Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-01-11
Two phoaoxraph. OF POLE.

The Cincinnati Neus Gays of Polk, that
"he was genial companion, with a remark
ably bright vein of sparkling wit. He had
been once exceedingly dIssipated, but for
twenty years he had practiced absolute total
abstinence. He was man without vices,
but not the ordinary class-leadiug or psalm
singing defaulter. He was social, ioyial,
ran with the boys, but spent money moder-
ately, and Joined in none but the most
innocent pleasures, no matter what others
did. He was in no way extravagant,
and yet he fell. His case is as sad
q one as was ever recorded. We do not
believe he ever did a dishonest or dishon-
orable thing in his life before. That does
not lessen the crime, but it saddens it, and il
warns him who vaunteth himself to beware.
temptation has many guises, and no one
knows be Is safe until the death-rattle ad-
vises him that the account is closed. When
the war ended, leaving Polk out OF service
and poor, he went 10 work, and partly in a
country newspaper and partly on a farm
made mesger but decent living. Six
years ago he was elected treasurer of the
State. Without business habits or business
knowledge, simpie-mInded man, as simple
as child, he feel into the hands of the
rings and sharks which invest State
whose people are noble and honest, be-
gulled by demagogues to believe that they
ought not to pay up an honest debt, or hsv-
ing honestly .rettled it ought TO readjust it.
The result of the policy has made the State
prey 10 rings and sharks of all parties and
factiops. Simple-minded, and simple in his
tastes, not strong in will or exceeding strong
| In capacity, he was a pure and honorable
man until beguiled and led beyond his depth
by designing knaves. 1t may be that he de-
ssr~es no mercy, and will receive none al
the hands of those who gle poor frailty
names,' but no manly man will deny sym.
pathy. The sharks who involved him in
speculation, who promised that no loss
should befall; who feeced him. are the crim
luals. Folk cannot 20 free OF deep blame
lor assuming that he could honestly USE
funds not his own if he was sure he coulc
replace them; but his was lighter crime
Tor there was not the intent TO defraud
Still, 1t was indefensible, the highest Grim,
under popular government, crime sgsins
the people,"
The Courier. Sournos says. 'The offense O.
| Col. Folk Is only heightened and intensified
by his origin, his experience and his sur
roundiugs 1t is hard thing to believe, ans
still harder thing to say, but the conclu
sion seems inevitable that he was a thief a
heart His wit, his breeding and his assump
lions are terrible witnesses against himself
He was ruffle-shirted Southron of tn
Southrons; keen, polished and false. Their
cannot be found the smallest pretext for hi
crime against his order and the State. Per
sonal courage be had in plenty, and larg
personal popularity aud a great pame
and he might have defed, coufounded ant
scattered the corruptionists who infested tn
capital of Tennessee. He has not 30 mucl
as the poor excuse of debauchery to plea,
in behalf of his complete moral dissolution
and though he must forever henceforth
wherever he abides, in or out of prison, be
hold himself the most famous criminal O
the South, he has not, for all his pluck o
the battlefield, the courage to end life {
no further use to himself and thorough
disgraceful in the eyes of those who love
him best,n