Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-02-28
A vGIeE FRps A, 6. MARKS.
I Would Not stOOp to plAcats NY
Pnemies.
When the ShOR is Done Failing !
p VIII shove IL Away.
W1xcHEsrEn. Trvy.. Feb. !.

puLbcQIulDB tue mhlice VI NY 'tututeh
| will never s.0oD to placate them.
The celebrated historian. Froude, in
one Of his works, says.--"The dispo
sition to believe evil OF men who
have risen n few degrees above their
contemporary, is a feature in human
nature as common as it is base; and
when to envy are added fear and ha.
tired. malicious anecdotes spring like
mushrooms in firing pit" This Is
his conclusion after the widest survey
Of human nature in all ages Of the
world, and if he be right, then in
fact the assaults Of my enemi,s are
nothing more than the tax which theiI
tear, envy and hatred levy upon the
elevation which the Partially of the
people has given me, and. therefore
while enjoy, the distinction, | ought
to pay the tax upon it without com,
plant.
The matter to which you refer, in
stead OF being a source of regret, af
fordedNaccasion for one of the proud.
est incidents Of my life, and before
close my letter you will see my reason
for so declaring
Differing from Colonel Polk in my
views upon important public policies
Yeti esteemed him one of the purest
men and loftiest characters 10 the
State, and while his misfortune ha.
discredited him in public esteem, YET
still regard him as the, victim Of
subtle temptations and not innately 9
dishonest man. The opinion | had
of him was shared by the public al
large. state this to show hew absurd
it is, if | had gone to Colonel Polk tc
borrow money when quit office. tc
infer that he knew he was violating
bis oath and committing a peniten
tiary o6ense by lending it. But the
facts are not that way. ! never Dor.
rowed dollar Of him nor never asked
him to lend me dollar. When came
TO quit Office | was not aware | owed
him dollar To my surprise he had 9
demand of $4l4 90 When it was ex
planned ! found his demand correct
1t arose in this way; Some time before
it was determined that my wife, theT
and for long time before quite feeble
should 20 to Hot Springs | was Their
at home with her. Believing it mJ
duty while in office to accept benefits
from none, | had destined both fol
myself and family the usual courtesiei
extended by railroads. The expense
this conception Of duty entailed upoI
me while candidate for Governor anC
while | was performing the duties o
the Office, to which was added thu
unusual expenses OF long and severe
illness OF my wife, forced me from time
to time to rely upon the generosity o.
my friends. At the time referred to
wrote to my private secretary to procur,
tickets for my wife and attendant and
10 let me have sufficient money t
ansger her -present wants. This hi
did, and supposed | owed him thr
amount, bat / was then for the frs
tine informed that Colonel Polk ha,
| let him have the money. This demand
vith sundry items of expense, paid 70
tOliice, constituted the amount du
| Colonel Polk. Then and there, aut
as soon rs found was in debt t
| Polk | offered to pay him the amour
| due him He said to me that he di
not need the money then, and that
might need what money had Will
resuming the practice Of my profession
he would wait on me. | told him
would not ask him 70 indulge me. an
that | was ready to pay him then. II
] replied that he Was able to let me oW
him that much until he called for i
and when be needed it he would cal
on me for il. Under this state Of FACT
[ gave him my due bill
If, in fact, he had then loaned m
money, | would never have known
! could not be the money Of the Stat
, for the reason at that immediate tim
! he had to make his settlement an
show every dollar due the State to /
! in bank.
Immediately | was thrown I'M
; sharp conflict with Colonel Polk upt
I the 1908. | was sntagonizing hi
where he had thousands involve
Hence | prepared myself to pay II
! note the moment he made deman
but he made no demand. The d.
the General Assembly met called
his Office to pay him the amount
4 owed him. but he was not 10 his ofiC
e In few days be had fed The ne
q Monday after bis fight | was in Mas
2 vile to argue a case in the Supren
$ Court. While | was Ia my room
= the hotel that day, a friend Of mi
Il came to me and told me that CAPITA
e Bhjldress had my due bill to Colon
IS Polk, out no one knew the fact b
u Captain ChiidFess and himself of 4
existence OF tie due bill; that | cou
v take it up and thereby avoid all nj
a conception about the matter, Al
Ie that no one could ever know that
e had ever owed Colonel Polk sa
y Captain Childress and himself. | ga
d to him that | was ready to pay I
3 note. but that | was unwilling to ha
the facts concealed from the publ
that l had never tried to conceal a
act of mine, and that | "
y growing too old to begin now.
answered me that it was a mere D
vate matter between Colonel Polk a
myself with which the public had
concern, but as the public mind "
2, then excited by Colonel Poll
"a default and fight, if the fact becal
T. public that | owed Colonel 20
however innocent the transaction,
y enemies would take advantage Of it
le assail me. ! replied that il they
e assail me | would simply glory in I
fact that had deliberately PREFER
y TO play the man rather than stoop
ID escape the assaults Of my enemies.
told him to tell Captain Childress Il
le il he would call on me would !
x the note, but upon the condition Il
y, he published the fact to the wo
y that | owed Colonel Polk the n,