Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1875-07-16
MEMPHIS APPEAL
FRIDAY, =: ;: JULY I6, 1875.
PILLOW AVID POOREST.

PILLOW AND FORREST.
We could Ill up the APPEAL with
comments on the course which these
distinguished gentlemen have thought
proper to pursue. The Radical papers,
OF course, condemn them in the severest
terms, aud in order to break the force OF
the good and patriotic advice they gave
the colored race, have much tOsay about
the "ditch" and the massacre OF Fort
Pillow. We know nothing about the
private views OF either General Forrest
or General Pillow, but Judging from our
knowledge Of their character, they care
nothing about these attacks. The
Washington Chronicle thus speaks Of
General Pillows speech: "This is sound
doctrine, to which no one can object.
But We regret that We cannot express a
like appreciation OF sll Of General Pill
lows remarks. When he advises the
colored people to discard all partisan
views aud to 'dis0and all colored
political organizations we fear
tho politician got the upper
hand Of the patriot, and that
the just sentiments he had previously
uttered, were only spoken for the pur-
pose Of throwing his audience of their
guard. In order TO discharge their po-
liticsl duties Understandings, every citl-
zen is necessarily compelled to acquire
some political views, and in this age,
such opinions are generally partisan.
Whenever the colOred people discard
partisan views and 'disbsnd their po-
liticsl organizations they will be shOrn
Of their strength, like Samson, and be
st the mercy Of the Delilah Of Democra-
cy. Whether the colored people remain
Republican, as they generally are at
this time, or change their opinions, they
should identity themselves with the IO-
litical organization to which they adj
here, just as white voters do, and thus
make their strength felt. To scatter,
and entertain no opinions-tO absent
themselves from the ballot.bOX-is not
only to be lost, but to fail in the highest
duty Of an American citi-
zen. We do not recommend
that their organizations should be
exclusively composed Of their own race,
but that they should'unlte with the par.
tisan clubs Of the Republican or Demo
cratic parties, and thus identify them
selves as citizens and voters with which
ever party they prefer. This is the right
OF every citizen, and should be exercised
by the black man as well as the white,
That General Pillow, despite his asser-
ton TO the contrary, sunk the patriotic
citizen in the'partisan before he finished
his address, is evident from the fact that
he could not refrain from repeating the
old story Of the oppression OF the south
10y the general government since the
close Of the war. He charged that the
Yankees have ruled and ruined the
country since the war that the negroes
became active politicians, arrsyed
themselves against the white race, aud
sought TO rule and ruin the southern peO-
pie; and more TO the same purpose,
which we need not repeat here. To all
this it is sufficient to say, that it is not
true. The north has never desired to
inflict injury upon the south. On the
contrary, it has ever been ready to aid
our erriDg brethren, whenever IT
could be done without the sacrifice of
principle, and the opportunity presented
itself. II the blacks were arrayed
against the whites in the south, it was
by no action Of the Republican party, or
the northern people as class, but the
natural result Of the conduct Of the late
slsve-masteTs themselves. They drove
the negroes from them by their insane
bitterness and attempts to virtually re-
eDslave those the government had set
free. We regret to ssy this, while COM
mending 30 much that is good in Cen
eral Pillows speech, but it is the
truth, however uDpalatable it may
be to our southern friends. We
may add, however, that We believe that
better feeling now exists in this re-
spect, and that it was unwise in the gen.
eral, saying SO much that was good, to
add that which makes it necessary to
recall facts that it is now unpleasant to
remember. But We cannot pursue the
subject further to-day. We give Gener.
al Pillow credit for so much OF the sd-
vice with which he favored the cOlOred |
people of Memphis, as we can approve,
and regret that the sound sentiments
with which he commenced his Grafton |
did not Pervade that document to its
Close"