The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-08-16
PROMINENT MEMPHIANs.
What a Knot OF Them in Chicago
Talked About.

A group Of southern men sat in the
Palmer house last evening. Among them
were Justic II. II. Lurton, of the Tonnes
see supreme court; Gen. J.. L. Wright and
II. T. Edgington, lawyers, Of Memphis;
and Chief Ryan and ex-Chief Cleary, Of |
the Memphis fire department. The latter |
are going to a ilremen's gathering at Min
neapols, and were entertained by their
Chicago brethren while here. Judge Lur-
ton and Gen. Wright are on fishing ex-
petition to Tomahawk lake in the Wiscon-
sin woods. For twenty years the judge
has wandered among the fishing grounds
of Michigan and Wisconsin, keeping
ahead Of the multitude in testing new
sports. He il an enthusiastic disciple OF
Walton, and is said TO be as great jurist
as he is a successful fisherman. ''rennes-
see is progressing wonderfully" said the
Judge. Its agricultural element is out OF
debt and the State is in splendid condi-
ton. The States resources are remarka-
bly, varied. 1t raises the finest wheat,
corn, tobacco and cotton, and its mineral
products in the mountains arc becoming
well known. The mountain sides are
cultivated ~ high as 1000 feet, when 1t
used to be thought that $500 feet was rs
high as II was desirable TO 90. The
mountain valleys are very rich. The
latitude OF Tennessee is between the ex-
tremes, aud the influx OF northern pco-
pie the past few years embraces those who
| wish TO escape the severe winters. One
thing that is noticeable in the north is the
large number OF foreigners. The south,
except the negro is peculiarly American.
Our immigrants are generally American,
and many oi wealth and business standing
have come among us. Sec how our cities
| have grown. Nashville, my home, has
over 100000 population. Knoxville had
| 1900 in 1880, and now has, ! believe, 49,
600. Memphis has about $4,000. Chatta-
nooga has grown from $4,000 in 1850 TO
about $4,000. Tennessee has made an
affidavit TO be the richest and best portion
OF the Union, and the oath has been adj.
ministcred 10 every man, woman and
child. The past is gone, and we've all We
can do TO take care OF the future.
Politically Tennessee is reliably Demo-
cratic this fall. As long as the bloody
shirt is waved II will be so. Several times
in the past We might have lost Tennessee,
but one good bloody-shirt speech OF the
Ingalls, stripe has been made, and the
people step right up with the Democratic
column again. We have less war talk
than you do north. Wcnevcr hcarsuch talk
rs vote IA you shot We've given mp
politics and are building mp great
State"
Amusing incidents, illustrative Of the
negro character were related by these
gentlemen, who know Il 30 well. A prom
inent delegate 10 the national convention
from Tennessee was negro OF Memphis,
known in local circles rs 'Swayback' VII
son. the social atmosphere in which he
moved in Chicago, and the consideration
lac received at the hands Of the white men
astoundcd Wilson, who Is hackdriycr At
home. lie made n speech during the Au-
gust county campaign, in which he told in
glowing language OF the great things that
he had room ut Mr.. Palmer's hotel, with
u BATH lie sat nj the table with white
men, AMI shook hards with white men.
"Why," said he, nothing In the grcaI
city Of Chicago WIS too good for me. Wha
d'you think, had my boots BACKED b,
an lfishman, an ! wuz shaved 10y Ger
man. Why, jes' threw some change Al
the booiblack-l don't know whether I
WIS two bits or hall dollar. | didn'
talk no politics with them, because ] nm
dorstnn Mr. Palmer don't allow no guest,
to carry ON any conversation with his ser
wants"
During a recent parade in Memphis,
said one Of the gentlemen, "a tmnspar
ency was carried 10y the Democrats rep
rcscnting 'Swayhack getting shaved by
German and his boots blnckcd by nn Irish
man. The faces were characteristic o
the nationality OF the men, and III ven
tnrc not nm lrishmnn or DutChman u
Memphis voted the Republican ticket
"fno negroes arc beginning TO fee
pretty well satisfied with the Democrats
, administration. said Judge Lurton
"Ihc night Clovclsnd's election was an
nOunccd the darkics In Nashville wen
, panic-sirckcn. They thought they wen
going back into slavery. They became ~
/ excited that We had 10 hold n publ
meeting la paciiy them. That bug.a.bo
Is about gone and will have It's elect"
Those delegates returned home iron
, the Republican convention with lots q
money! said ono OF the gentlemen. IL
, was an open and positively known fact
for they boosted OF II, that eleven mem
, hers ~ the delegation got some OF Algcr'
, money. ono Of them got $500 g
, don't know about 'Slayback, ." intorjccte
, another gentleman, "but hc bought ne,
, house after he came back. This is apptl
/, expensive hotel 10 stop NJ, too
, "Candidly speaking" Judge Lurio
Z said. "rhc negro problem IL an ominou
: one for the south In the four States Z
, Louisiana. Mississippi, Alabama and Soui
Carolina In Tennessee they arr yer
small minority. Perhaps their northwar
cm.raiion will keep thoir proportional
number Of the whole population about q
, IL Is. but that Is coniectnrablo. II Is y,
an open question whether education ha
improved them"
IL used 10 think that education woul
10 great deal for thcm,' said Ger
/, Wright, "but agrce with Judge Lurtor
| honestly think that they are an inicrlC
4 race and never will be anything else. I
/ illustrate the change Of opinion northern
, crs undergo when they como south, u is
|. fact that majority OF Republicans thu
settle there become Democrats ! rcmeu
, Der Young man from Massachuscti
/, coming there who was most radical X,
publican. His father had been an abol
ZIONIST lie represented q land syndicate
and did good deal OF business for hin
, lilo was a very bright fellow and inlcnsel
Interested IN the negro character. u
/, went 20 their churches aud schools an
1 was among them q great deal. lilo woul
/ frequently say something about his ol
scrvations, and | could sec he was cham
a ing his opinion on various points ever
4 time he spoke Of thcm. lncvcr combaie