Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1875-12-01
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE,
Card from Mr.. B1IIinRslex.

EDITORS APPEAL-I see in YOU issue
of the twenty-fourth instant weekly this
| article:
| Billingsley, left his wife and child at a dry
| goods establishment ON Main street yesterday
| but on returning was unable TO find his famt-
| ly. The woman went to the stat1onhOuse, and
was cared for until yesterday"
There are not quite as many Billingsleys as
| there are JUneses, yet there are number OF
| BiIItngsleys in Tate county. Now, in justice
| to me- and especially to my wife, who was at
home attending 10 her domestic affairs and
| children, as all good mothers deliS hG in, you
will please say that It was not my family al
luded to in your arucle OF the twenty-f0urth
instant. W. E. BlLLINGsLEY,
INDEPENDENCE, TATE COUNTY, Nov. o. 1875.
Cotton Estimates.
EDITORS APPEAL-Your correspond
ent is neither producer nor holder of cotton,
and has no interest in giving your readers the
result of his observations, other than to array
facts, in estimating the present crop, against
what he believes to be a too sanguine belief,
based on the large receipts, that the crop will
be more than an average one. Through the
entire belt OF counties in West Tennessee the
storm of Thursday night has not left ten per
cent. of cotton to be picked. The excessive
summer rains prevented the fresh and bottom
lands from yielding one-half OF their usual
aversge, while the early frost has cut short
the staple at least twenty per cent. Then the
favorable weather of September and October
has enabled the planter to make unusual pro-
gresS In picking, and that with the pressing
wants resulting from the disastrous failure of
last year has already forced the larger part of
the present crop into market. The rainfall Of
Thursday night was unprecedented. In the
gloom of the early morning meteor got loose
In the direction Of Memphis and famed
through the darkness with a brilliancy that
would put to shame the headlight of a locomo-
tive Its hne.of transit was toward Nashville ~
NJ. I. 9,
STANTON, November 81, 1875.
Independent Journalism.
EDITORS APPEAL-The vagaries Of
human depravity find expression In countless
ways and are made manifest in the flesh
sometimes In a startling and grotesque fash
ion. Pride and self-glorihcation is form of
iniquity that shows itself in more varied
forms and in more startling situations than
ali the other elements that make up the black
" mans first disObedience" As time rolls on,
the perverted ingeh uity of man enables him
TO multiply the original sturdy, simple vices
and TO produce new and more powerful COM
pounds OF OffeDs5 against heaven and his fell
low-creatures, until there appears to be no
limit to the potency of his evil faculties. The
theologians have not classified all the crimes
possible to commit, because, as some of them
mold, they approach infnity, and erow more
to, very justly, despiSed the being who &C
knOwledged, or was discovered to have, no
principle of conduct. The newest phase of
SHINING Is UNNECESSARILY beyond that; and is
found 10 what is called Independent" jour
nRlism. The Independent has no principles,
put boasts SO. Of 4, having none: Claims
conscience" says Shakespeare, makes
towards of us all, /" sand" chimes in the indie
pendent, sit is troublesome; l will not have
It." Those newspapers that are committed to
principle, That nave rule OF conduct laid
down, that are guided by principles, are TO be
piled as ld-fogyish, and despised as not be-
ing in accord with the march of "ism." 1t is
so agreeable, in conducting a newspaper, TO
acknowledge no law, no rule, no theory, no
guidance; 10 represent nothing, but misTepre-
sent everything; not to be accountable TO any
party nor Tower-to be, in a word "independ-
emit" 10 be able TO laugh, no matter who wins;
To look on with equal pleasure and content,
whether truth and justice fall or triumph;
like "lRgo," 10 be able TO say, "NoW, whether
he kill 'Gassio,' or Cassie kill him, either
wsy makes my gain to pretend to be public
teachers and guide, and yet be altogether in.
different TO the public welfare, except in 80
far as f. sccoTds Immediately with ones own.
The uGe independent takes no sides in any
fight, but makes mp sides OF his own, and goes
vigorously through the dumb show of spar
ring and shoulder hitting while there Is noone
attacking him, and when the contest is over
throws up his cap and cheers the loudest for
the victory he helped TO winl The comfort
quers -"he's thar" He cody claims that II
was the Independent who, not only arranged
the fight, but begot the men he led the squad.
ron, he stormed the enemy, and he boasts Of
b S trophies, and II the devil happens 70 be
the victor he's thar! al he hunRers for is TO
be on the Y ictorious side, and during the con-
test he watches closely the movements Of the
contesting forces, 30 that at the last moment
he may whirl like a wild duck into the ran rs
OF the victor and flap his wings in well dis
sembled Joy, while he looks solemn as an owl
and croaks ut swear" that he done it. and
was thar all the time. In private he chuckles
10 himself and csckles in subdued comfortable
tones, ave no principles; I'm like a cat, al
ways fail on my ieet. I'm after bread and but
ter to hell with the rest" Independent
journalism IS a step in advance. The ann OF
The world is to get nd oil annoyances,
troubles and obligations The virtue
from allegiance to every thing, truth patriot
ism, the ultimate good CT the county: aud
oenIers all my care upon myself, where IL be-
longs. We are stepping out toward the goal
OF perfectability, and are stmpllnng thinss !