The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-08-08
WHAT Thu NEGROES
OF THE SOUTH THINK OF CLEyE-
LAND.
They Are for His Reelection and for
the Election OF Lee, Of yir-
glnia, Vice President.

/
the Election OF Lee, Of Yir-
glnia, Vice President.
A respondent of the New York
Star, writing from White Sulphur
Syringe, Gays: Tonight the Star cor
respondent had 90 interesting CONVEX
sauon with Walker Lewis, The head
waiter at the Springs. He came TO
the Sprir IS in June, 1889, with Gov.
Floyd. He YVES slave then, owned
by Judge Nicols OF Virginia. Since
that time be has spent every summer
here, aud his winters have been passed
in Washington and Baltimore. Lewis
is 3 shrewd, keen observer. aud an
unusually intelligent negro. In speak
irg OF President Cleveland, he said:
Mr.. Cleveland is greatly admired
by the Southern negroes, and by his
methods has done much 10 turn them
from the Republicans. His appoint.
ment of Matthews ia place OF Fred
Douglass and his refutal to withdraw
the nomination, although be hiss not
been confirmed, has especially pleased
". Then, too, he has acted literally,
aud given men offices when they had
no right to expect them, and has not
disturbed capable men in office simply
because they wers Republicans. The
resppointment OF Postmaster Pearson
Of New York is an instance. It is un-
doubtedly true that at 81 @ time of his
election many of the colored people
believed they would be returned to
slavery, but they now recc gnize that
the statement was simply Republic
can lie, and il has disguised them.
Me-. Cleveland is almost universally
liked, and his course since taking his
seat has been such as 10 win many
Republican vot rs to him. My race
does not FAY very much, but we have
frequent secret meetings and discus
The political questions, and l know he
is popular with the colored people.
With the increase of education we are
becom ng independent and toe time is
not far distant when we will vote as
we think b s., Independent of party.
We are waking up to the fact that the
Democrats are not mortal enemies,
but that it is Us much to their interest
as ours that We should receive educa-
ton aud vote intelligently. In Rich
mond the Democrats pay IS much at
tention to our schools as to the white
schools and equal advantages are be-
ing afforded our children to obtain
education"
"How is Gen. L5e regarded by the
co!ored people ?"
''He is very popular, and if he
should receive the Democratic nomi-
ration for Vice President in 1888 he
would greatly strengthen the ticket.
In f8ct,' Cleveland and Lee would
sweep the South, and l have no doubt
thst MIR. Lee would run well in the
Moth and West. He is a thorough
gentleman and finished scholar, and
nan OF immense personal magnetism.
| know the colored people would be
gsd to have him nominated"
In speaking Of the feeling of the
Mis- issippi negro toward President
Cleveland, State Senator j. B. Bcothe,
OF Jackson, Raid to the Star CORE
spondent: at is undoubtedly true
that in my State President Cleveland
viii receive many negro votes ifrenom-
in. ted without any persuasion there
to. He is very popular and the adj |
minis ration is most heartily indorsed.
OF course tae,e are some few who be. |
lieve in the dochiBe that TO the victor
belong the spoils, but they ere mostly |
disappointed office teekers. The in |
telligent Democrats approve OF his |
policy as t. Federal offices, and bis re-
iu7al to turn competent Republican
official out merely be, ause they are |
Republic MS has been the means of |
winning over many colored votes"
How is the tariff question viewed |
in Mississippi"
THE free trade feeling is rapidly |
growing, and many OF our wealthiest |
merchants favor the abolition Of the |
tariff for revenue only, and the substi-
tuition OF direct taxation. The view |
taken is best expressed in the language
of gentleman with whom | was con.
versing short time ego. He said he
had bought silk dress for his wife at
"a yard, and the duty on it was over
50 per yard, A direct income tax
would meet our views"
"Have you heard any expression of
opinion as to the second place on the
tcketin 1SSSW
"Ihs South would undoubtedly like
to have either Secretary Lamar or
Gen. Lee nominated. The latter gen.
teman is probably the more popular,
and would carry more weight with the
Negroes. While we should like rep
resentaiion on the ticket, however, the
South has grester inter est in obliter-
atiDg every feeling OF sectionalism,
and to that end would not urge repre-
sentation on the ticket as strongly as
it otherwise would. The one greet
desire of the South, collectively and
individually, is 10 have Northern men
recognize that we are American Cili-
zens, and have as great an interest in
the preservation OF the Union as they
have. For meny yeara we have been
most uDjustly represented as being
barbarsns, ready to stab the Northern
man in the back, For the feeling
thereby engendered in the North we
have not and do not blame Northern
people, for we recognize that they
formulated their ideas from
the naliciousIy false statements
made with a purpose by North.
ern Republican papers. We
have remained quiet, believing that,
with the incr5a se Of commercial rels.
tions and the miDgling of Northern
and Southern men, this would be cor
rected. This has, in large measure,
come to pass, and the presentation OF
Southern questions in fair, unbiased
by the Star will materially aid
us. Heretofore we have not had
New York paper that we could place
faith in and lcok TO for Just treatment.
All that we ask is that when we are
right we be defended, and when
wong rebuked. The World, while
read in the South, is not generally
liked, because Of its sensational and
uncfean style and the character of its
editor. Toe Herald is regarded as a
weather vane, ready TO point in any
direction. The Star is liked for its
and bright, fearless discus-