The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-10-28
]. MILTON TURNER.
ELOQUENT spEEoH OF THE pIsrrN-
auIsHEp CoLoRED ORATOR.
Row He Happens To Be for Grover
C,sveland-How Jim Phelan Stood Up
for the Rights of the Negro.


A. hall. corner Second and Union streets
The audience was principally white, only
n few colored men being present to do
honor to the distinguished representative
of their race. On the platform with nm
were the following colored men: Ed. Shaw,
Prof. b. X. Sampson, Daniel Lewis, OF
Crittenden county, Ark, and George Hay
den. The Hon. Casey Young called the
meeting to order and oiliciated as its pre-
siding officer After gracefully worded
introduction from Col. Young, Mr. Turner
advanced and began his address as fol-
lows:
Mr. Chairman aud Fellow CitlzcnE
"If take the liberty OF feeling more at
home i'm this latitude than do elsewhere,
please ascrbe ii TO the fact that i was
born in this valley rs n slave, and all my
sacred dead lie within sight OF the window
of the room whose hospitality enjoy, II,
under the circumstances, | betray an UNI
usual degree OF emotion, please bear with
me out OF respect OF the tender memories
evoked by the OCCASION" LApplausel
The speaker then went on TO draw n
moving picture OF the relations OF the
white man and the black man in the
south, and explained why he had become
a Democrat. A faithful reproduction OF
his speech would be impossible within the
limits Of this article. IL was eloquent and
at times pathetic, now humorous, now
logical. always interesting and throughout
sensible, practical and convincing. lie
said that il might seem strange that 80
black man rs he should be for Clevc-
land, but there were reasons for II.
II was perhaps strange that n black man
should have been Tor Blaine in 1881,
and now advocated Cleveland. But II
was within The bounds OF possibility that
after while man may learn some sense.
Laughter and applause. The speaker
did not leave the Republican party be-
cause that party was tired Of him, but be-
cause he was tired OF the Republican party
aud because the Democratic party repre-
sen,ed the principles Of liberty, equality
and progress, aud faithful adheranco 20
n liberal and consistent Interpretation Of
the American constitution. Applause.
PROGRESS or TliE CoLoRED RACE ~ TIM
SoUTn.
"In Joint discussion with n Republican
orator the other day in Michigan much
stress was laid by that gentleman upon the
hardships and oppression endured by tho
colored race Ia the south. Somebody
showed me piece Of paper with statistics,
aud when ! took Il up, 10, and behold
| saw il there and read Il out, that since
the war tho negroes in Georgia nlonc had
accumulated $40 900, 900 In property sub
ieci 10 taxation" Applause.
Mr.. Turner warned his colorod hearers
not 20 waste their time on dead ISSUES.
Why go back to slavery momoriesl Why
discuss whether Thomas jefferson. the
champion Of human liberty, or Alexander
Hamilton the champion OF Capitalization.
were right9 The living issue before the
negro was TO live umicably aud peacefully
with his white ncighhor and unite with
him In building up this bcau,iiul south
iana. lApplause.l
WORD ABOUT EATON.
'Tho last time wis hero was preach.
p ing RcpublicanIsm under The leadership Of
n man connected with the Fpcdman's bu-
rcau. Ills name was Eaton, believe, aud
have never thought well Of him since.
] could tell things Of him which would
prove him unfit not only TO represent an
American district, but even a district IN
the kingdom OF Ddhomey." Applause
nov nv MEr iM ruVLAS.
The speaker referred iouchingly to his
first experience with Congressman phe.
Ian. ilc said. III was IN Washington
fighting for the rights Of 2O.COO colurcd
freedmen Va the Cherokee Nation. Senator
ingalls,, president of the senate, aud u
member OF the subcommittee, had 10
ported Ia favor Of the bill. but when Ia,
heard was Ia favor OF Cleveland h,
moved 10 reconsider, aud. 60 spite me
prcjudiccd the rights Of 10000 colorcd
men. | was In distress and despair, without
hope or friend. tine DAY. while walking
with heavy heart aud doNncast eyes in the
corridors, a slim, delicate looking young
man came up 10 me and said. Are YOU
Milton Turner, aud ! answered that
was. Then, continued lac. are YOU the
man who has been 20 outmgcously treated
and whose 5000 culopd clients are sui.
fcring a great wrong and injustice ut th,
hands Of the United States government
and the United States senator and
again answered was. Then hs
said. Il am Jim Phclan, OF Mem
phis. and | was sent here 20 protect aud
defend the rights aud privileges Of Amer
lean citizens lapplnuscl aud the poorri
and more ifieudlcss he be- the mole Il
he entitled 10 my sympathy, protection
and support The cause oi the 2O,ON
colorcd people YOU represent shall be m,
cause, aud will make this ngh, Tor yo,
aud with you hand In hand, and We vii
not rest until this cruel injustice AN,
wrong y righlcd.' Aud he went Ia wutl
as only lac can. lie kept me umasrd q
the endurance grii, energy and nohlit
confined In that slender frame. lie mad
his friends push !, through ia
Senate he pushed Il through IN
House himself aud nov Il Is Law, thank
60 my unlocked for dcl,cvr. Your cur
Rrcs-man, the Hon. Jim Phclnn, laI
plausol aud | have come down herr /
urge YOU 10 send him back, lapplnuscl an
10 un,o nay colorrd friends 60 help We
do II, lapplauscl not only In the Interest
OF Mcmphif but In the interests Of th
Mississippi valley, aud Of the negro rae
whose gallant champion be- was In the
hour Of need. tApplausc aud cheers.
TiIE sLAvTW UACkTr.
"Republican speakers still try 90 win 90
orcl votes with the argument they set M
negro free, but they ior,pt that the Tin
emancipation statute ever passed in N
United States was passed In North Car
lima Iapplauscl. and that the people
Massachusetts opposed II aud wanic
twenty years more time 90 get their none
out Of slave ships bought by them 10 81
trap negroes la Africa and sell them O
these shores. Applause.
II want 10 say that am not only In iav,
OF the reelection Of Cleveland Applause
and ! want to bring some Of inv consti
ucncy, because, In the fint place, li'
among Democrats. in the State OF Mi
nnnri. tint prnnd old hannnr Sinin. Mi