Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-05-24

a EEErLEAL

The dedication Of the Little Rock
road to publie uses progressed through
such a tedious series Of unhappy years,
that when it was finished there was
not even a ripple on the sea Of cur
rent sensations. By superhuman ex-
ertiOns and extraordinarily lavish ex-
penditures, the worst section Of the
road was suddenly perfected, and
locomotives went gathering and roar
ing toward the capital Of Arkansas.
But there was no unusual disturbance
Of the surface Of the Mississippi. II
did not stand still even for a single
instant to contemplate the first result
Of a mighty moral and physical revo-
luton about to be achieved ia Arkan-
sas. Memphis rubbed her heavy ewes
when she heard and saw the first
locomotive, with its long sinuous
train, bursting suddenly from the
dense, disemboWeled swamps Of Ar
kansas. But Memphis had been
dreaming through a long and dreary
night of nearly twenty years duration
OF the achievement of this pleasing
cOnsummation. When the end was
effected Memphis only snored, after
the mOmentary surprise was
over, the more vigorously. So SOM
nolent she became that the extinction
Of the Arkansas Packet Company and
transfer Of its agencies Of wealth to a
rival city, was almost endured with
out a grimace and without a grOan.
This stupid indifference to wonder
full changes wrought in our relations
to the great west, is hardly commend
able. StOicism may be a very fine !
Of practical philosophy, and
admirable as illustrated by martyrs
and +" pale faces " who have died at
the hands Of savage Christians and
savages; but stOicism is an
other name for fatal apathy, when
practiced by cOmmercia Icommunities.
We must celebrate with b0nfres and
Examinations the achievement OF great
commercial purposes. Otherwise the
will never know that Memphis
Is still imbUed with that spirit to
it is indebted for its past pro-
gressiveness and present greatness.
Why, then, may we not during these
coming sultry days Of summer time,
have the city fathers of Little Rock,
and such guests as they would invite,
visit Memphis? Surely we may enter
ain the whole number, which the four
passenger cars may transfer to this
There are ignorant people con-
appealing to local jealousies
md unreal rivalries and preiudices,
which a little generous hospitality
would Obliterate. 1t is not a
Ontest between Memphis and
Holly Springs or Jackson and
and Little Rock; but
II these having common interests and
OmmOn sources of greatness should
cooperate in every great commercial
Undertaking. It is the remOter cities +
f the North and West that crush
commercial life out Of Southern marts {
f trade, Even as Chicago once in :
-ested st. Louis on every hand and +
suf0csted the then unworthy I
ival, so st. Louis and Louisville send I
own iron arms like the t~entacles Of !
be devil fish, TO draw to them and j
rush the struggling victims of insa-
ate greed. It is against these great !
tiles we must wage an honorable :
lntest for supremacy within the do +
lains Of our legitimate trade; and {
little Rock, Helena, Memphis, Hol- g
Springs, Jackson and Brownsville I
50uId cooperate. Their interests y
re common, and the success of one 4
i'll contribute to the aggrandize- Il
lent Of all. Let Us celebrate the !
DmpletiOn Of the road to Little Rock. +