Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1872-12-19
rHE CIrY ANp HE CoNpITION.


ton Monument at Washington.
TIE CITY AND HER CONDITION. .
We do not usually notice anonymou;
correspondents who select the columns
Of contemporaries for attacks upon us
but will to-day for the sake Of answer
ing some objections of Progress y who
has attempted to meet our criticisms on
the maladministration Of the eity's
affairs. We pass by the malicious sag.
gestions of this correspondent, who de-
tends Mr.. johnson and his utter want o.
financial skill as if he was of kin to the
Mayor, or interested in the misconduct
Of which we justly complain. fit were
not thus with Progress, he would not
only realize but admit that it was the
duty of every honest journalist to chron-
icle the times as they are, and not as his OF
any man'sinterest would have them. Be
fore the APPEAL published a word about
the smallpox, the news had reached
the country in such an exaggerated
form that one of the editors
Of this paper was informed of
it in language leading him to appre-
bend that the published statements were
seventy per cent. under the mark, and
that on reaching home he would find
the city's population in saekelOth and
ashes. The publications in the APPEAL
we're timely and beneficial. They were
true, and, accepted as such, aroused the
people to a sense Of the danger threat
ing them, and forced prompt and proper
provision for the stay Of the pestilential
disease. Progress, who understands
better how to make the "worser appear
the better part, (" would have us ignore a
TACT, nay, deny it, for fear of a possible
Ioss to the business of the city, for which
he APPEAL has always worked steadi-
". earnestly and well. But even fol
his, Progress" does not care so much.
he is evidently intent upon defending
Johnson, and only works in the small
BOX as an incidental effort to weaken
he organ of public opinion, whose pow
r and influence he confesses in every
inc. His anxiety for johnson is feverish,
tnd he parades figures in the interest OF
hat gentleman, with as much flourish
Is the Mayor himself, who is a whole
ale dealer in figures and promises to
iay. He quotes the glib statement Of
assets and liabilities and bal
noes one with the other, as if the for
uer had any tangible or realizable III
We may coin a word value. We have
axes due and past due, bonds and inter
st due on purchases of the city's inter-
st in certain railroads, the amount Of
ertain mortgages, ledger balances, and
II that sort of thing, just as we have
.ad for years. We have whole columns
t figures following after dollar marks,
ut no assurance that any of them can |
e made more than representatives of
that is due until the Legislature |
ieets!" "'Twas ever thus" Mr.. |
ohnson, after his first year as Mayor,
ssured his constituents that he knew
nd would endeavor to secure the legis-
ltion necessary to enforce the colFec-
on Of the taxes, the want Of which, be
lnfesses, prevents him from re-estab-
shing the credit Of Memphis, so much
impaired in his hands. 1t is this want
provident provision which consti-
utes JOhnson's chief defect. He can
II US, as any clerk in his Office can
ranks to Mr.. Shepherds admirable
stem of book-keeping-the debit and
edit of the city, but he fails to provide
T the one by the prompt, and, where
ecessary, enforced collection of the
her. He has q head for figures, and
IN marshal them, as progress" does,
Ike a drill-sergeant, but he has no mind
II financiering in the large sense in
hich the science is understood
Y its masters. We acknowledge the
dosCl5 anu ldDlAlllco VI NLt city a.
lhnson puts them, because we have no
Ieans of knowing to the contrary, and
e wish he could make it as plain TO US
lat the "assetsn he glOats over were
as they should be, for even
.e payment of the interest as it falls
le. But he cannot. He cannot even
" the guardians of the peace and prop
ty of the city; and is forced
: his want of skill as Chief
TO permit our streets
become, as they now are, con-
tits of slop and filth, breeding dis
Sc, and leave even the lamps in con-
ton so dirty that gas becomes inoper-
i've as light for belated travellers on
r miserable highways. johnson has
d three years of fair and candid trial,
d stands a confessed failure. 1t is he, !,
d not the APPEAL, that Injuries Mem
is, impairs her credit, and damages
r trade. Were he as conscientious as
ne time ago he led US to believe, he
,uld, realizing the fact, retire from an
Ice he has neither the character nor
ents to fill.