The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-10-26
SENATOR /. C.WALTHALL'S
SPEECH, DELIVERED AT BY
HALIA, MISS, YESTERDAY.
Touching AllusiOns to His Early Days
President Cleveland and the
Public Interests.
ESPECIAL TO THE APPKAL.I


going up from nthis place, including
the Holly Springs Cornet Band. Gen,
Walthall spoke as follows:
at has strangely 30 happened that
have never made speech in this
county, though it has been the home
of my family for nearly fifty years |;
my father spent his life here and
those nearest to me in blood, who are
living, live here and thoie who are
gone are resting in the cemetery at
your county site. My early life was
spent here, my education, sill l ever
had was received within the sound OF
your courthouse bell. Your young
men OF my day were nay school fellows.
Your young women were my early
friends, and among your older citiz ems
/ found the guides and patterns for
my latter life. l studied myIprofession
in this country, and Just thirty-four
years ago this present month ] set out
from here to make my humble begin
ming in the world, aud now, sfier all
these years Cf vicisitude and trial,
come hack to you with whatever l
have gathered in the fields where l
have labored aud l come to say to
you with gratitude ard pride that if
there bs anything of usefulness or
honor in my career as citizen,
soldier or Senator, it is largely due
to the early influences thrown
arouad me here. To the ex-
ample Of the great men of Marshall
clunty set before me in my
youth and 10 the kindness and oo1f-
dencs OF her generous people. Since
! went out from among you the du-
ties of a omewhat busy life have de-
MED me the privilege of acquaintance
with many of those whom 1 have
been so closely identified in interest
and in heart. The exac ions OF q la
boiious profess on end the interest of
others committed to my charge have
taken the time, which, had l felt
free to follow my tastes and inclination,
would have been spent among my
friends and in seeking to find
new ones among the people to
whom L am indebe ed for 80
much kindness and good will. My
life is still busy one, mora go than
ever before, but 1 have no business
now but the peoples bu iness and no
aim but to perform the duties belong
ing to that business worthily and
well. To do this l must see the pso-
pie and learn their wants and receive
their commands, and moving through
the State with this in view my busi-
ness and my pleasure becams the
same" He then proc seded to COLI
gratulate the people upon the present
condition of affairs in the State,
referring to the many evi
dences of progress and prosper
ity to be seen on every hand.
After contrasting the condition Of
ssissippi now and eleven years ago,
when the Democracy redeemed the
State from alien rule, he dwelt at some
length upon the improvement in it's
status as a member of the Federal
Union resulting from the election of
Democrat C President. He discussed
the course and policy of the President
end referred to the criticisms upon
him in some quarters in connection
with the matter of removals and ap.
pointments TO Office; he showed that
the ordeal of the President had been
tryiT g and severe; that,his duties were
difficult and delicate and the weight
and press ure on b m tremendous. For
new party, after being out of power
twenty-four years, to come in now,
to manage the complex machinery |
of this great government, to uncover |
corruption, and cut off extravaganza
and cut down expenses when the |
country is al the time expanding, and
give attention to removals and sp-
pointments, and at the same time de-
wise measures for the general good, |
was gigantic undertaking, and the
wonder is the progress has been so
rapid and satisfactory, and if we will
but stand by the President to the end
we will see the full fruits OF his grand
beginning. He announced his ap-
proval OF the Presidents course, and
said he was stronger than when he
was elected, to which the aud ence
by warm and hear
ty applause. He called atte ntion
to the condition of Missis-
sippi as to Federal offices. Before
O. Ceveland was elected every Federal
office 10 Mississippi worth having was
hold by a Republican, or some man
fighting the Democ ratio party: whose
was the price of his ap-
pointment and the tenu g by which
he held his place. Now these places
are held by Democrats acceptable to
the people, and if Cleveland had done
this for us and nothing more we
would be we'll repaid for all the
political battles we have fought. the
national Democracy and the President
would be entitled to our highest
praise" He proceeded then to review
the most prominent acts of the sd-
and the Presidents
courss as to the leading sub
iects of public interest, including the
river and hsrbor bill, pensions, civil
service, the reappointment of Mat
thews, the Edmonds resolution, ETC.
He then discussed the three national
questions which he said mostly con.
,erned this great agricultural State,
viz: Finance, transportation Snd the
ar fl. He devoted considerable time
20 each OF these, especially the tariff,
n which the people seemed particu-
arly interested, as evidenced by their
'epeate1 manifestations of sp-
orovsl of the speakers argu-
nent. He used no figures or
but dealt with the cues
ion as question OF taxation, and ar
,ued thar, like other taxation. it
Ihould be. limited to the needs of the
government. We will not undertake
o reproduce the speakers arguments
IN this subject, but the univelsa al com
nent was that the subject was so
clearly presented, stripped of details
md puzzling statistics, that it was
made clear and simple to the under.
tanding of every man present. The
peaker referred to what the united
md organized white Democracy had
lone for Mississippi, and contrasted
What had been done for the negro by
he people of the South with what had
'een done for Inn by these to whom
le is mainly indebted for his free.
.om. He showed that the negro had
nade substantial progress in Missis-
ippi eaDeCiaily since the nonooorots