The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-09-06

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the inferior one is sometimes misguided by
the leadership of the worst element OF the
| other. They would see the election laws
and other laws sometimes broken there US
elsewhere, criminals sometimes unpublished
there as in other States OF the Union, and
the natural prejudices and antipathies Of
| race producing their natural results there as
in other quarters of the country; but in the
| main they would see the laws observed and
enforced there as in their own States They
would see black men sitting on juries with
white men and sharing in the administration
of the laws. They would see schools for both
races supported by the self-imposed taxes of
of the whites.
They would find that more than half of q
| large school fund, of which the negroes paid
less than one-tenth, has been expended for
the benefit of colorcd children, aud more
\ than 5000 cuiorcd teachers employed in the
| State, and in many cases receiving higher
salaries than white teachers. They would lind
| the negro absolutely secure in all his prop
| eTty rights and the courts dispensing Justice
| with an even hand to both races and all
classes. They would learn that the black
man sits in the State Legislature and that
white legislators earnestly cooperate with
him in making laws for the interest and pro-
lection OF his race. They would see q whole
population busy In honest and energetic
work, with scarcely man among them not
earning support, and would find the black
population secure in the wages for their
labor
They would hear of no strikes by the ag-
ricultural laborer there to show either dis
content or oppression; but they would find
the relations between the negro and his
white employer better adjusted and more
satisfactory TO both than the relations are
between employer and employee in any
locality ON the continent outside the south.
They would find material development in
the common work OF the white and black
races, steady in its growth, despite the occa-
sional outbreaks which race prejudice pro-
duces in particular localities, and utterly
irrcconcilabo with the theory that the body
of the white race is expressing the body OF
the black race. In all these-in the school
houses and in the houses of worship, in the
temples of justice, In the legislative halls, in
the fields and factorics-they would see and
hear the testimony Of the daily life of the
State and witness the result OF twelve years
of white rule under Democratic auspices.
Look at Mississippi US IL Is today, and
then look back 10 what IL was when its gov
eminent was in the hands OF the Republican
party. Take the year OF 1870, when the
control OF that party there was absolute
and unrcstuincd, and behold the dcspond-
cncy OF the people, the blight and de-
preston which rested on every inter
est and paralyzcd every energy then,
ana the signs OF rcyiying hopes, the
prosperity and progress which are now OBJ
Scryable all over that State. Agriculture Is
the leading pursuit Of the people there and
rs evidence Of their present thrift | need
only point 10 the fact that their corn crop
last year was more than double that OF 1870,
and that in 1870 their cotton crop amounted
TO less than 10000 bales against nearly
,25DOOO In 1851
More than 900 miles Of railroad have been
constructed In that State since 1876, travcr-
sing the finest timber forests on the contin-
cnt and the richest agricultural lands in the
world, and other important lines are now In
process Of construction. We have some
manufacturing establishments, and they are
every day increasing both in prosperity and
numbers. In some sections OF the State crops
are now being considerable diversified, In
some the lumber trade has Of late years be-
come very extensive and very profitable. and
In Others canning and creamery establish
ments, fruit-growing aud market-garlcning.
stock-raisng and the like are among our
most rcmuneratiye industries
The laboring system, which had been
wholly disorgnizcd and unsettled, Is every
year becoming more adapted aud better adj
justed 10 thu,. conditions which promise
the best results 10 all interests and all
classes. Our lands, which under the bur
dcns OF oppressive taxation imposed by our
former rulers could not Doe considered the
basis Of any reasonable credit, now, since
those burdens have been hghtoned under
Democratic rule bear market value ap-
proximating their real worth and are eagerly
sought after by th,s' who live beyond our
borders. In 1870 aud during all the dismal
years before and aitcrward of Republican
inisrulo In Mississippi our fertile soil mild
climate, and the quality and variety Of
our bOundl,ss timber supply failed %
tempt investors to put their money in
that State or settlers 10 cast in their
lots with the fortunes Of our people.
but this y true no longer since
intelligent homc-bon citizens identified
with the best Interests OF the state, are con-
trolling H. dcsiinics.
In 1870 there were less than 1900 teachers
employed IN the public schools in Mississip-
vi, while last year there were more than
GOO, and halt Of these, or more, teaching |
the children of colorcd parents who contrib |
utcd but triiiing proportion 90 the fund |
from which thcsc teachers received their |
Taxation has been reduced. |
property i secure the public institutions OF |
The state arr houn,hing, the relations be- |
tween the mcCs mOrc satisfactory and bone |
fciai b. both than they could ever have De. |
come under the government that formerly |
Cursed the State. The evidences 81 improve. |
meut and prosperity are a. be- seen on cycry /
hand aud the work of progress aud dcVcl. |
opmcnt j. steadily advancing.
Travellers frum the north who have visited l
that state will attest the truth Of this, and 1
northern investors aud settlers who have /
gone there 81 improve their fortunes,
whether they be Republicans or Democrats, /
will tell you that Il would be- n crimo by any l
means or under any law, % wrCst the con.
trul 1T public aiiair- In Mississippi or any 1
other southern State even u u could Dc /
done, from the hands Of the only class who
have the interest or the capacity 10 conduct /
them efficiently aud honestly.
When NC consider the social disturbances,
the grinding taxation, the shameless disrc-
CARL ut public Interest or private right the
official iniidclity and reckless waste witch
marked the administration II the govern
mcnt Ia Mississippi during the ycar %
which ! have alluded, and then turn 90 the
Improvement which has since
then been wrought under Democratic rule.
IN oil Interests aud Ia the condition
u all CLASSES u the people, aud all in the face
NJ thc peculiar difficulties and dangers 90
which the incungruities u race expose them,
do not believe there l. a senator who hears
me, whatever his politics or wherever his
home, who would see that great aud grow
Ing commonwealth rmandcd 10 the awful
state from which IL has emerged under
Democratic guidance and control.
do not believe them i "a senator hero who
would not. u he lived Ia that state. nut forth
M his powers IN avert the horrors Of blnck
supremacy and save his own people. Il lac
could, from the cnlnm.iics uf such n curse.
And ! do not believe therc " n white com.
nunity In any northern State who. n In our
condition, would tancly and meckly submit
- n reign oi Ignorance and vcnality under
which honorable white men 81 intelligence