Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-09-30
BARBOUR IN EXILE.

A Washington special dated Septem-
Der 18th to the Cincinnati Commercial
contains the following choice morsel of
news:
Hon. Barbour Lewis, Representative
in Congress from Memphis, Tennessee,
and candidate for reelection, is In the
city-one OF the numerous carpet-6ag-
gers who do not stay to brave real or
fancied periIs among the people whom
they pretend to represent. There has
been nothing to indicate that Memphis
was dangerous place for anybody, but
Mr.. Lewis declares with gravity that is
quite comical that he really does not
think it would be safe for one OF his pro-
nounced opinions to remain in that To-
cality. The solemn manner in which he
accounts for his presence here creates
great deal of amusement.
Alas, for Barbour Lewisl his fate is a
mournful one. He has lived in Memphis
ever since the war, and although he has
lied on the people when at home and
abroad, he has never been able to turn
to martyr. In times Of the highest
excitement he has walked the streets
and travelled the country without the
slightest danger Of being noticed. If
some ffteen.year old boy would only
slap his jaws or spit in his face, Lewis
could travel North and show his gap
ing wounds. But this pleasure has
been reserved for the future, and he can
only show his gaping mouth. He was
elected to Congress at a time when the
Conservatives were utterly divided; but
they will avoid such folly again. Bar
bour sees defeat staring him in the face
he knows that Casey Young will peel
the epidermis from his political back as
a skillful surgeon would use the knife on
dead subject. That is what be breads
the merited excoriation that is in store
for him whenever he faces Colonel
Young. No doubt he considers 1t peril
GUS at this late day to make his appear
ance in this district, although the old
BLACKBOARD remained unmolested here
at the August election and at
the time of the disturbances at
Somerville and Austin, No wonder,
when he ponders over the 1900 Conserv-
alive majority in Shelby county, he con
cludes ait would not be safe for one of
his pronounced views to remain here. y
But how about the pronounced views OF
Ed Shaw, who draws his pay as wharf
master, Esquire Thompson (colored),
delegate TO the late Chattanooga Con-
vention, Captain Garrett, late Radical
candidate for Sheriff, General W. ].
Smith and the greater and lesser lights
of the party who daily 60 to and fro on
our streets without guard as other citi-
zens2 They have remained here at the
mercy Of the Ku-Klux, and not one Of
them has ever been molested. Barbour
wishes to impress the Government with
the idea that he is the biggest old owl
in the woods. he can fool nobody. The
Republican party of Shelby county has
gentlemen in its ranks, but Lewis is not
one of them, being alike destitute of
truth, honor and courage. he sneaks
around Washington trying to create
sympathy and pass for martyr. he is
enee at Washington will DO much to
disgust the decent men of his party. 1t
is rumored that he is seeking an ap-
pointment of some kind at the hands of
the government, but we should think his
chances exceedingly slim. The govern
ment has about as little use for him as
have the decent people of this Congress.
sional district.