The Chickasaw messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1880-1900, 1880-12-16
Communicated.

late Presidential election seems to
have surprised many, disheartened
come and 10 have disappointed 9th
fers, but as for me / am neither dis
heartened or disappointed, but ] am
sorry for that dear cid Democracy
which is older than the Government
itself II has always been the friend
OF the people, and was the first to
place government into their hands,
and bya written constitution secure
to them and their posterity the
blessing Of free, equal aud indie
pendent government to al alike.
Yes, I am sorry to see her deserted
by any Of her children, and I feel 10
this her hour OF trial a strong de-
sire to speak In her defense.
When sAe was strong, aud needed
not my feeble voice to be heard,
was silent, but now l feel that she
has a claim upon the humblest of
her followers, aud / would that all
her children, North and South, East
West would come and nestle in her
bosom, and ask her blessing and
protection, and give her that sup
port which she 30 truly and richly
deserves. As for me ] will wear
her torn and tattercd garments in
the preseuceof all the world, rather
than be clad in the rich habiiiments
OF her b0astful enemies Shame te
to those who desert her altars to
worship at the shrine Of Mammon.
Let the Solid North exult over the
victory they have won by the use of
the peoples money, but let the South
stand still more solid in defence Of
the constitution of our Fathers
Let tnat constitution be our shield
and helmet; without that conslitu-
tion we have no government at all
Il was made by Democratic patriots
more than hundred years ago The
same differences Of opinion existed
then with the people that exist now,
but we thought they had been set
lied by the adoption of the cOnsti-
tuition, which defined the rights Of
all From il see a union Of States
so harmonious, equal and just that
| it would seem almost impossible to
complain or disagree Our Fathers
were so alrnid of absolute power
that they refused to give it even to
the people, without restrictions
They knew that majoriues could err
and become as oppressive as kings,
and hence the the constitution was
made with such checks and balances
that while il gave unity to the whole
| II protected the few against the many,
the weak against the strong So
long as our constitution lives you
need fear no solid North or solid
South. but our danger lies in the
corruption Of the ballot The voice
of the people is the voice of God,
and is the foundation upon which
our whole system of government is
founded. Corrupt that voice by
corrupting the ballot and you will
destroy Patriotism itself
Those who expected to make mon
ey out OF the election, it is well, are
disappointed, and / am not sorry for
them | will not be one OF those to
advertise my love for Northern gold.
NV vote can never be bought and
| If the true voice Of the people is
against me ! win submit with the
same eheeriulness that we used to
do IN olden times But we have an
element of suffrage that we did not
have then, and what will you do
aboutit2 answer nothing-except
to help them guard their ballot as
YOU do your own and see that no in
proper influences are brought to bear
upon them and that hey, like you,
may vote as they think and as they
desire. They bave been made citi
zeus Of the United States by amend
ments to the constitution, and are
protected by election laws made by
| Congress, that may not be agreeable
to our feelings in their execution,
but it will be better not 70 oppose or
resist either the law or the oonslitu
| tinn, but submit to both. II the
colo,ed people make good and law
abiding citizens, it is better to make
them our citizens than have them
become the citizens of the " Nation "
II Justly dealt with they will be a
| help in the development Of our re-
sources, and instead Of being an ele
ment Of weakness become an ele-
/ ment Of strength.
"The march of Empire is moving
west ward" and a union OF South
| and West would build up an Empire
OF commerce and trade, that would
throw a solid North entirely and al
together in the shade. Then let Us
make peace at home among ourselves
and be solid in all that is right
have already seen that, kidglove aris
tocraoy, which was so recently scoff
4 sd at by Senator Brown in Georgia a
not being an element he desired to
represent, working with their ow1
hands. and 10 their own fields aud 10
stead Of riding about in their ear
! riapes to town and other places, ar'
content to ride upon their cultivator.
/ at home, and / have seen the iaii
! Daughters of the South up at dawn
attending to the duties OF their house
lhold with an alacrity and cheerful
ness, that makes the heart glad to see
I with such men and such women, wins
) need fear e solid North Tue placl
: ofthe South and the skill Of the West
If united, will soon settle our fears an
8 end our troubles. But we arc ID hi
7 danger from a solid North 90 lon.
s a the constitution lives and ne arl
q solid ourselves Then lot Us 20 t
s work each and all Cfus, and not Bai
+ for capital to help rs, make the eapi
i tal irst BY individual effort, each do