The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-01-20
REPRESENTATIVE OATES AND
TIE APPEAL.
HousE OF RrrEsrSrATIyEs, Us,

my course on the direct tax rounding bill wns
| commended, but | was ccnsurcd on nearly every
other and grossly mlHeprcscntcd From the char
acter OF the Misrepresentation, infer that II was
done very largely, II not altogether through lack
Of correct information.
l. iou represented me hs advocating a war when
| only spoke of II alphabetically and said that the
thing | advocated would be cause for rejoicing
among the nations OF the earth rather than cause
for war said alphabetically that II war occurred
and the cause OF the United states was just that II
might do good etc. but said there would not be
war and ridiculed the probability Of Il. send YOU
| my speech In pamphlet that you may read II care
| fully. which trust You will.
2 As Ia my position on the negro question, viii
say that II you read the interviews published In
The Montgomery advertiser Of about the middle Of
| November, and In TV 1fdnid Constitution Of 10Th,
same month, you will that you utterly misrep-
/ resent me In that matter never advocated the
| repeal Of the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amend
ments, rs you reported. ] only suggested 10 the
| Republican party that as they are NJ anxious tn
break the solid South TINT they could 60 It by a
Constitutional amendment limiting suffrage to
white male citizens over wenty-ono yean old aud
| upward. by which they would eliminate the
negro from politics, aud In that my opinion was
that the southern States would unite II the Repub
| lcan Congress would submit such an amendment
| rclnri the eniranchisement OF the negro ~ the
political crime OF the nineteenth century. II was
done by the Republican party, aud II they ever UNI
dertake tn reyero It will never stand Ia their way
nor could auy man consistently do 50 unless he APP
proves what they did.
Your ininuation about the deiaulting Pacific
railroads don't III me all | was chairman Of a
subcommittee OF the Judiciary Committee which
started the work that psultcd In the Commission
appointed by Cleveland 10 investigate those com.
panics II you wish 10 be just YOU hal better read
up my record a little morc accurately before you
MAKE your criticism
T. win let you hear from me on the negro cues
ton more fully than have vet cNprc sod before
the end ~ the present session OF Congress am.
very respectfully, WV. &. OAtEs.
/. TUE APPEAL tries very hard not to
misrepresent any one, and itgenerally sue
ceeds. And il has succeeded in this, Mr..
Oatcs's case. For instance, in an answer
TO the paragraph in his note which we
have numbered !, we find that he said
rs TO war, in his speech on the Nicaraguan
Canal, which We have carefully read,
that
war with hrcLgn power would heal old
wounds, turn attention 10 the later exhibition of
hcrosm aud triumphs oi the arms Of the nation.
and rcStorc maternal feeling from the Canadns Ia
the Cult hut slr. neither the construction nor
operation Of that canal will involve the United
States In war unless IL should he constructed aud
operated by company Of Europeans In the inter
csl Of their home government
There is nothing hypothetical nor any.
thing like ridiculc about this On the con-
trary, It is very serious reading. and must
leave the impression upon the reader
that Mr. Oates regards war by our Gov
eminent with foreign nation as essential
TO the restoration OF good will between the
sections, aud that nothing else would 'hcal
old wounds"
2. Mr Oates is equally unfortunate as 10
his position ON the constitutional amend
ments, for II will be difficult for him to
make the people generally understand the
difference between a man who suggests to
the Republican party the repeal Of the
amendments, promising his own acquics.
cence and the active help Of the Southern
people, and one who himself advocates
their repeal. This Is distinction without
a difference.
T. THE ArrKAL'srciercncc 10 the default
ing Pacific Railroads was not intended "a
an insnuaiion rs TO any part Mr.. Oates
has played as legislator in connection
with those highways. II he will read our
editorial again he will see tina, We recalled
the attitude aud indebtedness Of the IA.
ciic Railroads as furnishing a reason why
the Federal Government should not lend
any aid or assistance 10 the Nicamguan
Canal, which appears TO Us like a huge
job, whose projectors or their SUCCESSORS,
may have or iind a way to bleed the pub
lie treasury.
4. We shall read what Mr. Oates may
have TO say In the promised speech on the
negro question, aud shall rejoice with ex.
cccdlng great Joy II he succeeds in saying
anything new on II, or offering practical
solution Of H. Lot M say In conclusion
that TmE ArPEAt thinks II has shown tina,
Il has not mi'.cprcscnlcd Mr., Oates, but
that II has fairly presented him To our
readers. presented him as he presents him
self on the questions stated.