Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1874-02-20

ESTABLISH
A GROSS AND OFFENSIVE Libel RE.
In behalf of all the people of Men,
phis, each one the prey of the malevo-
lence, spite and venom of an obscure
correspondent-H. L. Smith by name
we appeal to our brethren of the
press against the baseless falsehoods
that have been sent over the wires
from this city by HIM, purporting to re-
count in special dispatches the conduct
of our Mardi Gras celebration fairly,
candidly and honestly. From our long
experience on the press we never en-
cOuntered so many lies THAT is the only
word to express it, in so short space.
Lies that were wickedly and purposely
framed to injure the city, to de-
fame our women and men, and
drag us all down to the level OF bawds,
rowdies and ruffians. Reading them
over, and knowing Memphis and her
people as we do, it is with difficulty We
can restrain ourselves within bounds,
and deal with them and with their
author as they and he deserve. Mani
testify written with the wrecklessness Of
one intent on wreaking vengeance on
some one over the shoulders of our peo-
pie, these dispatches start out with de-
iiberate falsehood, that will be sttested
as such by hundreds of reputable gen.
tlemen and gentlewomen who partici-
pated in the street scenes in the early
part of the day, or were lOokers-On for
hOurs-gentlemen and ladies who
hold as high rank socially as the
best in any other city of the
world-educated cultured and refined,
and as ambitious for the sustenance and
perpetuity of their characters as for the
fair fame of the city of their choice.
This correspondent, who in one night
has made himself Infamous beyond all
the veracious and lying correspondents
elfthe country, ,telegraphing to the Louis
vile Courier. Journal the st. Louis Re-
publican, the Chicago Times, and Chi
eago Tribune, and, we believe, the Gin
cinnati Enquirer, presents us to the
world in this light:
MEMPHIS, Tenn, February 1.-THE carni- |
val was greatly interrupted by the weather, |
which has been gloomy and rainy all day, and |
instead OF grand procession this afternoon, |
the streets were filed by promiscuOus mob |
Ssf maskers during the day and evening. Al |
though there were but few arrests, there was |
the greatest limit given to drunkenness and !
the rain and mud. the streets were crowded |
daring the day with strangers; and II Is hoped |
here. The Memphi, a very aristocratic crew, |
made their parade tonight under the light OF |
calciums and torches, but made very poor |
show Their particularly select ball tonight |
was thinly attended, as 10 was conducted on |
altogether TOO select OASIS.
DRUNKENNESS EXCESSIVE.
Up TO a late hour tonight, and in fact dur |
ing the entire day, drunkenness has been /
the order of the day. Tonight the station |
houses are fun, and arrests are made nearly |
every moment.
SEVERAL SHOOTING AFFRAYS
. occurred during the day, and tonight there
were one or two stabbing ARRAYS. One or two
fights took place at the ball of the Memphi at
the Memphis TheaJer.
Upon this dispatch, worded from
first 10 last with care to misrepresent US
in every thing, the editor of the Courier
Journal fe. 1t warranted in headline
which asserted that Grain and Drunk
enness Spoil The Festivities at Mem
phis;" and this headline remained at
the head of the column, nOtwithstand-
aug the UNANIMOUSLY false dispatch, false
IN every partic ular, was followed by
that of the Associated Ptess reporter of
Memphis, recounting faithfully, fairly
and honestly the scenes, incidents
aud professions of the day and
night. How the wide discrepancy
between the two could have escaped the
attention of the editor, passes our COM
prehension, and his headline is only
reconcilable upon the theory Of his
greater confidence in his special report
er. But we pass this for the greater sin
Of the correspondent, for we do not be-
lieve there is a gentleman on the staff
of the Courier Journal, from the accom-
plished chief to the least, who would
purposely or knowingly slander Mem
Sphis or her people. Mark the first part
of ;he dispatch: although there SCere
fezD arrests, there a0dS the greatest limit
oiuen to drunkenness and Ie00dneS8 on the
stl eets.U We assure our contemporaries
that the carnival was chiefly confined to
Main and parts OF cross-streets, between
Front and Second, and that the whole
body of the city police were on duty
under orders, which we know personally
were rigidly obeyed, to repress even the
.sembance of indecency and drunkenness.
-Asd we also know, from the police head
quarters, that except in one case at the
Theater and one at the Exposition build
ing, there was no fracas throughout the
day worthy OF the intervention of the
police, and even these classed as ordi-
nary misdemeanors. But, forgetting he
had thus telsgraphed, this veracious
correspondent further on asserts the
stationhouses full, and that stabbing az
trays occurred which induced the pious
exclamation that this will be the last
of the Mardi Gras here" This, too, is
a fa,,sehoOd. There were but thirty-six
arrests MADE during the day and night,
ont of seventy thousand persons who
were ON the streets. We do not