American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-06-14
United, We Stand; Divided, We
Fall!

The time will soon arrive, when
those Of our fellow citizens who
have the good of the State at heart,
will have an opportunity to prove
their devotion to it's interests, Ivy
lending their influence in shaping
its destiny. We deeply deplore
the want of unanimity exhibited
10y the press in certain sections,
in reference to our duty in the APP
preaching contest. ANY division
at this time would be suicidal and
it seems to MS that the paramount
consideration with the press aud
the people should be to preserve
the Democratic and Conservative
organizations intact, and rally to
their standard every man, of what
ever political complexion, who is
opposed to tyranny and oppression.
There must be unity of feeling
and concert of action among the
Conservative masses of the people,
ia order to carry out triurnpIlantly
the great object contemplated. We
confess our inability to co-pre
hend the nature Of that patriotism
which will remain silent and inact-
i've in tirnes like the present. and
Passively-witness all that is dear to
freedom and to man swept away by
the fell hand of the destroyer.
It. is arrange, passing Strange
that a people who are so clamOrous
for a redress of grievances, and who
profess to look alone to the common
zeal, arc not now a united people.
An who have the good Of the State
at heart, who favor recognition
of those rights which IegitimateIy
belong to us, and Of which we have
been SO long deprived, must be on.
posed to the present managemcn.
Of our State affairs. There should
be no middle ground of indifference
upon -wll4ch to stand, and those who
fold their arms in fBglOriOus ease,
and remain passive spectators of
contest in which are involved the
dearest rights Ut freemen, are guihy
Of quasi hostility to the State, TO
say the least of it.
.Several papers, thinking as We
d., have suggested the call of a
convention to nominate candidates
for the coming campaign. Tins is
eninently proper. and, we trust,
will meet the public appreciation.
Great interests are involved in the
next election. All Offices, both
State and county, are TO be filed,
and the destiny of our people is
suspended upon the choice then to
be made.
That spirit of dependency which
pervades the columns of some pa
pers protesting to be Democratic,
- uOs Obiy uuuCOcSSdiy ouo uhihou
u. Under the mistaken idea that
the Democratic party is shorn of
is strength, and powerless for
good, they yield TO grOundIess
fears, aud would he willing to sub
nit their all into the hands of
trescherous foes, rather than meet
the issue as becomes true and
Gallant people. We have no feel
ing in common with any snch tim
i.lity, nor can we, in any sense,
-sympathise with such suicidal luke
warmness and indifference.
Ii our people will but wake up to
their true interests, and resolve to
make vigorous, determined effort
to rescue the State from Radical
thraldom, they can do it. The
abuse of power, and utter abandon
ment of that holy zeal in the cause
Of constitutional rights which once
enlightened aud preserved them,
must be corrected. The demon OF
n,isGule aud oppression that stalks
unchecked ove r the land, traml'line
down the dearest rights of freemen.
must be crushed, or the story OF
our independence will ne thing OF
the past. This can only be done
by -coinbined effort OH the part OF
the conservative people of the
State, by Whatsoever name they
may he called. There must
however, be rallying point, 3
commoa banner under which
all good citizens can enlis
III this. righteous warfare. W.
know of no better banner thar
that of the Democratic and Conser
variye masses OF the peoples ban
nrr under which freedoms trues
friends and 'Iiberty's strongest ad
vocates can flock, without any com
promise Of principle or honor. Ii
principles are founded on the loft
eat patriotism, and look more t,
tho permanent good of the countrl
than to the mOmentary triumph u
party, and with the success O
thoxa priucipIeS the catlSe of Writ M