The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-06-22
GEN. JAS. R. CHALMERS
LIKELY TO BE A CANDIDATE FOR
CONGRESS
In the Second District, Mississippi
His Views on State and
National Affairs.

Reporter nave you any
objections to telling whether you are
likely to be a candidate for Congress in
your district this year?
Gen. ChalmeIs-Likely is a very
proper way to put it. Yes, l am likely
to become a candidate, but | cannot
say positively yet whether l will or
not.
GAS a candidate Of what party do
you expect to rum
~ expect 10 run as an INDEPENDENT
candidate, as l did before"
"Will the Republican and Green
back conventions iDdcrss you as be-
folep
81 do not know whether either of
these parties will hold conventions this
year, as it costs money to attend con-
veniions aud they have very little
money to spend on formalities. If
there should be any other opposition
candidate they may think 1t necessary
to hold conventions to decide who
they will support"
"Have vou any more hopes OF beicg
elected this year than you had two
years ago."
81 was elected two years Ego but
was counted out"
"Well, have you any more hope OF
a fair &C unit this year, and if so, why ?"
Eyes, l have more hope OF fair
count this year for several reasons.
The last time there was the excite
ment Of a Presidentiol election, and
there was great desire in the South
to gee a Democratic President, and
the beys vera determined to count in
the Democratic candidates at all hsz.
ards. This time there will be only a
Congressman to elect. Then a great
many expected to get appointments
under a Democratic administration,
and were working partly for them
selves. But the offices were too few
for the applicants. The loaves and
fishes would not 90 around, and as
the days OF miracles are over the
Democratic multitude had to 60 away
hungry, and they are too mad now to
rob the ballot-boxes to get offices Tor
others. My friend Judge Morgan / as
been especially unfortunate in getting
offices for his Masonic brethren aud
one for brother-in-law, to the great
disgust of others who wanted the
places. And IS he said that he gave
the office to bis brother-iD-law foI
taking care of his family during the
war his party friends were disgusted
at his paying a private debt with a
public Office, and they will not be SC
anxious to count my votes for the
Judge next time"
What party will you advocate in
the canvass p
None, although there is very little
difference between the two great par.
ties, The truth is, man may be fol
or against the silver dollar, for OF
against the Blair educational bill, fol
or against the protective tariff, for OF
against any principle or measure now
before tho people, and call himself
either Democrat or Republican, az he
pleases. There is no great question
on which party lines are strictly
drawn, unless it be the question o
honest elections, and l prefer, there
fore, to call myself an Independent
and not tie myself to either OF the ma
tional parties"
What principles, then, will you ad
vocate ?"
"The same did before. l believe
in legal tender greenbracks and the
free coinage OF silver; in the protec
ton of home industries by judicioui
determinations in the tariff; in tht
principles OF the Blair educational bill
in the regu' alton of corporations, both
by State and Federal authority, anC
the making OF proper laws to protect
lab from the expressions Of c3m
bined capital; in internal improve
ments OF national importance by the
General Government, and especially
the building OF the Mississippi levees
and lss.ly, believe in honest cleo
TONS"
"Doss Judge Morgan differ with you
on any of these questions"
81 do not know how the Judge viii
stand in the next canvass. In thC
last he said on the stump that he was
as good a silver dollar man as l was
and yet in Congress he voted agains
the free coinage of silver. He said ht
was for tariff for revenue only, anC
yet he supp rted the oleomsrgarin'
bill, which was squarely on the doc
trine OF protection. In both these
votss he deserted a majority OF thu
Democrats and voted with a majority
of Republicans; and judging from
his speech on the resolution to in
vestigats the strikes with a view Il
propose legislation, he is for the cor
porations and against the laborers
He said the Knights of Labor SHOULD
be told at once that Congress could d.
nothing for them, and that while tht
railroad managers tod the laborer
they bad no use for them there wa
an end of the matter, and there wa
nothing TO arbitrate about. In this
differ with him."
"What have you 10 cay about Stat
affairs in Mississippi"
ain State affairs l AN strictly op
posed to the Democratic oFganiza
ton in Missi, sippi, which representa-
despotic oligarchy and not {
Democracy, and there is an absolute
necessity for an intelligent opposition
party to scrutinize the acts Of officials
When Gov. Lowry cane into powe
there YVES $4,000 in the treasury, anC
now the treasury is almost bankrupt
= Taxation has been increased and neV
bonds Issued to borrow money TO pa,
current expenses until the deSt is a
: great IS when Ames was driven out ,ant
Gov. Lowry has by culpab!e careless
: ness, to say the least Of it, permitted
the State 10 be beaten out Of thousand
,, of dollars by the lessees OF the peni
. Tertiary, and yet with these charg
brought against him he was renomi
mated and re elected by the oliearchy
aud when Representative OF the PEG
pie dared TO criticise his acts and ga,
that he should be impeached for hi
violations of law, a son of the Gov
ernor, armed with shotgun, stood a
the gates Of the Statehouse ready Il
murder the Representative as he cam
from the legislative hall. This spiri
of despotic absolutism, which woult
shed blood TO silence political opposi
ton, has been SO often exhibited il
Mississippi that this glazing and out
rageous exhibition of it scarcely ex
cited comment from tie prsss Of tn
State, and this has disguised homes
. e h unrrV,Nfap j.