Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-09-24
plain Speech.

EDITOR LEDGER have always
been an admirer of the Howards
and believe the objects of that organi-
cation to be beyond all praise, but
cannot close my eyes to the manner in
which a good object may be attained.
| look upon it as a great, uncalled for
humiliation for the president of that
association to appear before the world
in the character of beggarman on
the authority of none but those be-
longing to that body. If they ever
consulted the public have not seen an
account oft. They may have thought
that there was no other resource but
surely they might have inquired
whether the people of the city and
State were willing to place themselves
in that attitude, before acting as they
have done.
Matthew Bramble's letters, apart
from their irony and witticisms, GER
tainly show Irregularities which should
have been properly inquired into and
promptly stopped The doing so would
have been somewhat a saving; and if
others Of the visitors were so extrava-
CANT, a probably great saving. The
action of the association in that mat
ter is not such as might have been
expected. And to shut out the
reply of Mr.. Larkin to the bold asser-
tions of the committee, as a morning
paper is said to have done, together
with che mode of selecting that com
mittee and their report, make the
statements Of Mr.. Larkin look worse
than, it may be supposed, they are.
1t is also hard to reconcile the action
of that morning cotemporary in refus-
ing to publish the reply to the report,
and yet keep standing in its columns
question as to the veracity, either of
the Howards or its absent president.
The cOntrariety can only be accounted
for by the supposition that it has lost
its head in more senses than one. But
that sheet does a great injury to
the Howards by the trifing excuses
it makes for them. The Howards
should be above all apologies,
and every effort taken to avoid
even suspicion. In my opinion
Bramble would make the frmest
friend; because he who warns
me of my errors is of more SER
vice than he who palliates them.
They inviting those who honestly dis
approve Of certain things to take hold
and do better, is the schoolboy's great
argument, which provokes but smile
from rejecting men. To say that
because good is done, ills that could
be easily remedied should be tolerated
is not good morality. And to acknowl.
edge that so few complaints are heard
is positive injury in this case, for il
is fast bringing the Howards into dis,
repute. They cannot be aware of the
feeling of the public; the complaining
is greater than they conceive. Many
say there should be reduction of the
unnecessary expense Of ten or twelve
buggies for visitors and others, being
about the same number for the smal
amount of sick this year as for the
very large one of last year. And an.
other subject which has been very mucE
spoken of is the notification, some
time ago, of the city being divided
into three districts, with one doctor
only, for each. That this arrangement
was not carried out before yesterday is
unfortunate, for it not only makes many
talk severely about the association
but numbers view it as a breach Of
promise to the public, Why it was
not fulfilled sooner, the managers, nc
doubt, can tell and it is becoming
necessary to themselves to do so, that
they may enjoy the respect and conf
dence which they should. The acting
president may be assured that the
association is fast sinking in public
estimation, which might easily be
changed by the application Of such
business tact and economy as is usual
in private affairs. have already
troubled you too long, Mr.. Editor,
and may ask your indulgence on
another occasion. OBSERVER.
,,,npa, fha Il