Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1878-07-25
ANOTHER GRAND RALLY
Of the Democracy in the Eighth Ward,
Representing the Worth and Intelli-
genee of North MemFhis-An
Enthusiastic Gathering
OF the Masses.
Hons. John Fleming, Casey Young, Geo.
CAN'T, X. C. Williamson, and Other
Distinguished speakers Lis
tened to with Marked
Attention.

The eighth ward Democratic club, ofhcered
by President II. T. Kennedy and Secretary
Ben Henderson, held their rally On the open
ground east of the Poplar markethouse,
where were provided ample seats for the
audience. The colored Young Men
association furnished music at the open
ing of the meeting and aC intervals or the
speeches. The grounds were cooled off to
make matters pleasant, the best speakers OF
the city, including Hon. J NJ. Fleming, of
Knoxville, and Hon. Casey Young were pres
ent and added much to the cause of the De-
mocracy of North Memphis. At half-past
eight O'Clock the public was called to order
by Mr.. Kennedy, who introduced Colonel X.
G.. Williamson as the first speaker of the
evening. This gentleman made favorable
speech, of some length, when
HON. JOHN NJ. FLEMING,
of Knoxville, Was next introduced. This
gentleman stated that he appreciated the
compliment the eighth ward committee had
bestowed upon him, IN inviting him to ad-
dress the people present, and that he felt re-
luctant to obtrude himself into what IS re-
garded as a local contest, IN SO far as all had
gathered together to hear matters OF local IN
terest. He felt embarrassed, because he was
a stranger, personally, but ss a Democrat he
tiers present that whatever revenges
or rewards they had to set
tie, they could not consistently
go to the ballot box and obstruct their vital
interests After explaining the objects OF
the Republicans under the new name Of Ma
tionals, he said if the Democratic party Of
Shelby county, of the State, Or of the nation
had no other view than that of merely filing
offices, reaping emoluments or exercising
power, it was not entitled to respect. But 1t
does not seek these objects. 1t aims to over
throw all the leaders of a party that has
done nothing but leglslate unwlseiy, bill offices
with corruption, and bring untold misery
upon the whole land. He then re-
ferred to the .olicy of the Republican, In as
suming the right, on the strength o. the war,
Just ended thirteen years ago, to leglslate ac-
cording to the ambitions and influences of its
leaders; also of the influences that gave pow
err to this evil and ever wrong-dolng party
chiefly of the money power OF the east. He
said this last influence had grown strong
by the accumulation OF wealth, and by means
of copartnership of the political power that
legislates especially for them. He said that
two of the leading features of unwlse leg
islation was the imposition of a high tariff
on the people of the land under the gulse of
protection, and the other was the greenback
question. The first, instead of being great
good, had laid in the dust every vital interest
second imposition was the contraction Of
greenbacks, the present money OF the land.
He dwelt at length upon these two subjects,
and forced the conviction upon his hearers
that the Republican party was not to he
trusted. He spoke OF the great abundance
Of products in the south as being unprece-
dented, but with all this, relief did not seem
to break upon the people because money
was scarcer to-day than ever known
He referred to the dependency of the people
five wears ago, under the baeful influences OF
the late war; how we prayed that the
end was near for oppression, and all had
hoped that bottom was nearly touched, yet
to- day we were no nearer relief; we yet feel
the crushing stagnation, the deatth OF money,
and the general depletion of the country.
Why is it? They are the evils Of continued
unwise legislation and bad soclsty under
Republican administrations. Who are re-
sponsible? Not the Democratic party, for the
entire government has never been under Its
control 1t has been struggling earnestly and
heroically for the good interest of the masses
of the people, as far as lay in its power. He
spoke of its growth in strength from 1867 to
the present day, and its fight until 1t had
possession of the national house OF repre-
sentative in 1876. He referred to the Presl-
Dental election and It's termination; who the
people had elected, and how they had been
robbed of their choice; of the impending
Welding to popular demand IN order that
peace and quiet might prevail. Il was but
short while to 1880, and we all should stand
firm, that we may be able to do good
battle and obtain that which we
have SO long been deprived OF. The lJcal
canvass was but the skirmish line OF the great
fight approaching, and he would beg the dis
affected to engage in thought and reason, and
behold what they were doing IN the National
ranks. The Democratic party can justly
claim that it has broken no pledges. The
little relief that has been afforded the people
of the land has been at the hands OF the
Democratic party. He spoke OF the good
work of the Democratic, national house OF
and the cold shoulder
that characterized the present SEN
ate, composed of Republicans. lie
referred to the reconciliation of silver
as being accomplished through the agency
of the Democracy, and said, when they shall
have obtained power 1t will not only sustain
the act of reconciliation, but coin silver I'M
limitedly and make 1t the money OF the land;
He reviewed at length the organization OF
the new party and said the main principles
of their platform were borrowed from the
Democrats, and adopted to subserve some
questioned purposes OF the Republicans. The
6reenback idea was the child of Democracy,
and the originator of the act was
none other than George II. Pendle-
ton, the great Democratic leader
in Ohio. He spoke of the Democratic con-
vention of the State in 1870, and the ninth
plank of its platform, which the Democratic
party had been true to on every occasion
since. Hedefed contradiction that they had not
fulfilled the pledges Of that plank. and View
ing the good faith so far rendered, and III
hiring the feelings of no man present, he
would ask how can the Nationals ally them
selves with such corrupt and evll-deslgDlng
crew as the opponents OF good government
the Republicans. He again said he had no
remark to make upon the local canvass now
going on in this county, realizing
that community like Memphis possessed
ADLER men than him to discuss the merits OF
the candidates of to-day. But he would say
that man should view 10 great extent the
influence that a local canvass would bear
upon a national election, and asked would the
people desire to have the wires hall to the
money power of the east and the Republican
leaders at the north-especlally John Sher-
man. the worst enemy to good government
ever known-that the Democracy had been
defeated here, and that Shelby county had
laid the groundwork for the success OF the he
publicans in the coming national election.
He trusted not. and hoped that all sensible
Democrats would not. There will only be
two grand national parties IN the field. A
man can call himself National, but still he
will be a Republican, and In the end he must
fall in with the Democrats to accomplish the
ends desired; if he still persisted in stray
inc off. many months will not roll round be-
fore he will regret the fatal step of being a
National and a friend Of the Republicans.
Colonel Fleming dwelt at length upon other
matters, and related an anecdote that afford
ed much amusement to the people present.
Colonel Fleming received close attention,
nothing occurring to mar the pleasure of the
in MAKING his S0ppph