Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-09-15
MEMPHIS.
As Seen by a Live, Mississippi


The following extracts are from an
editorial letter written by r. Walpole,
Esq. back TO his paper, the Central Star,
published at the thriving town of Good
man, on the Mississippi Central railroad
MEMPHIS. Tenn. August 10. 1870.
DEAR SIR: Perhaps no city in the
Southwest has made greater advance
ments in all that tends to render place
attractive to the business man, as well
as TO the man merely in pursuit OF plea
sure, than the bluff City" and we
take pleasure in recording fact so hon
orable TO her name We predict for her
a brilliant future. Her career is des-
tined to be marked by many glorious
enterprise in the field of honest en-
deavor. Capital is concentrating here
from every point Of the commercial
compass, and hence it is that her busi-
ness men are so we'll able TO give the
planter such remunerative prices
for his products, and TO the re-
tail dealer, from the interior,
the bargains in dry goods, groceries, ETC.,
which cannot but rebound to his interest
financially. Houses, there are here not
few, which will duplicate any bill made
in any city in the Union. 1t gives us
pleasure to speak thus of city so re-
nowned for the liberality of her mer-
chants, the enterprise of her citizens,
and the thorough conservatism Of spirit
which marks the bulk of her population
The result of the recent election here
clearly establishes the last proposition,
and we advise the readers Of the Star to
make note of il. Yes, in that election
Radicalism was driven from the field in
CONSERVATION and utter confusion. The
horse and his rider was overwhelmed in
the Red Sea of defeat, and :" the place
that once knew them will know them no
more forever" There we're no lack OF
Miriams to proclaim with loud-sounding
timbrals the news Of 50 great disaster
to their country's foe. All hail to the
gallant party that won so glorious a VIC
tory. May such as they live long in the
land and enjoy to the full extent the
fairness thereof.
The reader will please excuse this di-
erosion, for it was not our intention to
indulge in any political reflections, but
we could not resist the temptation to
Join in the chorus, proclaiming the on
ward march Of true republicanism -
Conservative Democracy
But to return TO our mutton. Mem
phis, with her noble-hearted merchants,
possessing as they do in common with
the bulk of her best citizens, the purest
patriotism, and having for the South
feeling of love surprising that of woman,
will ever stand as some tall cliff in the
minds of the Southern people, against
which the waves of Radicalism may beat
in vain. The true men of Mississippi
may well feel like extending their
patronage to the merchants of place
whose people are so true to the best in
terests of all they hold sacred
As to the improvements now going on
here, they are numerous and varied, and
many of them marked by high degree
of taste. We would like to particular
ize. but must for the nonce be allowed to
deal in generalties. Suffice it to say
however that Memphis offers induce
ments to country merchants, and to the
planter as well, favorable in a high de-
gree; and we speak what we know, and
testify to what we have seen, in this re-
gard
We cannot close this correspondence
without again adverting to the fact that
Memphis is increasing pdri passu, in
the wholesale trade, with her almost fab
ulous growth. Many houses that have
up to recent period, been devoted ex-
clusively to the retail trade, are being
converted into wholesale establishments,
and with every prospect of having their
endeavors crowned with triumphant sue
cess. The stir, the hustle, the ANNA
ton now so marked in Memphis, all be-
token the enterprise of her merchants
and the public spirit of her citizens as
body. May they gather many sheaves
in the field Of their labors, and may they
make stack that will reach the clouds,
n. w.