any particular notice from anybody.
With better and better taste than
the Convention displayed, he carefully
confined himself TO q mere formal dec
lnstion, and said nothing which needed
10 be applauded by any one. But, be-
cause he had been n conspicuous rebel,
and for no other conceivable reason, his
empty letter was not only read but re-
ceived with peculiar applause.
What asses some Of these Southern men
arel If they do not know that one such
piece Of stupidity does more to drive
away from them the only aid and sup
port which can ever Lift them out Of their
troubles. than all their Conventions and
resolutions can do 10 attract that aid, they
are in a fair way tO.learn the truth bv bit
ter experience, Nothing can save Mem
phfs but the sympathy and cooperation
of the Northwest. Nothing can secure its
railroad facilities and revive its business
but the aid Of loyal men. Nothing can
open the Mississippi Valley 10 the life
giving Of the Northwest but
the support and aid Of men whO have no
sympathy with Gen. Lee. When men
from Memphis, or other Southern States,
90 before the next Congress asking aid for
railroad projects, or for the improvement
of the river. OF for other commercial ne
eessities, they viii be met with the report
of their stupid performance in Conven-
ton over the empty letter of Gen. Lee.
Such in~troductions give very little prom
Use of any good TO grow out Of these
Southern Commercial Conventions.
We reproduce the above from the
St. Louis Democrat Of Thursday. for
the benefit of the merchants of Mem
phis who have 50 constantly, steadily
and persistently traded with st. Louis.
We are denounced as fools merely be-
caused we hailed with applause the
letter Of the ecatest soldier Of his
time, and greeted his name with the
respect with which, We imagine, the old
Continentals received that Of WASH
INGToN. In any a~ssemblage of South
ern and Northern gentlemen, whether
il be gathered for social or commercial
purposes, we trust the name o flee viii
ever be received with profound respect
and cheers, and every evidence of
gratitude that can show forth what
we all feel for him who is first in the
hearts of his countrymen. So far,
thank God, Memphis has been saved,
not by any help from the Northwest,
but by the labor, the energy and the
sagacity of her merchants, Of her
tradesmen, mechanics and labOring
men, united to the good viii Of the
farmers and planters Of the surround
ing country, as independent to-day as
any similar body in the Union. And
when we approach Congress and ask
aid and right of way for the Memphis
and Fl Paso Railroad, we shall do 50
upon grounds that we imagine viii eb
effective Notwithstanding our love for
Gen. LEE, Ex-President DAVIS,
Gen. BREcKINRIDGE, or any of the
great Worthies Of the late Confederacy,
whose names were as loudly appIauded
by the Republicans of the Convention
as by those who fought under the ban
ners Of the South. We shall ask that
Congress grant aid and right Of way
for the Memphis and FL Paso Pacific
Railroad, because the interests, not
alone of Memphis, demand it, but
those Of California, New Mexico, Ari-
zona, Texas, Arkansas, Tennessee,
Keatueky, Alabama, Mississippi,
Georgia, the carolinas and Virginia,
comprising a population Of 1000 600, |
or nearly one third that Of the Onion.
do not see how the performance of
the Commercial Convention in very
properly cheering when Gen. LEES
name was mentioned, can affect the
We hope aud VIII labor for; and
none but a bigot, q Radical seeking
occasion Of opposition to the interests