The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-03-05
IS THn wHlrE MAN rMpRov1Ma,
The Question Discussed by Pickles Smith
and Others OF the Limeklln Club.

FROM tnc DclrOlt TITO fTtSh.
II hev bin requested" said Brother
Gardner, as the meeting opened, ito pre-
sent to dis club dis eavenin' de query: is
dc white man improvin'Y Pickles Smith
will lead off de discushun."
Brother Smith replied that he had been
taken unawares. He had never given the
matter thought lie had seen more or
less white folks around him each day, but
had given them no particular attention.
He had sore throat, bad headache,
chilblains on both feet, and there were
strong indications that flrst-class boil was
about TO hit him in the leg He would
therefore asked to be excused from ex-
pressing anything like decided opinion
on the white man question.
Col. Anonymous Smith next followed.
1t was n question which had bothered him
no. little. Thirty years ago the white
man got drunk. He gets drunk today.
Thirty years ago the white man sold his
vote, He saw several OF them bought in
at the last election. In the years gone by
the white man swore, gambled, stole,
robbed, lied, cheated and committed muir
der. He was doing these same things to-
day. II there had been any moral inn
provement the Colonel couldn't see ii.
lie had always felt sympathy for white
folks, and had always hoped they would
do well, and it grieved him that no better
progress had been made.
Elder Toots said he was glad the ques-
ton had come up. The white folks were
always concerned for fear the colored race
tl...k L..la
on the other foot. Within twenty years
the white man had invented the telephone,
but alasl the States had TO pass laws to
keep him from sending cuss words over
the wires. The white man had erected
wonderful bridges, improved the telegraph,
brought out new orders OF architecture,
improved in painting and sculpture and
elevated the standard OF schools and So
ciety, but there was another side to the
picture. This white man had discovered
other ways to beat the law passed for the
protection OF life and property. Lying
swearing, stealing and embezzling were
hardly counted as sins. Visitors had
picked pockets and stolen ovcrcoats. Men
who paid the highest pew rent in church
were doing the heaviest stealing. Dress
ing had become an art, but running in
debt and beating creditors had become u
greater one. The elder had nothing
against the white man on account Of his
color; the Lord had made him white and
he was not to blame for IL; but when the
white man stood on corner and claimed
to own the earth, it was well 10 investi-
gate his claim.
Waydown Bebee said he had always felt
kindly toward the white man, and had
always been willing TO extend him help.
ing hand. lie could remember back for u
quarter OF a century. II there were any
decided improvements he could not name
them. II the white man was better edu-
Gated so were all other men. II inventions
were moro numerous. other races had
helped TO make them SO. Take the white
man as a man, and he has doubtless retro.
graded lie was losing his reverence foi
the Bible and the laws lie was living
fast aud loose. full OF gossip, suspicious,
and having no care how he made his
money so long rs he made H. II the white
man had got nearer 10 the moon by means
OF the largest telescope in the world, he
had also discovered new liquids TO gel
drunk ON and new ways TO beat the law.
p II the soul had become more poetic law
, suits for debt had become moro numerous
II the average mind was living nearer Il
Milton and Shakespeare Just as many
bodies were being committed 10 Stat,
prison.
Sir Isaac walpole said tho query had
often been presented TO him. and he woulc
r take advantage Of this occasion 10 say tha
; he thought he could see some slight i'm
proyement in the last twenty-five years
! Who were Mormons7 The white folks
! Who we're bigamisls2 The white folks
Who were embezzlinV from banks, stealing
from posloflices and iilching schoo
moneys2 The white folks. All the sedi
| ton was uttered by white men. All the
demagogues were white men. All III,
trusts and m0nopolies on the one hand,
and all the strikes and violence on the
! other, included only white men. IL wa
] his conviction that white folks were baC
b lot, but not quite as bad rs they used u
! be.
Samuel Shin arose 10 remark That lac ha'
l seen a good deal OF the white folks, an'
had been brought into collision with then
I more or less every day for years. IL.
. | couldn't say, NJ beginning, that he liked
y thecolor. Ii wasn't fast. IL ran all the
| way from the color OF nm old roam hors'
!. turned out 10 die TO fresh snow, aud could
never be made to believe that straight bali
wan Of any good except In the case OF
wolf. white folks had cheated him, lie'
. 10 him, stolen his wood and poultry, nm,
: he had come 90 distrust the race. Ill
didn't doubt that there was some Sigh
Improvement but even savages are com
PEELED TO improve. lie believed tho tint
< was near nj hand when black would b
> the popular color all around, and whei
2 the man with the woolly head would sieI
; 10 the front.
o "Gem'lon," said Brothe- Gardner rs h
2 arose, "do qucshun has no doubt bin dc
, cided In do negative, but We shouldn'
2 bar down TOO heavy on de white folks
Dcy has hada heap Of trbulashun, cspcsh
: ally In dis ken,ry. 1 fur one hey grea
Y am abidin' faith In dc iuchcr Of do whit
! man. lie Is gradually lcarnin' TO speak d
! trooi, an 10 Keep his hands of Of oddo
4 iolkscs' chickens Time will make hiu
F, fear or respect de law, brush up bis man
j ners an compel him TO realize datbuildin
, big skulehouses doan make manners no
/. bring bizncss. Lot rs gin him n ia
: chance 10 show de stuff lac pro made Of
= DE answer TO dc query will darfo' be: III
y ar improyin' mighty slow. but expects
u change OF fodder will make him hustle
! We will now dispcl de meciin' an adjudi
cate homewards."