The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-09-24
HE PLEBEIAN
so MERRILL SAYS OF JAMES
PHELAN,
The Democratic Candidate for Con-
gress In This District-A Man
or aud For the People.

was Csp'. John Phelan, who psrlic:-
pated in the ba tie OF Vinegar Hill and
was d. iven out OF Ireland at the point
of the bayonet. A line al dt seer dant az d
ancestor of his was brother OF James
Phelan, Bishop Of Os,ory, which was
the esrldom OF Thomas BuIler, dis
tinguishtd soldier committed to the
tower by Crom we'll for fighting in the
rebellion. The father Of the nominee
was James Phelsn, Confederate sens.
tor from Mississippi, whose brother,
John d. Pheiau, was Attorney Gener-
al OF Alabams, Speaker of the House
OF Representatives and Supreme
Judge Of The State. Gee of Judge
Phelall's sons, Ellis Phelan, was re-
Gently Alsbama's Secretary OF
State. The family, though Irish, have
a touch OF Scotch hood through
the present Jim Phelan's grand
mother-the tource from which comes
their striking bulldog tenacity of pur-
pose. 1t is happy combination-th
warm, rich I.ish blood which impels
Que to the defense of his friends and
hla honor, AID just enough OF the
Scotch to make him sick. On his
mothers side he is rsll ted to the
Moores, of A ALBANIA, one OF the lead
ing families Of the South. An aunt is
the wife OF Gov. O'Neal, row the
Governor of Alabama II there is
any hing in blood-aad there is much
in blood, though nothing in empty
tit 'es- Jim Phelan is of tie best. And
yet
HE rs REGULAR PLEBRIAN-
one Of the most pronounced in the
couniry-wbat is generally known as
"a peoples mar" He was born that
way, and comes honestly by it through
beredity, He is one of the kind
whom, from hoyhood, everybody re-
fer ed to as "lhe Judge" aud was
called sod Jim" before he was ten
years OF aye. His perfect simplicity OF
character and lack OF affect ton are
the qualities which attach his friends
to his personal fortunes. To see him
walk along the street, the "prow" of
his wool ha: "set diggin' upward" (uot
turned up at an angle Of about for,y
degrees, one would take him for
young farmer who hsd just driven a
load of corn to town and was hunting
purchaser. Tall, anlular, and fur
ihest removed from the dude, he wears
his clothes as ii other hands than his
own had adjusted the wardrobe.
Toe APPEAL says she comes dan.
gerously near the borders OF
genius" and l imagine he was more
surprised than anyone else to
hear it. W. D. Hogel's seys there is
no such thing as genius, but l prefer
the only sensible definition OF that
quality, to-wit: That genius is energy.
In this view he Is genius. He is a
thorough business man, a man Of at.
fairs, successful aud eminently practi-
ca, as his canvass for Congress has es.
tsbl shed. The s:uidv firmtrs Of the
district, having heard of him as a
graduate at home, and aftevwald CT the
greaC German University of Leipsic,
when meeting face 10 facs at first con-
sidered him paradox-"a split anti
the ically mkt" In Germany he
took the degrees OF Doctor OF Philoso-
phy-tbe youngest foreigner who
ever took degree at Lsipsic. Aud
yet he he'd never "been to Yur-up."
He simply went to Europe South
erner and came back an American
one OF the best educated in the State.
He is a hard and laborlous student and |
is preparing the history Of Tennessee
for the Commonwealth series now |
being published by Houghton,
Miffln q Co. He will 90 to |
Congress, not according to what
ia Tor was several years ago. Mr.. |
Watteison's ideal OF genius of the |
present age, to wit: a hellerverfellef |
in high heel boots, spike tail coat and |
stovepipe hat, but as heavy weight |
champion. AS a popular hero and
ideal ne will attract at once more than
the recognition usually accorded most |
new members. As a worker in COM
mittfe, / predict that he will step 10
the front at bound-a plain, blunt
man, who loves his friends, and the
kind that his friends delight to honor.
His qualities as a aesman must be
yet tested, though he has accomplished |
enough 10 givs an earnest of the |
future. HIS faculty Of remembering
names Is remarkable. A prominent
Fayet'e politician says he knew the
name OF a most every man in that
county. The same Characterization that |
won the woIkingmen Of the city won
the hearts OF the country people.
Some Of them had remarked that ss a
rule they
HAD no USE FOR THOSE CITY FELLOWS"
but alter seeing him they said Jim
Pbelan was more like farmer than
any man 10 Memphis His friends !
claim that he made no single mistake
during the canvass, though several
times he went contrary to their adj
vice. They said he was daring too
much, bot the result justified the au-
dacity. His methods are peculiarly
like guerrilla warfare. His attacks
have been surprises, and 60 far ire
s'stible. AS an organic ,r-but results
speak for themselves. AS a an he is
, fable and pleasant, fond of banter
ing bis friends, with whom he is an
idJl. One night in saloon, in crowd
of workingmen who were bsf ettirg
him with joke and jest, q great, big
jolly lehman got off on him an anec
dote that brought down the ceiling
Pie ans reply was to "hand him one
on the ear" in the utmost good humor,
and with manner aud Rrimsce that
redoubed the hilarily. He has a mack
among friends Of pulling thsir beard,
or stabbing them with the thumb, or
slepp ng them on the shoulder in
familiar wsv which does not breed
contempt, for he knows everybody,
and With everybody he is plefn
Jim" hold that one must have
kindly nature TO win the popular
heart. No one can, for any length of
time, sustain the arts OF demag lgue.
He will be off his guard here-R;ll
make a mistake thsIe-will fail in q
few months and fall.
Jim Pnelan, now about 20 years OF
age, has gown up with the young
men OF Memphis, and they all believe
in bin. Though RECON- zed as the
young mems candidate, he is equally
popular with most of tbs Oldest aud
most influential merchants, business
and professional men in the city. At
first 1t WAS claimed that his competitor
would command the support OF what
il known here as Front Row, But