The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1873-07-10
THE PLATFORM.

honest Home Rule may finally determine
upon in the State canvass, We trust there
will be no difference of opinion on the
subject of Platform of principle and OF
policy in the administration of the State
Government.
In the first place, the party ought to
disem barrass itself of the remotest ground
for suspicion, or charge, that it will
countenance the re-opening of the ques-
tons settled by the 18th, 18th and 18th
amendments to the Constitution. There
are many conservative voters who were
opposed to ratifying the 18th and 10Th
amendments, but will oppose the uplift-
ing of the food-gates of agitation IN
visionary attempt to have them repealed,
since they have become firmly imbedded
into the organic law of the country, and
an inseperable part of it. Of course the
other thousands who thought it would
have been the part Of wisdom to have
made the best of the circumstances in
which we were placed at the close OF the
war, and reorganize our State govern
ment without opposition on the terms
dictated by Congress, while we were yet
in the condition of provincial depend
ency shorn of our State sovereignty by
the strong arm, will never consent to the
renewal of agitation on the subject Of the
amendments nor to the occupation OF
any equivocal position in reference tC
them. What is most to be desired is
that the question of race and color rs a
distinctive element, shall be dropped en-
tirely out of our politics.
There ought to be distinct enuncia
ton in favor Of the right of local self
government as against the usurpations
of centralized power. The conduct OF
the federal government in sustaining 4
combination of pretenders in Louisiana
against the declared will of the majority
in that State, ANA the anarchy ensuing,
is a striking illustration in point. The
privilege Of Hdbeas Corpif; Is guaranteed
| by our State and federal constitutions,
and the supremacy Of the civil over mill
tarp authority in time of peace, are I'M
derstood to be cardinal tenets of the faith
of the Anti Radicals.
This is a State contest, in which ma
tional politics and parties should occupy
but small space; but in the interest OF
pure government and public morals, tie
Credit Mobilier and Salary Grab infa-
mics will demand an expression of disap-
prevail. The Conservatives of Mississippi
cannot say less in Reproduction Of these
measures, than have been said by the
Republicans of Ohio, Iowa and Maine,
in their State Conventions.
Disembarrassed of the negro question
by full recognition of the equal rights
of all men before the law, the Conserva-
tives will be free to address themselves
to the main, practical issues of the can
vass the displacement of corruption
and extravaganza, and the enthrone-
ment of honesty and economy in
the administration of the State govern
ment To this end there should be re-
duction of taxes and corresponding re-
duction of expenditures in State and
county affairs. The corrupt practices by
which the public lands have been diverted
from their legitimate objects to the uses
of rings-the custom of special legisla-
ton in the interest of individuals and
corporations, should be torn up root and
branch. These abuses are the outgrowth
of the rule Of the adventures; indeed
they are the soul and body of it. The
public records TEEN with examples of
their existence. The testimony which
each contending faction bears against the
other, is abundant and unquestionable
Witness the THREE HUNDRED AND SEW
ENTY THOUSAND DOLLAR transaction of
the present State Administration, reveal
ed by the Vicksburg Times, high Radi-
cal authority, and not controverted or
explained, by the parties implicated.
Last, but not least, issue should be
joined, sharply and decidedly, with the
Radical Leaders on the subject of the Re
pudiated Bonds, in the creation of which
the present generation of citizens had no
lot nor part From $40, 600, 900 to $780,
600, 900 are involved in this question
The Alpha and Omega of the whole
canvass will be to reclaim the State from
the destructive rule of the Radical Spoil
ators and Wreckers. How best to do it,
is the question.