The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-02-11
The MAN TO REPRESENT THIS
DISTRICT In CONGRESS.
Many Reasons Given Why Business
Men, and Farmers Especially,
Should Vote for Him.

OF its correspondent touching Mr..
Phelan's fitness for so honorable q
post.
have thought for tome time that
our friend MADDEN could render Mem
phis more genuine, practical service
in Congress than any other man We
could send to Washington as our Rep
resentative. but it is only too evident
that Memphis cannot do without his
active vigilance for year or two
longer, as railroads and water-works
are likely to monopolizs his time.
During the past year Mr.. Phelan mas
quietly but very positively manifested |
an interest in projected public WORKS
that concern Memphis in no slight de- |
gree; and he has done this in man
ner proving his comprehension OF the
objects sought to Be attained. Recently
he was one OF a committee on
Chamber of Commerce sent to Wash
ington in behalf of the river interests
of this great valley, and though that
committee was composed OF leading
and intelligent merchants they made
him their spokesman before one Of
the most important committees OF
Congress. The compliment was one
that an older head might be proud OF
nHE COMMERCIAL INTERESTS OF MEMPHIS
are already 80 commanding and are 80
rapidly expanding by river and rail as
to demand at Washington Con-
gressional representative Of liberal and
broad views, and of such intellectual
influence as to be able to impress his
opinions upon others. However
worthy a man may be WHO wishes to
represent Memphis in the next Con-
gress, her business men seem to be
taking an active part in matters they
Rave seldom shown in past years, and
if the conversation on street and in
private circles indicates anything it is
this, that the time has come when
Memphis cannot afford to commit her
vast, varied and rapidly grow
ing business and her brilliant pros
poets to the keeping of any Congress
man who, however worthy in all
other respects, cannot secure for them
the calm and Cnselfish consideration
they merit at the hands OF our nation
al legislature. win you hear me
while / attempt to give some Of the
reasons why, just now, Memphis
needs tho active brain Of wide
awake man in Congress- Such another
AGRICULTURAL region cannot be fo5nd on
the globe as that bounded by the
lakes on the north, the Gulf on the
south, and the Alleghanies and the
Rockies on the east and west. The
Mississippi has no equal on either
continent, and the tributaries are
larger and longer, and more numer-
-ous than those OF any other river Of
the world. The valley of the Nile is
partly in the torrid zone, and full of
sandy deserts. That Of the Amazon,
though wonderful in many aspects,
has the disadvantage of being all be-
tween the same lines Of latitude, as its
grand river runs from west to east.
THE MISSISSIPPI,
however, runs from the north to the
south, crosses twenty degrees Of lati-
tude, and the productions of its fertile
valley vary in character with every
mile, as the waters rush from the icy
lakes to the warm gulf. One hundred
and fifty years ago all this valley was
wilderness, tenanted by wild beasts
and as wild red men. The footprint
of the white man was never seen weet
of the Alleghanies except as huntsr,
trapper or explorer. Lcok at this
same valley now. In 1880, not in
Guiding the Territories west of oul
river, it held more than One-half ,oI
the 5O,000,000 people then in the
Union. 1t also had seven-tsnths Of
all the horses and cattle, four.flths Of
all the mules, one-haif of all the
4 II ha
swine in the Union. Among all peo
pie these Cont titute the elements o.
national wealth and prosperity. Fol
six years past the crops of grains, to
bacco, sugar, molasses and cotton beal
the same relative proportion. Couple
al this with the lumber, man
ufacturing, commercial, mining
and transportation business grow
ing from such wonderful re
sources, and then say if such vas
and diversified interests do net neeC
at Washington the ablest men which
this valley can send there, from Min
nesata to Texas.
MEMPHIS NEEDS A GRAND RAILRoAl
BRIDGE
across this river, and we need a
Washington a Congressman who car
convince doubling Thomases" tina
il Congress can protect the commerce
of this river by improving its navigs
ton, it is equally bound to protect tn
commerce which now daily crosse
the river by the costly, uncertain ant
hazardous transfers now used.
If Memphis can sell gain or mea
or anything else TO Alabama ant
Georgia as cheaply as st. Louis can
she needs Congressmen at Washing
ton who will vote for law to proven
railroads from depriving her of he
lust commercial advantages.
There is yet another most potent res
son why Memphis should have 8
Washington as our Congressions
Representative g man Of enlarged au
progressive political opinions. Tn
views more generally entertained ,
our leading statesmen touching tn
duties and obligations OF the FEEDERS
Government upon the subject OF intel
nal improvements are NOT those hel
fifty years ago, and Democrats as We
as Republicans heartily embrace .th
advanced doctrines. The governmeT
spends millions now in improvin
rivers, barbors, ETC., where it e1
pended thousands then, because con
MERGE is now Justly regarded as tn
handmade OF agriculture and all othC
industries. Not only is this view hel
by our present politicians of both pa
ties, but an advanced step has bee
twice taken during the past ten yea
by aiding N the erection aud preuar
ton OF large aud costly building
where the citizens of this and foTeig
lands may see how varied and abun'
ant are our wonderful resources fl
sustaining dense population OF int