Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1874-06-09
MOBs AND RIOTS.


persons in the crowd, which seemed to
Increase ut every thump OF the drum,
aud the street in front Of the building
was perfect jam. A stand had been
erected on the piazza OF the building
from which the speeches were made. 90
motion, the meeting was organized by
electing as chairman for the occasion
II. n. Rankin, c0lOred RttOrney-at-
law. Previous TO this Thomas
Swan, president of the Pole-Bearers'
association stated that they had come
together 10 ascertain il the charges laid
at their doors were just and supported
by facts. Various Iumors had gone
abroad relative TO riots and uprisings
among the negroes, and to show the in
justice Of these rumors they had invited
a meeting of the citizens Of Memphis
REMARKS OF H. n. RANKIN.
The chairman said: "As chairman of
this meeting / suppose must say some
thing relative TO the objects of this as
sem6ling. 1 have considered the subject
so little that / am scarcely prepared to
speak to you. However, l presume the
purpose Of this meeting is to air certain
rumOred measures and reported desires
Of the cOlored people 10 engage in TiOts
that have been circulated quite freely
around the city. L don't want any
fighting, for / am for peace, and the
last thing the eolored people want is
that of getting up g riot. To this effect
resolutions will be offered, aud will
show to the white people that we, the
cOiored people, as property owners snd
citizens, are interested in the welfare Of
Memphis, and also have an interest at
stake No such idea as getting up q
not ever entered the head OF the c0lnred
people, for they could certainly
have no iacucement whatever.
Indeed, what inducement is there for
the eOlOred people to engage In or seek
fnr a riOt9 A riot would cause Us to suf-
fer far more than anyone else. The day
ior disturbance and fighting has long
since passed, and there is no pretense,
no excuse Whatever for such proceedings
now. The persons who had been cast
ing broadcast over the land these infiam-
matory articles about the cOlOTed people
intending b riot wouldn't fight any
thing, and they do it merely to create
ul-will and cause trouble among our
people, both white and black. The col
0red people have no desire 20 and will
not riot nor cause a disturbance"
ED. sHAw's SPEECH.
Ed. Shaw. being next introduced,
said:
FFLLow-C -CTTIZENs-I have been in
Memphis two aud twenty years, and
whatever may be the interests OF the
best classes OF Memphis, white or black.
= nv interest. ] have heard through
the press that tue c0lOred people OF
Memphis were preparing for riot aud
for mobs. i suppose that L mingie
among my own color as much rs any
person in Memphis, and yet ] have
never seen anything and have been I'M
able 10 learn anything that gould lead
me 10 such a belief that they intended
focreste q hot or cause any disturbance
anon the peace and quiet of the
citizens. have noticed in the
newspapers that the negroes were
drilling i'm Chelsea and in other places
of the city. Now, ] have watched the
colored people ever since these reports
commenced, and have failed TO see or
hear anything of il. ] have been una
DE. from a careful investigation, 10 find
ANYTHING whatever tina. would lead me
20 believe that there are true grounds for
such reports. Mr.. Rankin has truly
said that riot was not desired by coll
ored citizens; for they have had enough
of il years ago. The cOlored people, OF
all others, are the last 10 wish q riot.
How is il that the city press and white
persons learn so much OF intended riots
among the cOlOrsd people, when the col
ored people themselves do not know.
and have not heard anything OF 1t.
These men who circulate such reports
say they have the interest OF the city at
heart. ] wonder If such iDiamatory
articles are the great Inducements offered
for immigration Nearly every day 1t
is reported that the negroes are going
TO create a riot, OF a mob, or are, IN 9TH
er words, going TO raise" Ii Is time
we are "raising up" as fast ~ possible
under present circumstances. Laugh
ter IL the evening paper ana one Of
the morning papeuS are 50 much inter-
estod in the prosperity OF Memphis, why
do they publish such ineeDdisFy articles?
Do these men who thus write own any
property in Memphis, or are
they trying 10 get up 3 riot for
the destruction OF property. ] have
taken the trouble to find out whether or
not they own any property in Memphis.
I'd is only the thieves, black and white,
Who desire riJtE, and try 90 induce such.
u il not the right minded, sober, think
-eedings. fCries Of "Hit him again,
shaw.nl The newspapers have little 10
DO when they seek 10 get up riots; for
riots, rest assured, are not for the pur-
nose Of numbering the negro, but for
the purpose Of plundeT and robbery. 1t
a stated that a colOred barber, residing
ON Jefferson street, has said that the ne
groes in every ward OF the city are or
ganizing and preparing to fire the
property of the citizens OF Memphis.
Now want 70 know the name of this
eolored man, not TO have him killed, but
Go fndict INN and bring him to trial.
We want him te prove, If be can, that
such statements are true. know such
are false, aud 50 did the editor Of the
paper which published il. ] hops to-
night that the resolutions to be adopted
willexprtss theprOpOsitionthRtthe name
OF this man be published, and unless it
te forthcoming, then let the charge be
laid at the door Of the Ledger, and that
other paper-I caE't call lis name, ss !
think of it 50 little--the Register-thst
excellent paper, which would induce
immigration to Memphis-thst eX-.
ceIlent paper, which would invite
capital heTe-that excellent paper,
which would have the commerce
OF the country to. be landed
al Memphis, and wishes 70 see all the
vacant houses occupied, Publishes such
rumors, in the interest Of this city. l
suppose ] can find no other place, save
AT their doors, TO lay these reports. We
are going to have an election soon, and
these papers are doing this to make
votes. ! know ii takes much to keep
Democracy alive; but If arguments ike
these published, which endanger both
property and human life, be necessary,
then, / say, let the poor old creature oie'
Of ali the mObs ever heard OF in this
country, the eolored people have never
Ieen the cause OF any OF them. hope
that paper will never make cats paw
~ the people, as once 1t did, and lay
lack in its house, and have other people
10 carry out the mob il caused. Should
there he another riot, hope the thieves
will point their guns at them instead OF
the Irish. Should there be a mob To-
night OF tomorrow, or at any time, the
Ledger and that other paper would be
closed Up, and the editors would hide,
and cry out again, perhaps, aOh, come
10 US, the Irish are mobbing the ne
Qroes.U All honest and Intelligent
-coiored men as well as white men, do
moi care 10 cause the death Of any citi-
zenI Cries ofsfNo, ," "No." We have had
one riot and ! think it sufficient TO last