The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1879-05-07
The Exodus Question.

i I 7
means by the above thai the labor of the Stat
is 10 have no more representation in the futur
{ than il has had in the past. We must tax
n issue with him We must bring him back I
\ the Democratic-Conservativ platform
= ippi.-Vicksburg Herald
We infer that our Vicksburg neigh
Dor means negro "labor," as it is tn
1 negro exodus we are discussing w
have not said anything about the mer
persoael Of that description of represen
tation nor even about representation
at all. What We said was that tn,
whites having~ accorded to the coloreC
people~the same civil and political priv
ileges which they themselves enjoy
nothing more could reasonably be asked
nor conferred. If the counties in which
the exodus spirit is raging, think il
would be expedient to enlarge the
colored representation in the law-makine
department, they have the right to dc
so. 1t may satisfy pride of caste
Our laws are just and they are admins
tered impartially. There is no class
legislation in Mississippi The lien law
which is made the scape-goat of all the
ills Of the body polite, and which seems
to have served out its term, was devised
in the interest Of labor and to secure the
necessary credit for agricultural labor in
getting along. The Herald says:
If labor Is unrepresented except on paper
platforms, 1t Will be suspicious and dissatisfied
even II the laws are as impartial as can be de-
ylsed Ii our neighbor means that no politi-
cal concessions ought to be made beyond the
DemocratIc-Conservati platform We agree
with him. When that platform was made it
was broad, long, and conservative enough for
all to stand on, and it remains Just as it was
made Many Conservatives stood on it, and
VIII continue to stand on it. Hundreds and
thousands Of negroes ask no more than it
promises, and supported candidates placed on
II, and elected them. But if THE CLARION
thinks IL is a concession for the Bourb0ns to
live up to the Democratic-Conserva plat
form, as they have never done yet then we for
one say it ought to be made.
We have heard good deal of this
sort Of complaint before, but it was
not made by Democratic newspapers.
Boutwell, has said that the Democrats
and Conservative of Mississippi, had
not lived up to their professions, and |
hence he and that ilk have originated |
committees to prove that |
the Southern whites have promised one |
thing and performed another: but they |
have all failed in their attempt. There |
is not letter in our statute books
there Is not a decree in our courts. as
by the Democratic party,
which do not contradict the allegation
that it has been faithless to its pledges
to execute even-haQded justice Upon
his issue, we will take up the gage
against all corners, for we are sustained
~ the record. There have been two
Democratic Legislatures since the over
hrow of Radical misrule in Mississippi;
nd our Vicksburg contemporary, who {
Gems TO have been suddenly converted $
0 the idea that the Democratic Con 9
ervative party has not lived up to :
5 platform, surely cannot have i
that at the close Ofeach session, Ii
he colored members of that body passed "
solutions declaring that the majority 81
lie members elected on the Democratic d
onservative platform-had treated
lem with marked consideration and ?
ndness, and had legislated with fair L
IS and without discrimination. 1t was D
lder the conviction of this truth that
nding the last State election, leading m
Iored men who had acted with the Re p
ibllcan party, placed their services at el
e disposal of the Democratic-C onser-
tive State Committee, and offered to
nvass the State in the interest of that
rty, They had scrutinized its policy, y'
d had become convinced that the well "
e OF both races demanded that it should u
continued. If they have found out nc
terently, 1t is because they have been gr
lght by interested outsiders who have al
,anized bowling sectional Agitating ol'
under the false title of rei
ligrating Aid Societies. co