Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-07-19
TINE MAKES ALL THINGS EVEN Al
LAST.

we are glau 10 see Ihal III Ielu-
tation of the vile SANDERS against
Memphis as a community uttered
before a Congressional committee
nearly ten years ago is receiving
some of the attention over the
country that it deserves. The COM
mittee came to find testimony that
would suit a bloody-minded party.
There had been an unfortunate
conflict of races, one which had
long been deferred by the patience
and forbearance of the white peo-
pie. When the war closed there
were many troops in Memphis, col
ored and white. The whites were
gradually withdrawn and disband-
ed. The blacks were disbanded
and remained. They still carried
arms, and being freed from military
discipline, as well as recent slavery,
committed all manner of excuses.
The streets swarmed with them ;
they took the sidewalks and white
people had to walk around. Ladies
were not safe without an escort and
hardly dared to go to church. A
reign of terror prevailed. The few
white troops retained at this post,
although under officers not sympa-
thizing with the bad elements
turned loose, were powerleSs to pre-
serve order. This state of affairs
was not surprising at the close of a
bloody civil war, in which 1000, 900
of slaves had been set free, but
some conflicts were inevitable. 1t
was no uncommon thing for half a
dozen drunken negroes to fire of
their pistols on the streets. Arrests
by the police were almost out Of the
question. At last the riots came.
A negro killed or wounded a white
man in broad daylight, without
cause, and the turbulent elements
fell upon each other. The whites
being superior in skill and courage
were victorious, of course, and a
night many excuses were commit
ted. These should not have beef
charged to our better people as
class, who deplored the affair. A
Republican Congress made haste t.
organize a committee for the pur
pose of manufacturing politica
capital. The evidence Of the yiles
wretches was received and word
ed in smooth phrase ant
r published to the world to prov
that the Southern people were a Sc
of barbarians and assassins. Tn
majority report is full Of venom
and rancerous hate. Mr.. Wash
! burne has since seen something c
= war and riots in Paris, and h
t knows that the people of the Sout
: should no more be held accountable
e for the Memphis riots than a
A Frenchmen should be stigmatize
as Communists. The report di
its work and delayed reconstruc
: ton. The entire Republican pre-
of the country pointed to Memph
as the abode of cut-throats an
d d~esperadoes. No allowance WI
It made for the floating populate
that would temporarily gather at
} place like this, on the river, ha
d way between the North and Il
,e South. Justice is slow, but sui
is We read that armies of tramps a
il flooding the Northern States be
rs ging, stealing, and depredatin
10 pretending to be in search Of wor
is but really seeking to avoid it. '
Id would not eXult over this by a.
or means, but rather deplore such
e. evil. We cannot help reGectir
ic however, that these people may
ed softened by their own misfortun
or and have less time or inclination
ed NEEDLE in other peoples busine
IS At the same time Frances Thom
lst son, the main witness relied up
,e8 to damage us in the estimation
DER all decent people in the world, W
EN- testified to being outraged aim
yht numberless times, has been pro,
of to be a man and Sin no respec
pt- woman" He has been pfeser
Gu these ten years for a wise and m
: is ciful purpose, Had he died 500
Memphis would have rested un
en- the foul stigma forever. His te
ion mony and the report of the CT
pom mittee have been used as a CT
ives naion dooument ton voors n