The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1878-08-23

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not be too highly commended for
their philanthropy, and the example
is worthy of imitation on the part
of the inhabitants of other cities
DdMN4NT QUOD NON LNTELLIGU INT
1t is always we'll that we intelli
gently consider subjects before ex'
pressing views or giving an opinion
upon any matter, no difference how
seemingly insignificant the subject
may appear. Then how much more
important is it to calmly study sub
iects of weightier Importance
These thoughts + suggested by
having been accused 't opposing
the action of the board of health OF
jackson county in placing on quar-
antine restrictions between this
county an those places supposed to
be infected with yellow fever.
We do not care to so into an
elaborate discussion of this subject,
but we do wish to be placed rectHs
IN populuS. In other words we want
the people to understand our posi-
ton. Now, we have been accused
OF opposing quarantine restrictions
and of throwing obstacles III the
way of the board of health. Let us
e e In our issue of August ID,
writing upon this subject we said :
Now, we do not wish to be understood as
| condemning the action of our board OF
health, for we believe and kROW this board
is composed of the wisest and most prudent
citizens of our COunty-men who have as
much interest in the welfare Of the county
as any men in the community, but still
some think they We're somewhat hasty N
their action, while Others heartily approve
their course and think they did what was
right and proper.
Nevertheless, as they have done what to
them seemed best for the protection of the
health of this people, it now becomes the
duty Of erery citizen to assist the board by
all means within their power to carry out
a rigid quarantine. If they are successful
in Keeping out infectious diseases, well
and good; if they fail they will have the
consciousness of knowing they did what
was in their power to avoid a dreadful
scourge.
1t seems to us the above language
does not sound very much like op-
posing the action of the board of
health, or in manner placing obSta-
Giles in the way of carrying ont an
efficient quarantine. Then in our
issue of August 9th we find the fol
lowing paragraph:
Atthe Wednesdays meeting of the Jack
son county board of health an important
resolution was passed, and one that will
more effectually prevent the introduction
of infection into this county. While some
may be opposed to quarantine, yet it is the
duty of every good citizen to assist the
board in carrying out a rigid enforcement
of the laws, and thus prevent yellow fever
from being brought into this county. Our
board are wide awake and are going to
carry out the laws to the letter, and will
punish %violators whenever caught.
Surely nothing in the above can
be construed into meaning that we
oppose a strict enforcement of quar-
antine regulations. But some OBJ
ject to the editorial article in last
weeks issue. Let us quote a few
passages from that and e whether
or not that is the case.
Now there are two sides to every ques-
ton. The people of Ocean Springs nave a
perfect right to protest against the cstab-
lisbment of the quarantine, and with good
reasons, too, to zach their objection. We,
also, have a right to protest against quar-
antine, and if it were in u power to-day,
we would throw open wide the gates of
commerce and let trains and vessels enter
and depart at will. But then on the other
hand the board of health il a legal body,
established by the laws of the State, and
their acts, so long as within the bounds of
that law (Which, by the way, is almost
unlimited) must be respected and obeyed.
If they see fit to establish a quarantine be-
tween this county and the county west of
us, our citizens have but one alternative
to obey that law.
While we are individually opposed TO
quarantine restrictions, yet we can appre-
ciate the delicate position in which the
board of health OF this county are placed
Our position upon quarantine regula-
lions in this: After reading the opinions
of learned physicians. and conversing with
Others upon the subject of yellow fever,
we nav come to this concln-
sion II there exists certain climatic con
ditions the fever will be brought in by the
mills, OF by one person who may run the
blockade, and it will spread over entire
cities or towns. If these atmospheric
conditions do not exist, then if forty cases
of fever were brought in here and dis
tributed around in the families of our
citizens, the disease would not spread.
.
This is not all we said, but is the
strongest language used in the
article against quarantine regula-
tions. if such be the construction
placed upon it. But it should be
borne in mind that we had good