The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-09-10
q. the Country Prs@perous9

The big editions II our daily papers
were filled with glowing account Of the
growth and prosperity OF Memphis, aud
correspondent In TnE SUNDAY APPEAL in
noccnlly asks "li We enjoy nll this pros.
pcrity under protective trin, why not
let good enough alonci'
The papers In every part OF the country
are continually painting highly culOrcd
| pictures Of our national prosperity, aud
1.-THE man In the moon could hc read
tho.o editorials, would imagine that want
aud poverty Nerr unknown Ia the people
I OF tho United states.
The writer docs not deny that Memphis
Is ~ prosperous as most other citics.
| Neither does lac deny that America j. the
most prosperous country on the face OF
| the globe, whether caused hy protection,
or Ia spite OF II. but he does protest against
the cry OF PROSPERITY aud "ict good
enough alone
The mriu fact that the value IT land Is
Increasing does not prove our prosperity;
the fact that IL * becoming moro difficult
each year iOr u man Oi small means 10 get
pos,u ,siOn vi q piece OF ground on which
| 10 build home for his family, and that
Thousands OF acres are falling into the
| hands 1T aliens, who are holding II for
| speculation or tnr future rack rents, the
TACT that "A lew men are amas,iug millions,
| and gigantic trusts Hro iorming IN ttisc the
prizes Ut the ncccylrics oi life; the fact
that Thousands IT foreigners unr yearly
seeking our shores nni increasing tho pop
uhtion oi ouf cities Al oi Theses facts 40
not prpvr that We nw enjoying grand
era aud that thrr1 IL M need ui striving 10
better our condition.
As long ~ W. have l.Oll.Oo1 able
bodied, willing mon trampng our
streets In srirch oi employment,
there Is no prosperity; ~ long Us w. have
li.uOO, 900 men working from ten 10 vigh-
teen hours per day. aud earning u barr
SUBSISTENCE, ~ long as our cities arr
crowded With halt icd, hall clad women
aud children, rs long us vhiIlrn between
the ages 1T eight AMI sixteen. arv iurrcd Ia
work Ia factories to save themselves iruu
starvation, us long as 10 h impossible lnr i
skilled workman. ~ oven . day hbDrrt {,
au1,s hy industry. AMI reasonable economy
, mot slaryatinnl sufficient money ur prop
priy during tho natural working yyurs nj
his life tp support himself uud family
through his declining years. as long ~ u
II necessary a. support un army NJ Tinker
tom detectives lot the suppression Of th,
, hhonug clos, ~ long u. the cry Ut ''Oyct
production ~ raised, while the gr,nt INA
lurily arc obliged b. 10 without many o
! the comforts, aud all Of tie luNunrs u
life. rs long us this state 90 ailair
=, exists thCrr can be- M pCnty, except 10
!, the narruNrst srusC ut thp word. Nlicl
n means that the rich arcgrlNingr.chrt an,
I, the poor unorcT that the worlds supple
4 are hciug mun1pDliH'i hy the few ilf th
(, purppsr of making SLAVES ul the many.
4 am u skilled workman. and r'criNr villa
, ~ considered fair wages. have never spru
80 iur strong drink M iunurn, nor wn,lr.
> 50 he gambling. ami yet lind 10 impossible
I. a. accumulate ANYTHING from wear in year
!, aud. with hundreds ut other N0fkInvmpn
:, think % ia timc that tnis everlasting ttll
=, about Tuspcrity' und "inruls.u
!, wealth" should cciac. u ist'mv that vi
= upuu our eyes a. the iIri thlt poverty
, want and oven starvation exists, not onl
!, iu our very midst. hui in oycty Part OF on
!, prosperous country, IL h time We sc
III alnut iryisInr snmr srhCmp hy Witch th
y priIlucrf NAV get q lair portion oi his pro
!, duriiOus and unless W. 10 make som
y effort 10 s0lyc the gpu problem
!. that arr forcing themselves upo
"A ~ the time may como, and lvluW man
years have passed. when the pence an
A. pnusrrrity " America shall be- no murc.
=, Wien the waves Of revolution HwcT
~ over France The hbonng r.asss in Il,
NJ mhniiug ihcu rights rushed 10 those IS
!, tfrmra which were thr natural RESULTS
|, long endured wrongs, bot Il ia 10 b. hope
/. that toe pcuplr Ot America will, before
i, ~ ton late. remedy ihr evils resulting iui
\. un unequal distribution Of wealth, Whic
=, nisss one class tu ihc highest point
~ luxury ami extravaganza. aui sinks M
(, other ~ tho lowest scale ut degradation
y. and want J. VI. Place
y. Memphis, SyricmhCrS