Year: 1879

Let us look at the situaeion Of affairs
to-day in Memphis straight in the face.
Let us look, If possible, beyond, and
inquire Of the futures what more Of
wreck and ruin it has in store for us.
The present looks black, ugly and for
bidding, made 80 not 10 much by facts
as by croakers. The future seems 10 be
surrounded by lurid hue that domin-
ates the frigbtful yellow tint, the sign
Of horror, woe and sorrow. The yellow
fever, the first case Of which was an
nounced on the 9th, now counts its six
teenth victim. II counts more. It
counts the present destruction Of the
trade and the Industries Of the commu-
nifty, and threatens the property which
represents the aecumulations Of the la
Dor Of the present and preceding gen.
erations. The yellow fever Is in front
Of us, but beyond il may easily de dis
csrned the torch Of the incendiary. re-
vealing the starving thousands who to-
day have no resource.


Never was q city in 80 deplorablc \
condition. Most Of her leading men are
absent OF all who under other cir.
cumstances would be foremost as .ead-
ers aud advisers, but few are now
here to share tbs dangers and counsel
the bewildered people what to do.
Every man has made provision for him
| self and those dependent on him, but
there has not been one word heard in
behalf Of the poor no provision has
been made for the safety Of property !;
not one cent has been subscribed to
maintain an integrity that once assailed
by hunger viii be found very weak in
deed. The city government is power
less and helpless, 1t cannot use one
dollar Of the money in its treasury for
the purpose Of contending with the fever
or snccoring the poor and needy, and it
cannot levy tax for that purpose, and
if it could, could not collect it. AS for
the county government, it will take no
thought concerning us, for if it did it
would result in nothing. The State
can contribute nothing for our benefit
what the Federal Government can do
remains to be seen. Our condition is
seemingly without any relief. All
along our lines of railroad the people
are preparing to enforce quarantine, af-
ter their own fashion regardless of the
rules and regulations Of the Sanitary
Council OF the Mississippi Valley
They viii cut of all intercourse, and
save the State Board Of Health the ex-
penses and the people the trouble Of
medical examinations and chemical
fumigation. Already boats have re-
fused TO land at our wharf. In few
days, wnen the crazed have become
crazicr, and the idiots more idiotic, we
shall, perhaps, find ourselves in living
hell, where TO maintain order and res
pect for life and property, viii be found
impossible, save at the point Of the bay
onet. But this is not ALL Our stock.
of groceries are very low The demand
for them the past few weeks have beer
without precedent. The Howord As
sociation has but a few thousand dol
lars 10 begin operations with, and the
fund that remained over from last yeal
in the hands of the trustees has almos
reached zero. The situation, it viii
thus be seen, is full of gloom, not mere
ly on account of the presence of the yel
low fever, but because of the long trail
Of evils it may bring with it. Memphis
is once more sitting in the ashes of wo
and despair.-Memphis appeal