The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-05-31
A DEFENSE OF LOWRY.
Ex.sEcRETARY OF STATE MYERS ON
CAPT. HARDY's ADDRESS.
He Also Explains the Swamp Land
Transaction, and Shows How Part,
at Least, OF the Debt Of Mississippi
Was Made.
To the Editor Of The Appeal.

To the Editor Of The Appeal.
LULA, Miss, May 29.--Your issue OF the
Goth instant contains criticisms upon the
address OF Capt. w. ii. Hardy, OF Merid-
ian, delivered before the recent immigra-
ton convention at Jackson, Miss These
criticisms are so unjust to both Gov. Lowry
and the speaker that | feel constrained to
call your attention TO the injustice done.
with the hope that your sense OF right will
cause you to make the amende honorable.
Your correspondent at Jackson informs
us, and the writer has learned from re-
spectacle gentlemen, who were present,
that while all OF Capt, Hardy's address OF
welcome was cordially received, no part Of
II was 80 enthusiastically Endorsed by the
large convention rs his reference TO, and
denunciation OF, the tendency of a portion
Of the press TO personal journalism. The
eloquent and sensible address on this sub
ject, delivered by the Hon. W. A. Henry,
Of Yazoo City, before the Mississippi Press
association at Grenada, and also many OF
the leading papers Of our State have spoken
in no doubtful terms against this growing
evil. Indeed, the sentiment OF the masses
is unquaiitiedly opposed to IL.
TnE APPEAL, while agreeing with Capt.
Hardy on this subject, in almost the same
breath assails Gov. Lowry in most
scathing and and unjust manner; in fact,
its editorial columns, in the space above
referred 10, are filed with censure of the
governor. This. however, is not the first
time THE APPEAL has made these unjust
attacks upon Gov. Lowry, but the warfare
has been bitter and prolonged. Is IL fair
10 quote from the few papers antago-
nistic 10 Gov. Lowry and ignore the ones
who indoBe him2
shall not undertake in this article 10
make defense In toto of Gov. Lowry's
administration, nor do ! assume that his
management OF the affairs OF State have
been free from error Indeed, he would
have been model Governor 10 have carried
the ship OF State through the tempesluous
seas, into which she has drifted for the
past six years, without striking some
reefs or without at times endangering the
vessels cargo. But upon the whole, | be-
leye II 10 be the opinion Of large major
ity of the best element OF our State that his
dom, conservatism and craftsmanship. In
tho performance OF every Official act he has
been nctuated by desire 10 serve the peo-
plo OF his State, and 10 serve them well.
The continued warfare which THE
APrKAL has vagcd most unreleniingly
against Gov. Lowry has impressed the
people Of our State with the belief that II
has personal spleen toss.vent in fact, this
a. Ill -. Al
columns Of many Of our State papers
There are some who 60 80 far ~ To charge
that THE ArPRAL in its criticism Is
meddling with Mississippi Affairs The
writer does not concur in this opinion. As
a great public Journal, occupying the
position il docs, ! believe II TO be not only
It's prcrogative but It's duty 10 the reading
public 10 criticisc, lcgitimately, any Missis.
sippi official who may prove recrcant TO
the trust rcposed In him, be he high or
low, Governor or constable. A press 10 be
effective must be fearless, but should al
ways be Just In It's criticisms Of mcn.
Tnk ArrEAL has been welcome visitor
nj tho fircsidcs OF our people for % long
and Is 10 generally right on oil subjects,
that We arc 10th to think II could assail
any man unjustly. The iist daily the
writer remembers 10 have ever read was
Tue ATRIAL. This was during the late
war, aud lac has read II almost continually
ever since until he has learned TO regard i
N the sheet anchor Of truth and justice, NJ
well M OF Democracy. But 10 the point.
Tng APPEAL seems 10 have taken oiIcnse
at Capt. llardy's complimentary mention
OF Gov. lowry's administration and states
that politics and politicians should have
been kept out OF this convention" Capt.
Hardy only spoke Of how the State had
progressed during Gov. Lowry's admis-
tration from an industrial standpoint.
lie might have enlarged upon this idea
by giving facts and figures. lilo might have
said that during Gov. Lowry's administra-
ton new insane asylum had been built
at Meridian which now accommodated
several hundred Of that unfortunate class
Of our population; that n new chapel 10
The deaf and dumb institute nj jackson
had been erected; that a similar institu-
ton for colored mulcs had been built Just
beyond tho corporate limits Of jackson;
that the new institute for the blind at
Jackson had been completed after Gov.
Lowry came into Office and placed In a
habitahlc condition. lie could have
pointed with great pride, m all Mississip.
plans do, who are not prone 10 bcliltle
their State, 10 the magnihccnnt structure
at Columbus known ~ the Industrial Col.
lego for Girls; he could have stated that a
railroad commission was created during
Gov. lowry's administration; that before
this infant had scarcely donncd its swad.
dling.cloihcs twas attacked from all quar-
tens by the ablcst legal minds at that time
In the employ of the several railroads
tnycuing our State, but that by the very
tondCrcst treatment and nursing % the
hands Of such eminent legal doctors ~ the
Hon. j. w. q. Watson aud othcr,
Il soon throw of in swaddline.
clothes and now stands forth giant
In the way II high tariffs and unjust dis.
ordinations IN freight and passenger
rates, thst our State university, which ha,
given 10 thu State some Of our ahlcst mon
aud the councils oi the nation many bright
lights; and our Agricultural and Mechani
cal college, the school for our inrmC, boys
which under the guidance and manage,
mcnt OF that noble man, Gen. \. u. Ice,
has taken front mnks among tho agricul
tural colleges Of the land; that the Alcorr
college, and other institutions for the cdu,
cation Of tho colorcd youth OF our State
have oil been ioatcrcd and cared for dur
ing his management Of affairs and are all
now m q tlourishing condition, that sys
tenn Of leyccs has been perfected, reclaim
ing from overflow tho aluval lands In IN,
magnificent Iakoo delta--a tcrrilor,
stretching from Memphis 10 Nicksburg
These and many other things wcro wha
the distinguished speaker had reference q
when he gave vent 20 the above compli
mentarv notigo af tho Govcrna.ts aI,.i.,