The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1880-02-21
THE EPIDEMIC OF 1878.
Remarks of Hon. David Johnson of
Itawamba, on his Resolution in Re-
lation to the Epidemic.

THE ouTPouRING OF PEOPLES GRAFT
TUDE
Mr.. PREsrpENT--I introduce this reso-
luton aud will urge its adoption because |
think it due TO ourselves, as well as the
people we represent being the first General
Assembly that has met since the great
Epidemic of 1878. We shudder when We
look back on that dark period and behold
the clouds of misery and death, as they en-
veloped the entire Western portion of our
beloved State, when we listen to the cries
of anguish and misery, and the groans Of
the dying at Grenada, Holly Springs, Can
ton, Vicksburg, jackson, and many otner
portions of our State, where the epidemic
prevailed; where thousands OF our fellow
citizens were unable TO make support by
the suspension of all business, and hear the
cries Of women and children for the com.
forts of life this terrible plague had de-
prived them of, and hear the means of the
dying, the cries Of the orphan and the dis.
tressed everywhere, and this too, at time
we, as people, were unable to render them
such assistance as would prevent their
suffering. This, fellow Senator's was our
condition. When we appealed to the world
for help, did that hclEcomeH Go to those des.
olated iresides, ask the widow and orphan
and those who survived Che great plague, and
hear their response From every State of
this Union, East, West, North and South,
help came, and came literally, and not only
from our own loved countay but from al
most every civilized nation OF the earth
our cry was heard, and cur wants were
well supplied. Money, provisions, medicine
and clothing were forwarded to us in such
quantities ny to meet all our demands; and
while misery and death were upon us, IL
was consolng to know the outside world
had looked on us with compassion, and
came TO our relief us though we were breth'
ren.
We then, as the Representatives Of the
people of Mississippi, in our legislative ca
pacity, should give some expression o! our
appreciation Of the generous manner with
which our appeal for help was answered.
/ therefore move the adoption Of the resolu-
tion:
A JOINT RESOLUTION in relation to the
yellow Fever epidemic Of 1878.
WHEREAS. The assembling Of the Legislature
Of Mississippi for the first time since the fatal
1
zens were scourged in the summer and au-
tumn Of 1873 suggests the propriety OF some
permanent memorial Of that affecting calami-
| " and OF some official recognition OF that
world wide charity which 1t worked. seldom
in recent history has the human family been
smittea by disease so sudden, NO widespread,
SO fatal, and which so successfully bafled the
researches Of science, alike as to its origin aud
its cure. Originating, so far as the United
States Is concerned in our neighboring city
of New Orleans, IL leaped nj q single bound TO
the town Of Grenada, distance of more than
200 miles, and prostrated more than fifty vic
Tins before the wisest Of the medical profess
sion suspected its existence. Thence rapid
| ly spreading 10 many towns and cities in our
own State aud In Tennessee, IL made It's way
as an epidemic as far North as Paducah, Ky,
and in sporadic form TO Louisville, Cinen-
natl aud 81. Louis. In the brief space Of four
months more than hundred thousand per.
sons were stricken down. Of whom
twenty-five thousand died. Our own
people were called upon 10 mourn the
death of thousands of our best citizens in
every rank and condition Of life. II attacked
rich aud poor, lofty and lowly alike. No
wealth or position warded off its cunning and
no poverty or obscurity escaped its attack.
Such was the terror caused by its approach
that cities and towns were depopulated by the
outbreak Of single case, while the places that
escaped its ravages guarded their avenues Of
appr0ach by armed men who pitiessly re-
PEELED the flying victims from less fortunate
localities. Business suspended; the lines Of
travel and Of commerce were broken upi and
through large portion OF our territory for
many months, men had no other occupation
save to care for the sick, and no other thoui ht
than how to stay the rayages Of the plague.
In the hours Of darkest gloom, there came
an oui6urst Of spontaneous charity--world'
wide and all-embracing. Wherever the
tidings Of our ealamities travelled the hearts
ofmen were touched, and their purses opened
for our relief From England and France aud
Germany and Russia there came contribu-
. tions for our fever-stricken people. Our sis
! ter states Of the South, though poyertystrick'
en-, and waiting In hourly dread OF being them
selves attacked forgot not our distress, while
our more fortunate Northern brethren seemed
SO determined that the memory Of our mis-
r cry should be forgotten in the magnitude O
= their bounty, that the future historian vii
I doubt whether the year 1873 must be charac
/, terizcd IS darkened by the direct calamity
. or illuminated by the most splendid charity o
: modern times. From every city a9d town ans
: village and hamlet from Maine TO California
4 from the Canada line TO the Ohio river
!. there poured out steady stream o
contributions which swalled higher al,
higher and knew no cessation or abatemen
so long as there remained q fevered brow 10 b
y cooled, or dead body 10 be buried The ricl
4 gave their thousands, the comfortable thei
4 hundreds, and the poor their dollars, Will
8 little children and bsggar women dropped
; their dimes and pennies into the contribute
o boxes which in every public place appealei
I for the relief Of the people Of the South.
I. was no short-lived charity, which died as sud
d denly as ithad sprung Up, but through all tn
weary days grew larger and larger ,and cease
not until the enormous sum Of one millio
three hundred thousand dollars had bee
poured 10 upon us, and We ourselves hegge
them TO desist
The Legislature Of Mississippi feels that
will not do its duty If it fails 10 put upo
% record some fitting memorial Of this unpara
leled charity, and give expression 10 the hear
g felt gratitude which then stirred the hearts
y our people, and which grows deeper with Il
lapse Of time; therefore,
l. Be Ii resolved, By the Legislature Of Il
State Of Mississippi, That to the friends Of h
manity throughout the world, who, during d
81 dreadful epidemic with which our peop
d. we're afflicted in the summer and autumn
1915, heard our cries Of distress and SO ge
sy erously poured out the offsringsof their chs
ut | ity in our behalf, we return the heartf
rs thanks Of a grateful people, and to our felIo
u: citizens Of the Northern States who nohly
Ol the way in this work Of mercy, We desire in
ne. especial manner TO express eur gratitu
ct They have shown themselves as noble In e