The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-12-29
THE HARPER PATTY.
What Harper's Weekly Has to Say
About Their Reception az
the SOmlh

Harper's Weekly: The gentlemen
who on behalf Of the publishing house
OF Harper & Brothers have recently
made q prolonged excursion in the
Southern States, returned few days
ago with the most delightful impress
sions of their journey. The party,
which made the tour on the invitation
and as the guests of Mr.. John Fl. In
man, a merchant with large interests
North and South, and devoted and
enterprisiDg friend of American in
udustriee, was composed OF Messrs.
Charles Dudley Warner, Kirk Nun
roe, Charles Graham, John Durkin,
Horace Bradley and William Armitage
Harper, authors and artists, and rep-
resentative of the Harper Publishing
House. They were received every
where with courtesy and kindness
and hospitality which cannot be for
gotten. The object OF the visit was to
zee the "New South" to observe the
social, industrial and educational
changes of the last few years, in order
that the actual condition Of "the
South" might De faithfully reported
by pen and pencil, and the good feel
ing which springs from accurate
knowledge, and which binds every
part of the country more closely than
ever before, may be confirmed and
strengthened.
For such a purpose there could be
no happier selection of leader than
Mr.. Warner. His trained faculty Of
shrewd observation, his just mind and
ready sympathy, his great diligence
and large experience in travel, his
tact and humor and cbeeriness, which
make him always a charming com.
panion, especially fitted him for this
enterprise. His companions were all
animated by the came spirit, and the
little private embassy, We are sure, was
a very happy representation, which
"the North cannot send nor "the
South" welcome without mutual adj
vantage. The party left New York on
the I'd of November, and proceeded to
Lynchburg, Richmond, Danville, At
lanta, Augusta, Charleston, Knoxville,
Chattanooga, South Pittsburg, Nash.
vile, Birmingham, Montgomery, Pen
sacola, Mobile, New Orleans, Baton
Rouge, ViCksburg, Memphis and
Louisville. They were received with
friendly warmth by the Mayors of the
cities and boards Of trade and industrial
corporations and clubs and prominent
citizens. In New Orleans Mr.. Charles
Gayarre, the historian of Louisiana, at
q pleasant meeting of the municipal
authorities and other citiz ens, made
an eloquent and admirable speech OF
welcome, breathing the most gener-
GUS rational spirit, blended with q
Just local pride. The members of the
party visited, under the best auspices,
the schools and colleges and mines
and factories and plantations, seeing
the various processes of many indus.
tries, and obtaining specific and valu-
able information Of every kind, and
they have returned with the profound
conviction that the impulse Of a new
and healthy life has penetrated the
whole frame of life end activity in
those States, which will tend to make
the common national life stronger and
better.
The results Of the observations and
the conclusions OF "the Harper party"
will appear in continuation OF the Sc
iies already begun in the Harper peri.
odicals upon "the new South" Po-
litical differences and the friction of
races are yielding to the benefcent
touch of healthy industrial enterprise
and fresh prosperity. Mr.. Warner
has already done great and truly ma
tional service in recording his views
of the social situation in the Southern
States, and his wise aud judicious
spirit is that of patriotic men every
where. Peace hath her victories, and
her leaders are not less highly re-
nowned than those of war. We shall
be very glad If this little "voysge of
discovery in the South" as 1t was
gayly and happily called by Mr..
Gayarrs, shall result, as we do not
doubt that it will, in binding more
closely interests and ties and a COM
mon welfare which know no South
and no North, but only one land, and
in confirming the lines Of Goethe,
"North and South and every land
Rest within his peaceful hand"