Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-08-11
FROM CHICAGO.
COrrespondence Of the Ledrer.l

victim. oeVen days previous to death
he was taken down. The attendant
and other physicians say it was a pure
case Of Bronze John. On the other
hand, it is asserted that city physician
Dunn says it was merely bilious fever.
BE this as it may, the neighborhood
of the death is terribly excited over
the event. 1t appears to your CORE
spondents that if horrible filth and
hot, hazy weather are factors in favor
of yellow fever, then some localities in
Chicago would be luxurious homes in
which the yellow demon could wallow.
Certainly Chicago's sanitary condition,
in many respects, is abominably bad.
Yesterday the eight hour day ad-
vocates had a grand picnic in West
Chicago Avenue Park. About forty
thousand persons of all grades, ages
and sex of society were gathered to-
gether. The occasion was one Of
genuine jollity-the weather, fortu-
nately, being fine. However, during
the day the clerk of the weather
caused considerable commotion by
clouding up the heavens and sending
little spray from the murky vapors
upon the heads of those assembled for
pleasure. Several fine speeches were
made by champions of the eight hour
movement, and letters were read from
Denis Kearney and Colonel Blanton
Duncan apologizing for their alb
sence from the august occasion. Be
it understood that the eight hour
movement is made by men in good
situations in their several respective
trades and callings. They consider
that eight hours labor is enough task
upon any mans mental or corporeal
system, and if that term was adopted
nearly every one now out of employ
ment would have work to do. Of
course they scout the idea of getting
ten hours pay for eight hours work.
1t seems it would be good thing for
the public at large if this idea could
be carried out. Certainly the EN-
ployer could not object to having ten
men at work instead of eight, when
he would only pay to the ten the total
amount of money he would to the
eight.
The election in Kentucky to-day
incites the News, an evening journal
of much ability in most respects, tC
resurrect the raw-head and bloody
bones fiction about DIR. Luke p
Blackburn, the Democratic candidate
for governor. 1t would seem that
journal so well posted as the New
should be ready to frown down so bast
a charge as that agitated against the
doctor of counseling the introduction
into Northern ports of goods infected
with yellow fever and other contagiou,
diseases. If there was any founda
tion for such charge would not Secre
tary Seward, in 1867, have had the
doctor arrested when he left his exile
in Canada and penetrated South t
lend his services to battle agains
yellow fever in New Orleans and othel
infected regions. If the News il
ignorant of such facts it is high timt
o paper of its high pretensions should
become enlightened. Your CORE
spondent had the pleasure of meetin,
the distinguished doctor in Toronto
Canada, in August, 1861, and wa
much impressed with his noble phys
ique and philanthropic department
A journal that plumes itself upon it
virtue should not make such mistake
as to indirectly insinuate that tn,
United States authorities would winl
at monstrous crime, while i
directly infers that the docto
is guilty as charged by maliciou
slanderers. The covert intent o
this unchristian allusion to the recort
of DR.. Blackburn was to stab tn,
South at large in a vital place. Tn
fortunately for the good of the repub
lie the North is cursed with man,
such yenomous pens as indited th
editorial in the News alluded to. Bu
what can be expected from singl
individual when the whole radica
Republican party basely violated tn
cartels entered into between General
Lee and Grant and Sherman an
Johnston, prominent among who's
leaders Conkling and Blaine VIII
uxuriated at home while brave me
were at the front battling for tn
Union, but who are now frowne
down upon by those hypocritical dis
: ciples of freedom, and not allowed t
participate in the workings Of tn
government they fought to perpetuati
Of verify, the Republican party
ungrateful to that extent that tn
News is off as to Dr. Blackburn
character. 'd
, Mayor Harrison's little Ak Is dali
, chopping off the heads of city official
4 Of course the Republican papers Ger