The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1877-08-01
DEMOCRATIC
State Convention.
JACKSON, Miss, Aug. l. 1877.

cratic Conservative Party of the State oil
Mississippi this day assembled in the hall
OF the House of Representatives.
AtII 30 A. NJ GIN. J. L. GEORGE, Chair
man Of state Executive Committee, called
the Convention to order. The Delegates
had been all assigned their seats, and the
galleries and all available standing space
was occupied General George addressed
the Convention as follows-his remarks be-
ing listened to with profound attention.
and eliciting frequent applause:
In performing the duty of opening this
Convention. feel impelled, under the pecu-
liar circum stances. to say 4 few words and
n these words will relate u the future, aud
may wear the appearance OF admonition, |
trust the Convention will aScribt my re-
marks to their true source " men Is the ceep
interest | feel in the welfare of the State,
and not to any assumption on my part of
the right to advise or warn.
The results of the elections of 1873 and
1876 have placed the Democratic and Con-
servative party in indisputable sway in this
State and for the present, at least. have
wholly di>OrganiZed the Repu blican party
This condition OF affairs is tOrja1ate. when
considered a. 4 tribute To the virtue, iuteli-
gence, and patriotism OF our party. and as i
condemnation OF the principles and practi-
ces of our lat" opponents.
When considered ia another aspect, it.
however, Is seen to be not all good, for it j.
fraught with great dangers, which can only
be avoided by wisdom, moderation, and
hrmneSs.
From undisputed supremacy, come first
divisions rs To minor questions of policy
differences eugendered by rivalries among
men, and, finally. il this tendency be not
arrested, disiutegratton and political death
We gained our present ascendency by an
unselfish devotion 10 the public veal, har-
mony in council, union in action, IA yielding
up Of personal aspirations and personal re-
sentiments for the common good. We will
lose il when we shall cease to be governed
bv the same high motives. Circun >tanced
as we are, the supremacy of the Democratic
Conservative pa Jy IN Mississippi is a neces-
sity. Its destruction, or division into hos
tile factions, would alike render impossible
ar honest and efficient administration of
government.
Division means an appeal to the worst
elements of the Republican party, to secure
the mastery to the contending factions. In
the response to that appeal is the death
kuell OF good government in Mississippi.
Whatever, therefore, may happen, we
must settle our disputes and differences
among ourselves. We must invite no hos
tile. no alien arm to give support and weight
to one as against another. There can be no
settlement of any question upon which we
may divide, that will so harm the people
OF Mississippi as the victory of one section
aid of the common enemy of both
Hitherto we have been forced into una
nimitv by the eyer pressing evils of NAL
administration. We were united from the
instincts of self-preservation. Now, the
same union and harmonious action must re-
suit from wise and conciliatory counsel
from determination TO render faithful SER
vice to the State and from dispen> alton of
equal and exact justice to ali sections and
all classes of the party.
Whilst | thus plead fer union and harmo-
ny, as essential to tie salvation OF the State,
there yet remains one other calamity, greater
if possible, than the overthrow, or division
)f the Democratic Conservative party. That
calamity will be upon us when the party
shall so far forget its high missi IN as to per-
mis- itself TO BE- made the instrument of ele-
vatiug into power and influence, men who |
nave no other interest in the politics of the |
state than TO advance their personal for |
unes.
Our needs are just and wise policies, car
led out by pure and patriotic men.
For the last ten years our struggle has |
leen to overthrow misrule, and to secure |
lie power and opportunity of seli-govern-
,rnment. The evils which afflicted society, |
md the still greater evils which were threat
.ued. were SO pressing, so deadly, whether
considered affecting our material
interests or the moral and intellectual
Of our people, that in the long
md eXhansting contests tor the overthrow
nan the means OF success. We were with
nut a policy beyond the determination that
economy should supersedc waste, and hon
sty and competency should eXpel vice and
ignorance from official life. The particular
GeasuTeS by which Il people can be made
ereat and pros porous uid not attract our
ttention,
Whilst engaged in the desperate struggle
. rescue the snip from pirates, we had no
ime to consider how the voyage should be
nade prosperous, but only how ShlpWreck
night be prevented.
Now Il heh0oVes us to consider carefully
ghar measures will most prosper and adj
ance our people, and e see that they are
nopted.
We are to try to solve, if solution be pos
ibIe. the great problem of making homo
eneous political society our of the diverse
aces which occupy our territory We are
. work out. il it c..n be done. how two dis
met peoples, equal lii ali constitutional and
ngal, civil and natural rights equal in
olitca1 pc Vcr, but unequal in all things
lse--cau be moulded 50 Tar into one as TO
C capable of harmonious political action
u will no longer suffice as a slogan to
the people to political contests, that
is odious and corrupt.
The memory of the many wrongs it in-
icted on us may well b. kept green as an
lcentiVG u wise and vlrtuous action, and
} sleepiesS and eternal vigilance ; but States
or parties can live on the memory OF past
of their own, nor on the re-
election of the past crimes and foliies of
f their adversaries.
The present presses on us: its needs are l
ncrgent and eXi@ent; and we must pro-
de TOR them The illimitable future is L
sfore Us; we must foVecaste it, and meet
: demands. L
We haze the power: there are none to
spute il nor obStruet the reforms we may
'oposei nor the measures we may adopt.
But We must remember. that to this great
)wer. and grand opportunity TO do good, /
superadded the still greater responsibility |
at this power ne wisel y used; this oppor-
nifty be not wasted, but improved to the L
termOst.
II bad laws shall hereafter be made, or n
wing been made-by the Republicans or
2 us-they shall remain unrepealed; if the
institution and laws be not enforced if
Olence be not suppressed; if justice be not
ministered fully. freely and impartially
all if protection in person and property
not guaranteed 20 every citizen, even The
mblest if vice and crime be not repreSs-
and punished, and virtue not encour-
ed if capital be not protected aud the
ward of honest labor be not made secure:
the people be not educated aud elevated
a word if Mississippi shall not now enter
on Il career of prosperity, of moral aud
Lterial aQvanceml ent in her PEG pte-the |
rid viii hold US accountable.
We are also to contribute our due share
the discussion and Settlem ent OF the ques- | N
MS growing out Of tnance-civil service ~
ornl, the currency, the tariff, and the
Ter great constitutional and economic
questions now engaging, and
reafter TO engage, the attention of the
nercan people.
The wise and just constitutional policy of
esident Hayes, in respect to our section,
ng in exact accordance with the princi- Nj
5 of the Democratic party, completes
restoration of the South to its place in
Tnion. We are now Americans, with
brand of inieTi0riIy upon US This
wen conceded by our worst enemies. We
st, therefore, discharge our tduties as
lerican citizens, insisting on an equality
benefits, as we are willing to bare our
re of the common burdens, of the govern
MT. Our craftsmanship must embrace M
aonDrrv SaeLi0O tO adv