The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1873-07-31
COMMUNICATED.
let Us BE Hon est.

Again do we hear of propositions to COM
promise our political principles and social
feelings in order, by expediency to attain
success. Now, however plausible any pro-
gramme that well meaning men may put
forward at this distance from the election
may appear, as the canvass progresses and
draws TO a close, it will become evident that
no one that is not strictly honest will stand
the least chance OF success. If FESTIVE poll
ticians cannot analyze the situation, the
good common sense OF the people will do so
for them, and quite to their dismay. 70
| mere scheme can deceive the black masses,
with all their ignorance; for its evident in-
sincerity will arouse their natural s"s-
pcion of the white race to tenfOfSI -Su.S-e,
and drive from us in disgust mants ShO,
when we were honest, went with US for
merly. and might, if we appealed to their
| honesty, now be induced 10 go with Us
| again.
| With a solid combination of the white
masses for popular ticket it would require
not many more than 5000 negro votes to
turn the scale in our favor. These might
| be obtained by legitimate appeals and in
| fluences, especially in the counties where
| the whites prepOnderate. The negro mind,
| 80 extremely prone to graVitate toward the
victorious side, is vastly Influenced by en-
| thusiasm and confidence among the whites,
which they take as evidence OF coming sue
cess. If the negroes can be Influenced at
all it will be by the above methods and not
| by compromise, which they would avoid
as the oft-hunted animal avoids the dead
| fall. Still more disastrous would be the
effects of compromise on the white
masses.
Only few would be positively suited.
and Ii these. men insist on making bug
| bear of mere name, and will not vote the
Democratic ticket on a platform conform
| ing entirely to the principles they so loudly
profess, they are not worth bidding for !;
especially IL we thereby estrange a large
mass OF true men, who insist only on being
satiSti in the essential matter of princi-
pie. There is danger If political compro-
misses continue TO be the fashion, and the
people do not march straight up TO the Dem
| ocratic standard, that there will be such
complete political decentralization that the
best elements of the State can never again
be united in a common effort before it is too
late and the prosperity is completely pros
trated.
No other name and principles than those
of simple, Out-spoken Democracy can unite
the masses opposed to Radicalism. There
is no need of being terrified too soon, and
surrendering before the battle. We are not
without just hope. If in 1870 or minority
was only about 5000, it is highly probable
that our relative strength has increased,
and that the disparity is much less now. If
we do not succeed i'm electing the Governor
by no means 4 hopeless task-a united
effort under the Democratic banner would
give us more members of the Legislature
than we could obtain in any other way, and
thus possibly save us from impending ruin
ous legislation.
Looking beyond our immediate good
| there is certainly nothing in the general
principles of the party not calculated to
give enthusiasm and cohesion to the masses.
The principle of local self government
| the rights of the States, so far as they re-
main intact-are the very palladium of our
| liberties and necessary TO the continuance
of our federal system. With this, link the
| reduction of taxation TO the lowest practi-
cable limit, and general conformity in
| legislation to the demands of true, solid
| progress for all classes, and you have the
meaning of Democracy. So far as the black
population Is concerned, the Democratic
party does not propose to interfere with
their constitutional rights, nor to do vio-
fence to social impulses, which should not
be touched by the legislator, in yielding
| to unnatural. hasty demands. Let the real
meaning OF the party be inscribed upon its
banners, and victory will surely begin to
| bestow her announcements. The highest
1 progress and civilization Of the South and
of each State Of IL, aRd the constitutional
liberty OF the whole country, are greatly
| the Democrats of Mississippi, then, through
| their regular convention, put forward a
plain, popular Democratic ticket and plat
/ form, and let US, come veal or woe, flight
| it out on that line"
OSCAR F. BLEDsoE.
l GRENADA, MISS. July 10, 1873.