The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-01-11
1879.


a ready cleaned from other newspaper source
q information of the fact that the late Ann
A Domini has passed off; and, furthermore
that we have fairly entered upon the yea
, 1879. The newspapers are deserving O
great praise for keeping the people adv SCI
o of the periodical outgoing and incoming
4 of the years.
: The date of The COMETS visitation
, however, makes it unnecessary for us t.
offer gratulations to its great host of friends
in reference to the matter.
The present year, 1879, opens auspici
ously, and we descry promises for tht
futule calculated to encourage us all. IL
the first place we have had, what all the
people have been praying for, several cold
snaps of weather which will freeze out the
germs of yellow fever that may possibly
have been left lurking amoLg us by the late
epidemic, and prepare the ground for bet
ter crops. Here is abundant cause for hope
fulness, and for devout gratitude to
Almighty God. With health assured, we
can count as people upon getting upon
the direct road to prosperity during the
present year Among the reasons why we
may count on this, are these:
l. The adjustment and solidity of our
political situation Under the just and
liberal admins tration of the Democratic
party in Mississippi, race clashes have dis
appeared from the State, riots are unknown,
and insub ordination to law unheard of, ex-
cept in individual instances. The conf
dence of all classes is restored and all the
people feel safe now in moving forward and
maturing their plans for future develops
ment. They are satisfied now to take root
in the soil and look for profit in slow, nat
ural and sure growth 1t was not SO few
years ago under different administration.
Then all was dissatisf iction, turmoil job
berry and uncertainty. The people gener-
ally calculated only upon what one year
would bring forth. They lived emphati
cally from hand to mouth, and devoted their
energies to the production of the one staple
which could always be converted into cash.
They planted no trees, because they hardly
expected to stay here long enough for them
to grow. They raised scarcely any stock
because they expected it to be stolen They
omitted all improve ements upon their farms
and homesteads because they felt that if the
alien and rapine rule continued, it was only |
question of time for the virtual confsca-
tion of their estates. 1t was great thing
to wrench the State from the hands of a
party which brought such freeze upon the
hopes of the people and such blight upon
every material interest. Happily there is no
obstacle of this kind to contend against
now.
2. The era OF Shylockism and skin flint
ism and legalized robbery practised upon
large portion of the produ eing community
has in measure lost its grip. Money
lenders, and the dealers in deeds of trust,
have displayed few grains of con- cience,
and are, for the most part, satisfied W tn
something less than 25 per cent. for the use
Of money or 200 per cent. on the cost of
goods. There are vastly fewer mortgages
than heretofore. Men have learned the
nature of a mortgage in the hands of
'hyster, and they have learned to set new l
value upon their homes. Consequently [
ess farms are under mortgage, and i'm I
nensely less money has been expended in {
he production of the crop. AS whole i
he farmers are freer from debt and have 6
,orn in their cribs. We have been preach /
ng zealously for ten years to hammer into |
heir heads the wholesome doctrine of put 7
ing corn in their cribs. They have got corn, f
md, as natural outcome of the corn, f
more of everything else than they had. f
Now there is nothing to prevent cided
Improvement in their condition. v
3. The settlement of values and the I'm a
of tho public and individual n
redit. Our State bonds at per cent. are %
worth a small premium. Auditors war "
ants are equal to gold in every part of the n
tate. Every body seems inclined to turn o
ver new Leaf to quit wildcat specula- il
ions and look the problem of life square in D
he face, and to place a sounder estimate fl
pom his abilities and the facilities within O.
is command. He can make far safer
alculation and intends not to over-crop
imself and break down with overgorge- Of
lent L
So after all, Notwithstanding the New at
ear has passed, the time when this duty pl
ught to have been performed, we con- in
ratulate the whole people of Mis- issippi gi
pom their improved prospects. &C
x,,