American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1879-08-23

iOnS-if we suffered every succeeds
ing movement of few men, more
or less prominent and influential, to
work change in our political cons
victiOns and leave us Sat sea wIth>
out chart or compass" we would
lind editing the CITIZEN a much
easier and pleasanter task than it
now is, and perhaps a more profita-
BILE one pecuniariiy. 1t would be
so easy>gOing, so comfortable, to
agree good>naturcdly to all the
propositions of our friends of every
phase of political opinion so easy
to write only of State and national
matters and eschew county politics;
or to express Cor conceaD our ideas
IN such set phrase of glittering gen.
eralIties, that every man could cOn~
strue it to suit himself; 10 pirate of
harmony, unity, brothCrly love, and
such other very desirable and gen
orally longed-fOr virtues and bless
ings as no man will gainsay so &C
commodating, to offer our columns
for the propagation of the views of
every gentleman who has q hobby
10 ride, scheme to pr omote, an axe
to grind, or an imaginary grievance
10 avenge. 1t would be pleasant to
retain the good will of every body,
to say nothing that could possibly
offend anybody-to give a quasi
support to the projects of every one
of our subscribers and friends. By
pursuing this course, by being all
things to all men. we might "gain
some." If we never differed from a
lawyer. we might get all his legal
advertising, and SO with men OF
other classes. To talk vaguely of
peace, compromise, healing dissen
sions, and such trite phrases, which
mean everything or nothing. accord
ing to the applicatiOn,) might ena-
BILE us TO secure some patronage
that we have never had, and retain
some which we have heretofore en~
jOyed but now expect, i'll the natural
order of things, to lose. We say all
this would be mighty nice and
pleasant, and We might have it so.
but for one thing. We have rather
decided opinions of our own. In
fact, we have been charged with
being just a leetle 'bumptious." Re-
garding the present political schism
in Madison county, This writer mas
most pronounced views of the right
and wrong of the Case. Josh Bill
Iings, that quaint philosopher, says,
eff man is tight he can't be too
radical" We believe the straight
Democracy are wholly in the right
in this matter, and therefore they
can't be too radical in standing
square up to the action of the Com
vention of July It'll. No one de-
plores more than we, that certain
highly respected gentlemen have
seen fit to array themselves in ops
position to the party to which they
claim to belong. 1t is their misfor-
tune, however, to fluid conf onting
them the vast majority of their own
friends and kindred-while behind
them are the rank and file of the
political party which has always
been their bitter foe. So far as the
dozen or SO of quondam Democrats
engaged in this Opposition are con-
cerned, their arguments remind us
forcibly of the good man who cons
planned of the bull-headed obstina-
cy of the eleven other jury men who
would agree with-him! Thinking
thus, it has seemed to us right and
manly to speak out our sentiments,
so that both friends and opponents
might know where to place US. We
have not spoken with intentional
unkindness or disrespect of any
condemnation really we entertain
no such feeling. But if, in our
plain, unvarnished structures upon
their public acts, We have given
offense to the gentlemen conspicu-
GUS in the movement censured, we
do not feel that just construction
of our language will warrant it, and
can only say that they are too deli
cate aud too sensitive to take lead
ing parts in political aft ,irs, and
ought to. retire. "AmbiliOn should
be made of sterner stuff"
The CITIZEN will continue to
express its views of public meas
ures, respectfully to all worthy of
respect, but in language that shall
admit of no doubtful meaning. If
we lose patron here and there, we
believe the people will reimburse
us, and that We shall make up in
new subscribers whatever we may
lose in legal advertising, etc. Thus
far we are more than gratified at the
large number of recent accessions
to our list; but if, IN the end, it