American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1875-01-02

State are prepared to give that to
both races, we fondIy believe. To
do so will destroy every antagon-
ism which now exists, harmonic
all classes, obliterate all anImosities
and purify and future political con
tests of class or race distinctions.
What higher destiny can we au-
ticipato for the State
We find in Warren county that
violent white men have been for
mooths appealing TO the preiudlces
o. tbeir class, and urging on :, war
of races, for POI iical purposes. a.
this very moment, when the State
and county authorities are success
July resisted, when lree action on
ihe part Of the officials is impossi-
bic, The ar ned Insurgents procure
deus for local election, viii h
the intention that ballots shall be
cast in the midst Of such Il reign OF
terror, that The VIII of the great
majority may be undone by mi
nority. IL is well for us to face the
facts as they exist. TO evade them
or ignore thcm, would be coward
ice AID crime. The instruction
mas its sympathiIers and support
ers III other parts OF the State.
They have deliberately and know
ingly entered upon this work of
revolution, with purpose cock
tensive with the limits OF the s state.
1t is instruction in its fullest sense.
Ii successful, it must necessarily
reduce a ma ority to the will of a
minority, and that minority which
shall thus have gained power by
force OF arms will be bound, logic
ally, to maintain and retain that
| power by Legislation as harsh and
cruel as their first acts of violence.
In which case one race of our peo-
pie will be deprived of their tights
and remanded back to as unfortu-
nate a condition as they have ever
known, or else be compelled to
wander forth seeking freedom rath-
er than homes, as is now the case
with many Of their race in other
States. Are the people prepared
for such contingency, even though
they may be ready to sacrifice ma
terial interests for political success?
Is there not higher motive by
which we should be actuated? Is
it not our duty, the duty of every
lover of Ioerty and justice to Sc
cure for whatever race or color
those privileges and blessings which
we hold for ourselves as dearcr
than life Ii the people of the
State insist on making a race issue
or have the disposition so to do.
then is our condition deplorable
indeed. If successful, it would be
Il success founded entirely upon
the degradation and serfdom of
class.
At a former time, a Gov erno or of
this State felt called upon in his
message to the Legislature, to an
nounce the tact that twenty-six
lax Collectors, when there were
fiity-six counties, were dcfauiters
IN one year, and that large sums of
money were collected that were
never accounted tor in any manner.
The State, to-day, has no such
grievance. OF the deiaulting of
iice-holders during the past year,
which we are glad to say, bear no
proportion to those referred to, the
greater number are to be found in
those counties where the colored
man and his party are SO far in the
minority as TO have no influence III
their selection.
The Indebtedness of the counties
and cities is not to be attributed to
tue complexion Of the voters. Many
such localities are free from debt,
and but few heavily burdened.
OF the State debt, large part is
due It's own school fund, portion
of which has been outstanding
wany years. the remainder OF
the State indebtedness, when this
years taxes are paid to meet this !
years expenditures, will amount |
to but some six or seven hundred |
thousand dollars. Herein Missis-
sippi sands equalei but by few
OF her sister States.
The expenses of tho State gov |
ernment Is but the average Of the
expenses of other States. That
there may be advantageous changes
made in our revenue laws, there
can be no doubt.
These facts l give to dis ell all
that the colored men
ii the State as Il class, or the par
ty to which they incline, have for
gotten the great work of human
freedom and equality in which they
are engaged or have stopped to
plumber the State Of its wealth.
The history o. every State in the
Uuiou, shows that dishonest and
lnprincipIed men have been eleva-
ed to Official positions, but even
1t a time like the present, VIII n
parties are revolutionlzed by char
yes OF corruption Against officials,
happily tor this State she is excel
rec tionally from just complaint Of
nat character.
With the State in such q fortu-
rate financial condition, the jnsur-
cents have pretended to act in the
interest of The aXpayers. Though
he legal remedies tor wrongs o.
which they complained were am
lie, they were hardly entered upon
when body of violent men com
'Ined together, overthrow consti-
utional authorities, assumed the
auctions OF government, and have
rSanized as q military despotism,
ecognizing no law but that which
uItS their humOr or couyeuieuca