The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1877-10-04
JEEMS AFTER THEFARMEKs'LEA
Err. SO.CAELED.

JEEMS AFTER THEFARMEKS LEAD.
Err, SO.CAIdED.
History Of tie Past, Present. and Pre-.
dicti0ns for the Future.
Eccentrioitiss Of the Editor Of the Com
et-His Two Radical District Print
ing 0rgans-Secession and War
Times.
Insane Teachings and Utter Repudia-
ton Of Moral and Legal Obligations.
MOUNTAINS OF THE Moon, ,
October LIST, 1877. I
Editor BrookAapen Ledger
am a spirit now. 1 wrote a little squib
for the Jackson Times a few weeks ago on
the "Farmers, Movement" and so excited
the ire OF the Comet that it swung its fiery
tail around and struck me, and SO here l
am in the spirit land. l felt the shock,
and in the twinkling of an eye ] found
myself here. 1 was afraid Of this all the
time, in fact predicted it in the article in
question, but had no idea II would be SO
sudden. I have found out that when the
Comet strikes it kills, and hope this will
serve as a warning to others to let the
Comet alone.
When q child our old negro nurse told
us that "spirits know everything" l find
that those that have been here a long time
do, and they tell mt that the reason the
editor Of the Comet took it so hard was on
account of the truth in the matter of lead
ership named: And secondly, because it
was published in what he calls a Radical
paper. They say he got a distaste to them
when he had two District printing organs,
n in each of the Eastern Court Districts.
They also say that if you want to disgust
him, get one of his old Radical papers
and read the law at the head Of the first
column where it makes it illegal" only to
publish Court orders in that paper, and
the certificate of Ames that "this paper is
hereby appointed" official organ. The re-
suit is he always loses his color and temper
when you mention Radical paper. The
spirits say that these papers were not q
success, either financially or in advancing
the editor to political distinction.
They also say that the editor desires to
be a leader in something or anything.
They tell me that he tried to lead in the
great Secession Convention, and would
probably have done so, but that "Jeems"
and several others got together and put
out an opposition candidate that happened
to get the most votes.
But he was bound to lead somewhere
and a great big spirit here says that when
the Yankees captured Jackson the first
time he saw the then editor af the Missis-
sippian (now the editor of the Comet he
was leading the retreat toward Canton
But he says, for fear it might be thought he
was partial in his account, that he led ii in
gallant style. He was complimented by
Gen. Johnston, on the field, for the master
" manner in which it was done.
These old spirits say that the "Farmers'
Movement" would be a good thing if it
was their purpose to band together to adj
vance their interests as a community, with
out doing it at the expense of the people
who have furnished them the means to
live when they could not have made a crop
without that means. They say it is wrong
in principle and unjust in practice. 1t is
on the principle OF the Grange. 1t pro-
posed to destroy the merchants ring and
made another ring to do it with.
When I ask them how this will result,
they say az fast as these self constituted
leaders find there is no political office to
be had from it for each of them, they will
drop out, one by one, until the corporal's
guard that are left will be reduced to a few
men, who, having nothing to lose, and who
cannot get up a respectable meeting at the
Courthouse, will go" around abusing their
leaders for deserving them.
When l ask them about the poor, igno-
rant negroes who have been driven to these
meetings like sheep to the shambles, they
say there is where the hardship m in.
That when these people 60 to looking
around for help to make a crop next year,
and the merchant says, ~ can't help you,
for you did your best last year to defraud
me of what / had given you-you must so
to the strikers for help" then they may be
seen asking these leaders to verify their
promise that at would be all right" And
they will tell them, "You betrayed your
trust-you gave the merchants cotton at
ten cents-you can 60" Where is he to
get help? 1t is a problem yet unsolved,
and even the best Of spirits can't tell what
will become of them.
A little spirit BY my side says, "the edi-
tor OF the Comet will say you are a Radi-
cal, and could not wind up without put
ting a little niger in it." Another one
says, "You ara right. The white folks can
get along. They can get something be-
cause they generally have land. But the
negro is not generally a land owner and he
must suffer-"
But seriously, Mr.. Editor, l think that
the Insane teachings of the Comet, In the
ambitious designs Of the editor for distinc-
ton, have gone no far ahead Of the origin
al intentions of the farmers, and have tax
en- a course so antagonistic to law and or
der, that we all here. conceive it 20 be ruin
to the country. We do not believe
that there is another country on earth where
a proposition so boldly avowing an utter
Reputation Of moral and legal obligations could
find a paper to advocate its cause. &
Another spirit says that the Comet has
already commenced begging the merchants
to help out the poor farmers, make terms
with them and don't be hard OIL them.
This don't ook like being masters of the
.;t,,t;or Rut apouoh BEFORE the ides