The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-05-30
HON. ROBERT H. TAYLOR.
THE DISTINGUISHED MIssTssIppIAN
DEFENDS HIMSELF.
He Rebukes Slanderous Enemies and
Appeals to the Record-why He Voted
For Negro Senators in le75-A Pluoky
Declaration.
Special Dispatch to The AppcaL

Special Dispatch TO The Appeal.
JACKSON, Miss, May pa statement,
intended, doubtless, to the detriment OF
the candidacy OF the Hon. r. II. TAYLOR
forthe Democratic nomination for Governor
OF Mississippi by the approaching State
Convention, that he voted for b. X. Bruce
and lsham Stewart for United States Sem
ators, while member OF the State Senate,
has called from him the following letter,
which viii! appear in the Clarion. Ledger
tomorrow:
To the Editor Of the Clarlcu.Ledger
II ought to be with great hesitation that
q man consents TO enter the lists as n com.
petitor for the prize offered to the victor in
political contests. Misrepresentation ca.
lumny and SANDER are among the usual
and ordinary methods OF conducting can.
vass. These things often preclude and de-
bar some Of our best and purest men from
entering the public service or having their
names considered in connection with oih-
cial place or station. / am not to be ex-
empt, ii seems from these trying ordeals
Among other things OF lesser note, 1t is
being industriously, circulated, TO my det-
riment, that | once voted for two negroes
for the United States Senate. The parties
who seek to circulate this TO my injury
carefully refrain from telling all the lacis
and showing the circumstances and condi-
tons surrounding us at that time, or from
stating that other trusted Democrats voted
for negroes in joint session of the Legsla.
ture. and the reasons therefor. They fail
to do mo justice because they wish TO
make that which was the crowning act of
our self sacrifice reproach upon my good
name.
The facts are about rs follows: had
Just been elected state Senator from
Pamela in opposition TO the Republican
nominee. ! found in the Senate the Hon.
Ira q. Holloway, now OF Oxford, then also
representing a district with q black ma
jority, and we were the only Democrats in
the Senate representing constituencies
where the negro vote preponderated. The
small number Of Democrats in the Senate
and House OF Representatives were in
such minority MS TO leave no earthly hope
OF elecling any official for which the Log
islature balloted.
Under these circumstances, and with
the vain hope Of cutivaiing friendly rela-
tons between the races, Senator Holloway
and were earnestly requested by some Of
our white Democratic friends TO vote for
negroes for the Senate. This We saw we
could do without in the least affecting the
| Democratic party. Neither Mr. Lamar,
nor any other Democrat, was a candidate
| for the Senate, or even for the empty honor
OF being the party nominee for that high
station. Our Democratic friends from
counties with black majoritics thought il
might have good effect for us TO east our
In. 4 4.
/ anxious 90 express our contempt for tho
carpct-bagger and scalawag and our prefer
ence Tor the negro over him.
An examination OF the Senate Journ ,
/ OF 1874, page 07, will show that that true
and tried Democrat, the Hon. r. II. Al.
/ len, placed in nomination one OF these
negroes and voted for him, as did. The
| Hon. Ira 9. Holloway, ps devoted and
true a Democrat as lives, voted for Bruce
/ and Mygait, and Senator Smythe, OF VIM
ston, voted twice for Stewart. II the
/ hypocritical patriots, who now ccnsurc IA.
| will examine the Senate journal Of 1874,
a little further, ON page 81, they will learn
! that nearly every Democratic member OF
! the Senate and House voted for Carter,
Reyels * Co., q firm Of negroes, Tor the 10.
| sponsiblo and lucrative position Of State
Printer. We were simply trying TO ham.
mor the Republicans with their own
weapons. The object which Holloway,
myself and others had was rs well under.
stood by all our colleagues as any other act
OF ours, and no whisper Of the slightest
suspicion Of want OF party icaliy was ever
heard.
Fortunately for mo there arc atrn lan,
living witnesses 10 my fidelity 10 the cause
OF good government and Democracy dur
ing the "mourniul days" Of Republican
ism. | need not appeal TO the people Of
my own county, who sustain me with
united voice. My colleagues in the Sem
ate now living, Stone, Allen, Graham,
Mondcnhall, Carter, and others, will all
bear willing testimony 10 my devotion 10
tho best interests Of the State, aud the true
| principles Of the Democratic party. With.
out fear or hesitation, make this propo-
sition: That II / cannot establish, by the
concurrent testimony Of these gentlemen,
that was in the forefront OF the battle for
white supremacy and good government,
then will retire from the field Of candi.
dacy and never more ask the people OF
Mississippi for place or station.
] And ~ ! am challenged 10 the ,-"~t,
make the further proposition, that " |
cannot show by those trusted Democratic
leaders Of that dark period, the Hon. R.,ll.
Allen, the Hon. II. VI. Street, not only that I
stood by the rights aud interests OF our
| people in that trying tinc, hut that I
struck the keynote OF the campaign oil
1875, then | will step down aud out. /
! refer TO these gentlemen because they were
| prominent members Of tue Senate and
House. respectively, aud are now la differ.
ont sections Of the State, and both sup.
porting candidates other than myself for
Governor. In making this last assertion |
do not wish 10 be understood ~ afTogalng
TO myself any undue credit for the yirlori.
Gus campaign OF 1875. but simply M stat
/ ing the fact that even when our condition
seemed almost hopclrss, / was In hearty
accord with. and voiced the sentiment
which ailorward dominated the party
councils.
Ia conclusion, want 10 say distinctly
aud with emphasis, that the man who us.
scris that have been at any time, or un-
der any circumstances, wanting IN fidelity
20 the best interests Of the white people Of
this State and section, or rccrant ~ any
trust, uttcrs that which Is false and Sian.
dcrouA
have hcsiinicd about writing this letter.
or anything else for the public, concerning
my own candidacy. have felt constrained
10 the course | now take for the reason
that, far above the gubcrnal0rial nomna-
tion or any other political proicrmcni,
prize the confidence aud good will Of my
Democratic fellow citizens, aud silence now
might seem 10 lend color 10 a charge made
| sitnpty 20 ghaLo THAR faith In my ldpiifv