The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1881-04-30
THE LETTER OF GEN. HURST TO
THE PRESIDENT.
THE MAN WITHOUT A PARTY,
Drops Down to First Principles.

|
Drops Down to First Principles.
We present to-day the full text o.
the letter recently addressed to the
President by Gen. III. p. Hurst, OF
Mississippi. This letter created q
great sensation in Washington among
the dear sojourning patriots of the
South, of the Radical and Scalawag
pursuasion, who are there to assist
the President in making success OF
his administration, and to receive
| from his hands the Federal offices
( which he has to dispense in the South.
The salient points of the letter were
taken up by the ubiquitous reporter
of the New York Herald and tele-
graphed to that paper, which, being
conspicuously published in the Herald,
were at once before the country. 1t is
proper to say, however, that the letter
has never appeared in full with all its
dddenda, delenda ct corrigenda, be-
fore its Insertion this morning in
the columns of TIE COMET. How
it happened to fall into our hands
is our secret. The COMET may
not be altogether as enterprising
ms the New York Herald, nor do we
make a practice Of boasting Of any in
timacy of relationship with the Presi-
dents household which would enable
us to obtain access to his important
state correspondence. Nevertheless,
the fact that THE COMET is the first
journal in the United States to give in
full this significant communication is
worthy Of consideration.
The letter is readable and racy
throughout, and it abounds in stub
born truths that no man is able to
deny. Gen. Hurst is a native Missis-
sippian, the son of that giant in intel
lect and physique, Judge David w.
Hurst, of Pike. He has affiliated
with the Republican party of the
South, and would be glad to defend
it if he could. The task, however,
is too much, the strain upon good con-
science is too great, and he comes out
and in "A manly and altogether truth
ful style tells the President that the
thing won't work, and ought not to
work. II would be bad for the country
and worse for the Republican party
if it did work. The fusion of all the
stray odds and fag ends of Southern
Republicanism, Greenbackism and
so-called Independentism furnishes
mixture too much like the disgusting
broth Of Macbeth's witches to hold
out even hope to the ear. 1t is a
sore-headed conglomeration, with the
worst elements of all parties to lead
it. What can the President expect
from such party? Is he 50 stupid
and ignorant of Southern manhood
and sentiment as to imagine that such |
a crude mess in the hands of discarded |
party tricksters, poor in purse, still
poorer in integrity and patriotism, and |
absolute paupers in capacity, would
hold out any inducement to honorable |
young men of the South to join it q? |
Who wants to be ridiculous? Who |
wishes to be the hero of fantastic
tricks and cut them up befole high
heaven to excite the scornful ridicule
of the angels even? Not the young
men of the South. They are ready to
Join political movement which is
based on a lofty and ennobling pa
and which promises the anne
Iioration of the people and their
from despotic prejudice
DR. usurpation in government. They
might be willing to abandon the
party, if they were shown
mother party that promised better
.hings for the country. But they are
lot such simpletons as to expect bet
,er government from the consolida-
ion of the refuse of all the so-called
parties in this State. They are sharp
enough to sec that the prompting Of
his proposed organization is stimulat-
ID not by a patriotic desire TO re-
ieve the country from evils, but pure
Y to defeat the Democratic party for
he sake of the uffices-that their pur-
,ose is not to give the people better
" more economical government, but
o revel themselves in the spoils.
Their professions are insincere, their
selfish and narrow, and their
bility exceedingly contracted. There
) no honorable inducement offered to
ny young man to join with 1t. As
he case stands, Gen. Hurst has cor
ectly intimated that the Democratic
arty is the only party in Mississippi, ,
high-minded young man, born in the {
outh and keenly sensitive ofthe honor {
( his native land, can now properly /,
ffiliate with. There may come a 4
me when a new party is necessary !
ere, and when the Democracy Of (,
lississippi should be displaced. But !
hen it does come the new party /
lust draw its Inspiration from bet G
II source than the present proposed
ision. 1t must have a higher object 7
nan the Federal or State Offices. 1t
lust be actuated by purer motives
nan idle vlndictiveness against the !
ominant party. And II must be led 4
y men who are worthy Of the con- t
dence Of the people. lt.- 2
One Of the most pitiable sights is
aat Of a man detected lying, still try II
" to stand up to it when Il 10 appa- o
mt that he knows that everybody d
n T. = - n IL