The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-01-25
THE TOCSINS OF ALARM.

1t is getting about time for the faithful
sentinels on the watch-towers to begin 10
sound the tocsins of alarm. The dead liz
coming to life again either in the old form
or in some new shape.
We are not going to find fault with the
faithful sentinels. 1t is alwa-s the part of
prudence to be ready for storm II it
don't come it won't set anybody back to be
ready. And if it did come and find US all
unprepared its havoc would be fearful.
Always get ready for storm and be pre-
pared always for war. When peace and
calm reign their is time to prepare. The
faithful santinels understand this principle
and they are generally prompt to come to
the front with their tocsins
If our voice has any weight with the
Democratic party of the State of Missis-
sippi we would humbly suggest that the
true way to keep the party in the ascendant
is-not to set up an opposition when none
exists only for the fun of knocking it
down.-not to create obstacles only to show
little party generalship in overcoming
them-not to waste strength and vigilance
and thunder in fighting the ghost of an
imaginary foe that acknowledges itself
dead and dammed-but to remove all just
causes of complaint on the part of any
class, and to run the party machine strictly
on the line of good faith, integrity, law,
order and equal justice. This done, the
opponents of the Democratic party will be
virtually disarmed. There are not sore
heads and blockheads enough in the State
to hurt the little toe of Democracy if the
machine is piloted according to these prin-
ciples.
The Democratic party in this State has
the opportunity of holding the reins indef-
nitely. However it may be in other States
here its position is impregnable. 1t is in
trenched on all sides by solid works, and
nothing short of criminal neglect and MIS-
management would raise up formidable
power. The people realize what it has
already done for them. 1t has given them
peace and quiet, security for the present
and hope for the future. 1t has reduced
the taxes, stopped the slow process of legal
and restored public confidence
in the government
There is no considerable number of
right thinking men in the State who desire
to supplant the Democratic party. Why
should they? The chronic office hunters Of
the defunct Radical party would like to see
it beaten and the way opened again for
Them to feed on the public crib But that
IS exactly what all right-thinking men never
want to see again. The Sore-head may
,lso possibly desire its defeat because he
links there might be a chance for him to :
scramble up through the wreck. But the j
Sore-head is political biped that disturbs Q
,nly himself. Nobody else ever notices
lin.
But right-thinking men, while they don't ]
want to beat the Democratic party, desire t
hat it should go .bravely and honestly o
onward in its noble mission, and put its p
DOT firmly down on all lawlessness or in
ustice by whatever name it may be called. a
n the main it has undoubtedly done this, d
mt there have occurred exceptional cases of e
'utlawry, violence and bulldozery which Q
he party cannot afford to sanction or to ,
pologize for. Having unlimited power b
verywhsre in the State it must see to it that b
be law is respected everywhere, and in the t
punishment of crime it must show no Il
Gaming to political friend or unnecessary =
10 political foe Law knows no
oltics, and its administrators should be tt
bsolutely free from political bias while in o
be discharge Of their official functions. !.
Instead, therefore, of conjuring up the :,
cad, or manufacturing a new gladiator out
all sorts of incongruous material, if our =
aithtul sentinels would sound their tocsins "
gainst the abuse which may have crept p
ito the party here and there, and illuminate al
leir warnings against the continuance of
lem. they would do the party great deal D,
ore good They would leave its oppo> Sc
snts with no weapons to fight with. m