Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-11-02
THOMAS SWAN.
Dying Declarations of the Late
President Of the Pole
Bearers.
Solemn Words for the COlored PEG.
pie to Consider.

disease, but he seemed fully consciou
OF impending and rapidly approachin
dissolution. He saw, as he expresse
it, that ], too, was sadly provoked by til
manner in which he had been neglected
that, however much l felt annoyed q
the conscious neglect he had suffered
it would be entirely improper and be
yond my province TO find fault in hi
presence, believing as l did that every
thing had been done by bis friends 70
his recovery in the very best of faith
He remarked in an unusual strong ton
of voice:
i have something to say to you 70
the benefit of my race, to whom | hav,
been devoted. feel at peace with God
whom | thank and give praise for Hi
great mercy to me. feel at peace with
all mankind. and, OH that / could speak
personally in tones of persuasion to my
color to make peace with their Whitt
friends, cease all this CALLING strife that
now renders life and happiness so I'M
certain. Say to my people, for | believe
you to be our true friend, to cut loose
from all those politicians, White or btdck,
that continue to SOW dlscord among the
races. We know it is hard to overcome
the prejudice of any class, and particu.
larly the fears of our simple, uneducated
people Say to them to shake off those
fears, for they are untounded in fact.
Let them become free and untrammeled
in the exercise of their political rights.
Let them struggle to be free like ali other
nationalities that compose and sustain
only those who have living interest in the
soil in this community | could speak
forever on this subject, but your admo-
milton to quietude cannot be disregarded.
| will say, however, one farewell word to
my people-the last, too, that / will ever
say on earth: My people, endeavsr to
cultivate more attachment for the worthy
people of the South; be true to them aud
worthy of their confidence; and remem
Der dying friend says to you that peace
will surely follow"
The above are the words Of the late
Thomas Swan, as uttered to the under
signed, October u, 1874
THos. II. CLARK,
Attending Physician.
The above statement affords serious
facts for the colored people to con-
slider. The mind of Swan, as he lay at
deaths door and at peace with God,
turned toward the people of his own
race. BE possessed more than usual
intelligence and force of character. he
had been leader, highly honored and
admired by his own race. As the end OF
life drew very near, and when all passion
and prejudice became as cold as the
death sweat on his brow, he sent a
message of admonition to those he had
SO long led and controlled They obeyed
him in life. win they heed his words Of
soberness and truth in death? Barbour
Lewis will tell them this is q Democratic
lie, but it comes from gentleman who
has been identified with the Repub-
lican party, and whose word cannot
be doubted. Swan saw in his last NOM
ents that those who sought him in times
of heated political strife we're not his
real friends; that they only had used him
for selfish ends. 1t is a notable fact that
the immense procession which followed
Swan to his last resting place yesterday
contained but one white mana Federal
oficial-who had the moral courage to
follow in the rear. Where we're the white
leaders of the political party, to whom
he always gave his adhesion2 They had
consulted him a thousand times on the
eve of an election, and treated him as
an equal, which he may have been, but
at his funeral, when over half the col
ored people Of Memphis turned out as an
evidence of respect to the memory Of
their late chieitain, but a solitary white
Republican rode with the procession "a
striking commentary upon the insincer-
iiy of professed friends.