Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-10-22
pARK.LANTERN MEETING.
Emerson EtherIdga Makes ~ Tell
20 the People.

Emerson Etheridge Makes Talk
60 the People.
Last night about FIVE hundred citizens
attended the Greenlaw Opera House for
the purpose Of listening to Emerson
Etheridge, one of the nominees of the
dark.lantern party, which has been Sc
Letting Senators and Representatives for
the people in secret meetings like the
old Know.Nothings, Of which defunct
party many of the leaders Of the So
called Peoples Reform and Working
mems party we're shining lights. Mr..
Etheridge made a very clever speech,
but it was of a rambling and incoherent
nature. At times he became eloquent
and at other times absurd. He followed
the train Of argument laid down by
leading candidate for the United States
Senate, and even went further in favor
of complete reputation of the debts of
the State. He almost wept over the
Confederate widows and orphans, but he
was one of the men who was on the
other side during the late war, and by
his influence helped to make many a
widow and orphan in Tennessee. Ether
idge abused everybody and everything.
He abused the Democracy, Conserva-
tism, Radicalism, funders, the press, the
leaders of both parties; referred to JEFF
ferson Davis as the prince Of repudia.
tors in Mississippi; he abused the rebel
lion, and claimed to have been Radi-
cal all his life.
He was evidently Disguised with all
persons and things, and hurled his in
vectives and abuse at the world gener-
ally. The philippe was less interpreted
with oaths and profanity than the other
harangues heretofore eloquently deliv-
cred by the accomplished orator. Mr..
Etheridge announced himself candi-
date on the P. R. and W. ticket; that be
had accepted the nomination and would
make the race. The speech was replete
with good things-wild assertions I'M
supported by proof-a few old anecdotes,
etc He took a shy at the city govern
ment and created quite laugh when he
proclaimed that Mayor League, not be-
ing able to pay the city debt, had put
the city money where it would do the
most good. The speaker did not seem
to like League, and referred to his ad-
ministration several times in no very
mplimentary terms. The eloquent
gentleman did not refer to the fact that |
the committees of the p. r. and W.
party were acting in accord with the
negroized Radical party, and that a
combination had been perfected between
the two elements opposing the Demo
cratic and Conservative party. Mr..
Etheridge was most anxious to know
how many producers we're in the room
and how many we're on the Conservative
ticket-he, Mr.. Etheridge, being grand
producer-of gas. The eccentric and
eloquent speaker closed his harangue
with very pretty compliment to the
ladies, and on concluding, received as
reward magnificent bouquet.
On the stand were Robertson Topp,
Mr.. Latham and the representatives OF
the LEDGER, Appeal and Avalanche.
At the close Of the Etheridge grafton
Mr.. Topp got up and read list of
persons, who, in May last, signed call
organizing the Reform party, but in that
list of names our reporter recognized
numbers of gentlemen who are advo-
Gates for the election of the Conserva-
tive ticket, and who will not follow the
P. r. and W. party in their unholy alli-
ance with the negroes and white Radi-
Gals Of Shelby county. Colonel Topp
referred to the name, dark-lantern
party" in an excited manner, which
proved that the arrow shot from the
culver had penetrated deep into the
bosoms of the dark'lantern party organ
izers, who are the friends of the people
in the dark. Poor old dark lantern
Know Nothingism cannot be revived in
Memphis at this late day. The citizens
present we're ell-pleased with the enter
tainment prepared by the independents
aud Radicals.