Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-01-24
WASHINGTON LETTER.
IpeoiaI Oorrespondenee Of ths Lrparn.

tennessee that even the census opera
lions are to be made political instru-
nentalities for the Republican party.
n State where there is but one Re-
publican congressman elected, the
Democrats are given only two of the
fve census supervisors, although The
aw expressly provides that the ap-
pointments shall not be made because
Pt political opinions. The Memphis
district has been given VIM. M.
Pmith, Republican, whose obligation
Will be to select his enumerators from
Emong the members of his party. He
good stalwart and an honest man.
have never heard his integrity ques
Toned. Mr.. ALI. G. luther is not
italwart, hence he did not get the
domination, although endorsed by
Edward Shaw, W. w. Thacher, f, s.
Davis and General R. f. Patterson.
iMr. luther didnot get the nomination
or United States marshal. He has
pot reaped any official harvest in the
Republican field. He is not likely to
Pnjoy much political preferment from
Mr. Hayes. There are few better
men perhaps in the Memphis branch
Df the Republican party; there. are,
however, severer Radicals in that de-
partment. Either Mr.. luther or MIR.
Smith would, as Republicans, be ac-
peptable to the people of Memphis,
or no one could have believed it pos
bible for the Radical administration to
represent the true interest and the
merited wishes of the intelligent peo-
ple of Tennessee. The list Of names
for supervisors has been selected for
political purposes, and includes many
, carpetbagger, whose mind is yet
fresh with the recollections of plum
ler-in the South. Memphis is for
tunate in having for supervisor
of census gentleman of integ-
Irity, who will discharge his duty.
The meeting for the benefit Of the
irish sufferers, last night, in this city,
Mas of strange composition. The Jew
land the native American, the Ger
man, the Irishman and the negro
lwere represented. The meeting was
largely attended Senator Thurman,
Speaker Randall, Fred Douglass,
/ 1(colored) Senator Jones, of Florida
Hon. W. W. Corcoran, being present
Hon. Casey Young, one of the five
distinguished gentlemen invited to ad.
dress the meeting, was not present
but through Mr.. Michael McMeogh
contributed S25 to the relief fund
THE largest contributor was Hon. W
Nv. Corcoran, who gave $1,000. This
Iphilanthropist is one of the most hon
ored and esteemed of American citi
zens. Fred Douglass, the noted negro
Orator, who is now marshal of the Dis
ltrict of Columbia, gave IS to the relic
of the suffering Irish. This char
lity speaks for itself, and is al
eloquent exponent of the charity, that
comes from the members Of every race
Ito the suffering thousands of Ireland
IThe proposition of Hon Mr.. Ellis
that congress donate S5OO,OOO for the
lrelief of the starving people in Ireland
lis a stinging rebuke to the naughty
English government, which has grown
rich and become great at the expense
of her colonies and by the most cruel
and systematic science of political out
RACES known to modern civilization
And yet our own country, with hel
boasted freedom, ignores consideration
ipf the tlct that in Rhode Island the
HIrish are disfranchised. We forget
that by the act of the Republican
party a native Of ireland, though a
citizen of the United States since his
Infancy, is denied the political right
of the native negro.
A native Of Ireland may amass a
fortune, may be equal in ability, judg-
ment and wisdom to the foremost
statesman of the land, yet he is
Ineligible to the office of President Of
the United States. Not so with the
negro and other natives of America.
Among the measures of interest
pending in the house is Mr.. Reagan
Interstate Commerce bill, which
seeks to regulate railroad freigh
rates, and prevent determinations
The bill is beiGg argued before The
house Commerce committee, and, it il
said, will be defeated by reason o
great talk and railr6sd influences
Probably such bill is needed, Pos
Isibly Memphis would, by the passage
of such bill, fnd relief from the
alleged railroad discrimination,
for which her interests have hereto
fore vainly sought redress. How Will
the steamboats,? They carry cotton
to New Orleans at less rates than they
bring it to Memphis? ? some one asks
The demands of commerce prObsbl!
give St. Louis advantages that Mem
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