The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-10-08


Joined, and there is every reason to
believe that the former will be re-
elected as triumphant vindicalion
OF his conduct in the present Con-
gress. The folio wirg address, irresist-
IDLE in its logic, has just been Issued
by the chairman OF the Democratic
Committee.
Address OF the Democratic Commft-
tee.
To the Voters of the Third Congressional
District of Mississippi:
In inaugurating the present canvass
for Congress, we deem it proper to
briefly review the situation and call
your attention 10 the issues involved.
Iris is the only district of the State
which has, outside of the issues in
vowed in general politics, direct, vital,
mater al interests to be pr sentsd to,
advocated and urged before the Ma
ii nal Legislature.
The Improvement OF the lower Mis-
sizes ppi by the general government,
and he b,nef;s 10 be Ceiived there
from by the commercial cities and the
alluvial lands Of the district, has for
years past been agreed by common
clnseut to be su nject of prime i'm
portance to their material develop
mont and prosperity.
Two years ego tbs D mocrstic party
pledged itself for The zeal, efficiency
and ability with which its then caDdi-
date, Gen, CatchiDgs, would serv5 the
d st ic, in tbis, is mos, important in-
terest That pledge has been amply
and fully redeemed. The Congress,
then abou. to expire, had refused 10
make any approl ration for tn river,
or to eubsta italy rcc?glize cur har-
bols.
GEN. GaTCHINds,
upon his entrance into Congress, was
enabled at once to obtain position GA
the Rivers and Harbors Committee, a
position which he etill holds and
which may bs said to be essential to
the efficiency of the member repres
ting this district. TO his holding this
po3ition and to his earnest individual
effort is alone due the lacs that the
commercial importance of Vicksburg
end Greenville was recogniz d at the
las 8, ssi0n Of the present Congress,
and appropriations inside fer the pro-
lection OF The r haroors.
But vast y more important to the
district generally was the obtaining If
renewed recognition by Congress OF
the claims of the Mississippi river
upon the public Treasury. The diff
cultiel that stood in the way are but
title understood by the general pub
lie. The rivers and ha,b1rs bill had
barn defeated by the preceding Con-
gres', mainly because Of the item for
the benefit of the Mississippi. The
fret and most important work to be
done at the last session was to secure
favorable action by the committee.
Unless the bill as reported from that
committee contained an appropriation
flr
THE MISSISSIPPI
further effort was idle end hopeless.
Without it, the river would not be
able to obtain even a hearing on the
for OF Congress.
OF the tiItsen members OF that com
miitee only two, Messrs. CatchinRs
aud Blanchard, represented districts
Immediately in erected in the lower
Mississippi. Upon their efflrte main
ly It had to rely for recognition by the
COMMITTEES, and to their efforts is
mainly due the fact that the bill as
reported by the COMMITTEES cont lined
an appropriation of 1000, 900 for the
lower river and appropriations for
Memphis, Gr;enviBe, ViCksburg and
Nov Oleans.
When tie bill came before The
House the appropriation for the MiG-
sissi Jpi river provoked bitter and able
opposition. The railroad interests Of
the North and East, dire city interest,"
ed ia proven log cheap waterway
transportation, combining with those
who antagoniz'd it on conttltu rionsl
grounds, those who desired 10
make party capital by show of econ
omy, those who were unwilling 10
voc anything that benefited the
South, and with the largo number
who felt indifferent and voted on gem
eral principles against the expenditure
of public money, except where ihsir
own districts were Immediately hene-
fitted, made formidable combination,
which was led by the ablest men OF
DO h parties in Congress. The same
combination had defeat I'd tho app o.
priation 10 the p Feeding G ngress.
THE FIGHT WAS HARD
and bitter. 1t dsmapded at the hands
OF tie friends Of the river all Of their
energy, tact, zeal and industry. l. re-
quired work, hard, persistent, unflag-
gIng work.
Always in the right place, always on
the alert, never unmindful of duty 10
his constituency, with his whole soul
and every clergy o. his mind en-
baked in the contest, it can be safely
asserted, aud proved by the record,
that to no one of the gallant little
band of members representing directly
the lower Missit sippi, was the final
succass OF the appropriation for it's
benefit more justly due than to Gen.
Catchings, His position on the COM
mi tee gave him il fluence in framir g
the bill; his ability sOd personal dig
nifty OF character gave HIM weight on
the floor of the House, and his indus
try and ardor made tae hes ute of
his opportunities.
Services of tn g kind era positive,
tar gible. They can he sensiby felt.
Thty amount 10 an infinite deal more
than the Tehec ed glory obtained by a
district from the eloquent airing o.
himself on general subjscts by one of
lis favorite sjns. They signify with
this district
GRADUAL RELIEF FROM TAXATION,
protection from overflow by the
abundant resources OF the govern.
ment, and, through the slime means,