The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1876-08-17

edv, The Hon. Geo. G. Mckee, Re-
publican member of Congress, III Q let
ter published in the Weekly Times,
said of this petition that it was tine
ablest paper he had seen in Mississippi
in many years." lit was singularly ana
carefully non-partizan," that the
grievances complained of were well
founded-the evils sought to be rem
edied were .enormous;'" yet the Leg
~islature treated it with absolute con
tempt, (see appendix. Many lerdlhg
Republicans declared land among them
Attorney~General Harris) that unless
| there was some reform In b party IL
would be defeated. But the party was
deaf to all these appeals, and continued
their career of u%surpation and plunder.
They "laughed at our calamities and
mocked' at our fears. They denounced
our respectful remonstrances as the
"h~owlings' of faction. At length as the
election for 1875 approached, it was
found that the Republican party had
fallen to pieces hy its corruption, 1T
was rent by division and dissension. In
each Of two Congressional Districts
there were rival conventions, each
claiming to be regular, and each max
ing a nomination, which claimed the 10y
atty of the party. In a third the nom
nation was secured by n fraud SO pat
ent, that the nominee, after vainly II
deavoring to reconcile the opposing
wing, wos compelled to decline just on
the eve of the election. In a fourth,
one of the tried and trusted leaders
fMeKee) who had served for three
terms, was set aside, under circumstan-
ces that caused the nominee to lose the
support of the defeated aspirant and
his friends. A large number of Repub-
iicans r~esolutely refused to follow Gov.
Ames, who was freely denounced as
both incompetent and selfish; and
charged with fomepting riot and muir
der for his own advancement and that
of his party.
These circumstances furnished us
opportunity for victory. The oppor--
%tunitv was seized, and with what result
is well known. AS soon however, as
the government passed into the hands
of the Conservatives, W. began to hear
that the election was carried by force
and fraud.-this, too, in many instan-
ces. coming from the lips ofthe very men
who had contributed to our success by
voting for our candidates and smypa-
thizing with IL aims.
The success of the Democratic-Con-
servative party in 1873, marks the be
ginning to a new era IN MISSISSIPPI.
The power thus won has been used
with moderation and wisdom. Every
pledge which the party made to the
people has been fully redeemed. The
Judiciary has been reformed. The
Judges and ChancellOrs are men OF
learning, character and ability. Justice
is administered speedily and impartial
". Crimes is punished and lawless-
ness suppressed. No citizen of any
race or class, can justly say, that he has
been injured or oppressed III any way,
by the government; and there Is none
who does not feel more secure in person
and property, than under Radical rule.
Taxation, Notwithstanding provision
has been made for the payment of a
has has been reduced nearly ore-half.
Salaries and fees have been reduced,
whilst the service officials has been
greatly improved. The common school
system has been extended and cheaper
ed. In short, instead of a corrupt
and incompetent government, Mt q cost
entailing taxation amounting to con-
fscation we have now rs the result of our
success in 1875, a pure, able and eff
icieDt administration. at a rate of tax
alton greatly reduced and still capable
of further reduction when We shall
have paid off the debt created by the
Republican party.
there are yet other reforms, to bel
completed at the next session of the
Legislature. Among these, is 2 r%evis-l
ion oTthe radeteontrsdictory and uni
disested leeislasn which the Repub
lican party bet n1aoed AMONG oar stat
utes; a s~implifcaeion and e~heaT11mng or I
the administration of justice; a still
further. revision of our financial system
hv which TIE public burdens will be
still more lessened, and industrious la
Dor still more relieved from taxation: a
revision and simpliication of the laws
for the sale of lands for taxes, by which,
on a wilful default III the payment of the
now easily paid taxes on lands, a sale
can be made which will confer a good
title, whereby the public revenue will
be fairly collected and the industrious
laboring population of the State may
acquire holnesteads at a smell price.
We repeat, the laboring classes have
always been favorites of the Democratic
party. Many of the brightest and
most trusted leaders of the party have
is now. and has always been, the boast
and pride of the party, that, under its
benign policies, there is no position
in society, untaintpd with crime or bad
conduct, which is a bar to promotion.
Whilst this is IFS position with refer
ence to labor, it is equally protective
as TO capital-since it is impossible
that Industrious labor can ever better
its condition, unless its gains be pro-
tected by the Government.
The issue is now presented to the
people of the State, whether they will
surrender the great fruits of the victory
of the last year-will all the State t.
again fall into the terrible condition
from which it has been rescued; or by a
manly and vigorous efforts to place !
their fortunes and destinies forever be- I
yond the control of the men who have
caused us so much ruin. Shall the for
tunes and destinies of the people be
once more committed to men whose 1
misrule, for six years. destroyed every
vestige of our prosperity, and infused t
into all official action the spirit of sell s
fshness and contempt for the public
good? :
II. after having got possession OF ,
the Government and used our power '
wisely and for the public veal, we :
cannot. or do not. retain il. what pros :
pect will there cver be again to have ,
fair and honest Government i'll Mis- +
sissippi? IN
The Radical leaders in Mississippi !
are determined to leave no stone I'M {
turned and spare no effort to wrest /
the Government from the honest and :
capable hands in which it now is {
Shall we be less energetic and earnest t
tor good, than they for evil? The {
answer we seek to these questions, {
is the thorough and immediate organ
ization of all good citizens for the ap- l
preaching election. I
There is everything to inspire us to I
action-the great evils of Radical rule