The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-05-30
DR.. PORTER OF MEMPHIS.
A FULL LENGTH PORTRAIT OF
HIN BY A GOOD HAND.
A Record That He May Be Proud
9f-What He Did TO Save the
City Of Memphis.

Southern Reporter: He is one whom
bis enemi s, if he has any land what
good man has not?), acknowledge tc
be a vtritable hero, sans peltr, sans re.
procite, as well as true, noble-hesr
gentleman and the very soul of honor
In public snd in private lif9 he has
won hosts OF frienos, WI, will remain
his friends till life ends. In his heroic
and self-sacrificinQ devotion to his
suffering fel ow-titizens in 1879 he
proved himself ev far more a hu.
manita' ian than was the p overbial
Good Samaritan He not only eac-
rifle d his personal com ort when,
with ample means at his command,
he could have flown like a bird TO
the mountains" and been beyond
the reach OF epidemic and sickness,
but he gave freely OF his means, and
sked life itself, that he might allevi-
ate the suherings OF his fellow-men.
many OF whom were strangers to him.
All this he cid, and continued to do.
without thought of reward, other
thaa that which every good man has
a right to expect in theapproval of his
own conscience, till stric en- down and
brought to deaf as door himself by the
terrible disease. After a very severe
attack he recovered sufficiently t. be
sent off by his physicians to recuper-
ate After this terrible cloud had been
lifted another, little less depressing
and alarming, hung over Memphis
like a dark pail. DR. Porter was cal ed
to meet snd raise this one also, and
here again he made sacrifices and ex
hibited a devotion that were sublime
Assuming the reins of government
when Memphis ailai and prospects
were at toe lowest possible ebb and in
the greatest confusion, he brought
order ont OF chaos and placed
Memphis on the high road to pros
perity, on which she has ever since
continued. Firm, but Just in his adj
ministration, he both did end Ieouired
justice, in all his dealings W tn the
proudest and richest, as with the
humblest d the poorest OF the citi-
zens of the then tt icken and unhappy
city. Few indeed ara the men who
would not h We quailed at the task
that lay before him So Tar from DIR.
Pc ter's doing so, however, the very
diff ulties and obstacles that present
ed themselves seemed TO nerve and
stimulate him. 1t was a time when
or even hesitaucy, would
have brought iailu @, and failure would
have brought disaster and ruin. Only
the most unshrinking courage and the
most unimpeach BILE judgment and in
tegrity uld meet the demands-nay.
the nece sites OF the times and the
case. DIR. Porter possessed these in an
eminent degree. He took the helm
when the ship VS. Laundering;
guided her over the shoals and break
ers, and brought her into safe anchor
age. He fayed the credit, saved the
health, End, we DO not know that we
should be st aiming the truth if we
should say, h. saved the life of Mem.
Dh's. When he went into office, Mem. !
oh was bound hand and foot, and !
was deemed little better than a grave.
yard so far as health was concerned. |
The epidemic OF 1879, though far less
than that of rs, increased,
'ather than diminished, the gloom
hat hung over the city; but the work
naugurated and prosecu ed so wisely
md vigorously by DIR. Porter, caused
he dawn of new era, and now, less
han eight years from his assumption
II the reins of government, Memphis is
n a higher state of prosperity, and
property is higher than ever before.
even the Partially of friend hip will
'ot award all the credit for this state
f things to DIR. Porter, but no one
will deny him very large part of it.
lie is yet in the prime of life, hearty,
Iealthy and vigorous, and he has
os's of friends everywhere, who
arnestly hope there many years
I usefulness yet before him. May he
We long and prosper continually.