The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-10-11

which all thinking men, especially Of the
southern portion OF our nation, should
seriously read, reread aud consider. Gen.
Sherman is not, as you flippanily remark
Gin his dotage," nor is it any indication OF
bitterness" toward any one section OF his
common country for him or others to ex-
press the opinion that each and every
American citizen is entitled, under our
constitution, to every political right ac-
corded TO any other citizen. | am not
astonshed at the denial Of this proposition
by some newspapers in the country; but
the ''old reliable" APPEAL, under its pres
ent able management, should lend itself 10
the Endorsement OF any political policy
not equally and alike just to each and
every citizen, is thing | do not like
to think it capable oi doing. When Gen.
published in the North american
Rerie,r, his deliberate assertion that "the
northern people will not long permit the
negro vote to be suppressed and yet be
counted in the political game against
Them" he says what | know, from the
last three months sojourn among them, to
be the well.nigh universal feeling and
spirit prevailing them. And Is there any
thing unnatural or surprising in this?
Would YOU or | feel different II their and
our positions were reversed You know,
and know, and indeed every candid and
truthful man will not gainsay it, that, in
many places, the negro vote is not now
fairly received or counted. In some
places II is not even permitted TO be un-
contestedly cast 1t is no satisfactory ex-
cusc TO say that they are ignorant, and
therefore disqualified. So, also, are many,
very many, votes cast unmOlcsted 10y ig-
norant white citizens. The constitution Of
the United States conferred upon the
negroes, whether wisely or not, the right
OF suffrage, knowing them 10 be
In this condition, but "a the sole
means OF protecting them in their
newly acquired citizenship. Both houses
Of Congress discussed all thcs, issues fully
and freely ut the time, and the franchise
was finally conferred upon the late slave,
but now citizen, simply and solely that
our Declaration Of independence and
charter OF liberties might mean what IL
says, that this government is a democracy
government OF majJrities, a govern
ment OF the people, 10y the people and Tor
the people.
Now, there are with Ms at least six or
seven millions OF these durk-skinned
American citizens, not less than one.tcnth
OF the entire American people They are
naiiyc.bOrn and without sympathy with
any other nation or flag. Is their native
colored ignorance any more dangerous
than the hordes OF foreign white ignorance
'-|rrw with ms and being annually added to
our population 10y indiscriminatc immigra-
ton? Think OF this, and think OF II with
out prejudice. These seven millions Of
negroes are growing rapidly in numbers,
and will soon be ten or twenty millions.
Is II right, IN II cxpcdlent, even II Il was
practicable, TO continue, by fraudulent
methods, 10 deprive them Of their consti-
tutional prcrogaiivcs? suppose YOU could
for a time by illegal means succeed in do
ing 30, would not the cost, trouble aud
anxiety be worth more than the end
gaincd2 Then again, consider the exist
enre in our midst OF these millions Of de-
rided and dissatisfied citizens, living in
daily knowledge that they were without
the sympathy aud support OF the great
government, which had spent 5000, OOO,-
900 20 free aud eniranChso them; aud
imagine the effect upon their purposes and
intentions. Ali Mr.. Editor these arc
fruitful themes for reflection by every
patriotic man, especially in the south.
Admit that Ignorant suffrage Is dangerous
how infinitely more dangerous the
fraudulent deprivation Of IL 10 any
class? Ii every man, even though
ignorant, is peacefully permitted 20
cast n legal and unobstucted ballot, he
becomes ut once part aud parcel OF the
government, and soon begins 10 learn even
though ignorant, the value Of casting n
thoughtful vote. II, on the other hand,
the present habit in many places Of de.
priving by all sorts Of illegitimate and
fraudulent methods, the elector Of his
sacred right, II can be easily seen how ul-
timately the class 30 outraged may set
about 20 aycngc, by some means, the
crimes which may have been perpctraicd
against them.
I, will not do TO say that the south !.
solid for this sort Of business. The ma.
chinery for pcrpeiHting Il may for n tim,
Sa successfully, but the motive power
and friction will sooner or Later give out
Might will not always remain right.
We had this sort oi thing In 1861. Thos,
then Who opposed these same extremist
were pooh.pOohcd and oycHiddcn. His
tory repeats itself. and should now furnish
n warning TO those who are blindly ndyo
eating these illegal and fraudulent meth
Ods.
Now,.Mr Elitor, you and arc equal,
interested IN the peace and prosperity -
pccially Of our own section. You wcr
born away from here. | am natiy,
Eoutherncr. All that | have and am ~,
here and hcroabOut. ! believe that YOU
business interests AMI sympathy are ale,
wholly here. We cannot afford. o. loOl
at things 60 DO unjust 10 even the poorest
most ignorant or meancst Of our citizens
The God Of Justice made them, and h
made u, each for q purpose u his owl
glory, and whatever Of evil may OF nigh
arise from the effect Of an Ignorant ballo
might he. aud will, M ] believe, be- In
creased thouandiold 10y the application
20 any citizen or class Of citizens Of an
rule founded upon unlawful or uniu.
treatment OF such persons. Finally, MI
Editor, you aud represent two diilcrcu
political parties Neither oius desires an
official prriermcni; We only want the q
Enlistment OF that policy which will 4
most 10 build up rather than pull dow
the material interests OF our people W
can't do this by dopriying anybody Of an
lawful right claimed by ourselves. lo
need not encourage your readers 20 thin
Gen. sherman Is In any way dcmcntet
lie il not mad, most noble Fcstua, bu
speaks forth what the great north, an
many millions in the SOUTH believe 10 b
the words Of truth and sobcrnc~ Abolis
the fourteenth amendment 10 the constitl
ton Of the United States, II thopcoplc don
want negro suffrage; but until THAT " don
there Is extreme peril TO ~ and III
whole country In any efforts that may