Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-04-04
Written for the Sunday Appeal
THE LATE J. II. MCMAHON.
A TrIbute of Friendship.
BY LEON. TROUsDALE.

nN Il
town of Franklin, county Of William
son. on the 5th of April, 1872 At th
time of his death, he was consequently
in his 57th year. At an early age he
was entered in the Office of Henry Van
Pelt. Esq, as an apprentice to the print
ing business. Mr.. Van Pelt was an able
and distinguished editor and one Of the
most genial of gentlemen. The friend
shin formed between him and young
MeMahon was Of the most sincere,
kindly and lasting character, never suf-
fering the slightest interruption, from
the many fierce political contests ID
which they subsequently engaged as ed
itors respectively of the APPEAL and
Enquirer at Memphis. 1t is strik-
ing proof Of the independent character
of the Young protege and, at the same
time of that unalterable fxedness Of
friendship which be cherished, that in
the division of parties In this State, first
into Jackson and anti-J ackson and sub
seouently into Whig and Democratic, he
held fast to his political convictions,
while he never turned his back upon his
old friend. The first newspaper estab-
lished by the young printer and editor
was called the q Truth Teller 1t was
nublished at Jackson, then a rising VII
iage. and celebrated for no little Of talent
at the bar and other professions and for
the enterprise Of its merchants. 1t was
Whig in politics, and was unquestlouabiy
one Of those strong germs of Whlggery
which afterwards grew to such staiwart
proportions In the State. In 1886 the
Truth Teller warmly espoused the cause
of Hugh L. White against Martin Van
Rrren. 1t was in that campaign that
Mcmahon won his reputation for an able
and eloquent political writer and at
+-acted towards him the esteem and ad-
miration Of the great Wing leaders Of
the State. In 1886 he went out as a
voIupteer to the Florida (SeminOle) War,
having been chosen to command a com
c.nv in Col. A. B. BradfOrd's regiment,
bv his comrades from Jackson. After
an exDerienee Of considerable excite
mont and some tedium in the hammOeks
of Florida. during which some three or
four battles and skirmishes were fought
almost breast deep IN water, IN which
Mcmahon and his company bore an hon
orable part. he returned to Tennessee
and having been solicited to take charge
of the Republican Bonner, then the
central Wing organ of the State, he re-
moved to NashaSle and for a year and (
half bore the brunt Of political and par
tisan warfare; after which he removed
70 Memphis, then small trading town
ot the mouth Of Wolf This was abou
the wear 1888. He soon after Joined
nasT composed of Mr. Dooley, the lat
mo B. Moseley and B. F. Dill in estab
fishing the Memphis Enquirer. 1t wa
a journal for the times, racy and redo
lent of genius. Its columns sparkie'
with the best effusions OF Mcmahon
fertile mind and the highest inspiration
of his eloauence. Fact and fancy wer
so blended and interviewer as to Great
lights and shadows in the political land
seape which more resembled the fairy
like creations Of the painter, with tn
warm coloring Of a fervid, yet chast
fancy. the far-reaching perspective OF
noIitical philosopher, the pure Englls
Re an Addison or a Goldsmith and th
b;oh purCose and burning enthusiasm
6oet. No man was ever more devote
TO the Wing party, yet none ever nor
scorned the mere trickery and Intrigu
of partv management. SO jealous W;
he to push his party upon It's own merl
and to 90 before the country, relyln
upou truth and reason TO win his TT
umph, that he came near, on more tina
one occasion, kicking the party trace
Vet he never dreamed Of dislQyalty
Wbiggery. Ifhe had been driven to carr
ont bis purpose, he Yould have rebul
the Wing altars IN his own househol
and erected therein the statue Of Harr
oP the West as the patron saint Of b
oa,se and Chevalier Bayard Of his ina
;ns+;on His horror of Democracy W
e,IIv eonal to his love for Whiggery.
he ever used the choicest expietlFes
social life, it was When he referred to {
Democracy, which he averred had rum
the country. While doing so earnest
and as irmly-rooted conviction, 1t "
always said, without ofense to those vi
knew him and differed from him. I
these occasions of unreserve, he III
formIv avoWed himself Hamiltonian
principle, expressing the belief th
nothing but a strong Government cou
ever save the Republic.
Col. Mcmahon was subsequently co
nected with the Eagle and Eaq'ir
and was the founder of the hempl
Morninq Bulletin, in whose Paterni
he took great pride. All Of these Jo'
nails not only played conspicuous p
in the political contests of the State,
also contributed their full share Of lal
and ability in building up the industri