The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1881-10-20

phlets, or publications, or other means; we
must let the present condition of Mississippi
and her resources, her productions and her
climate, her soil and her laws, her institu-
tions and the price and value of her lands,
be known, and then there is every reason
to believe that By well directed energy in
this direction, even on a limited and eco
nomical scale, we viii accomplish, not sud
denly but slowly and gradually, great and
good results for the State.
But..time presses, and | must pass on to
discussion of some of the political ques-
tions involved in the canvass between Col.
King and myself We have been canvass
ing the State for the past thirty days and
during that time he has not presented one
single argument, any earthly reason why
the Democratic party should be displaced,
and he, as the representative of a conglom-
Grated confusion departure, elected Govern
or. What manner of man is this fusion
candidate? | have heard him so often that
| am able now to tell you in advance what
he will have to say,-at first he claimed to
be a Conservative, not a Greenbacker, and
not a Republican. As time passed on, how
ever, and it became apparent that the ne
groes did not take kindly to him, he found
that little more Republieanism would be
necessary, or the Republicans would let
him take care of himself, he sang differ
ent tune, and ventured the assertion that,
after all he had heard of worse parties
than the Republican. That had a better
effect, and my distinguished friend grew
bolder. The Greenbackers rather objected
to so much Republican and SO little Green
back-National-Labo talk, and gently in
timated it wouldn't do. Col. King, with
great ability and shrewdness (for my friends
he is able and shrewd), untangled the web,
and Of late he had dropped his defence of
both, and now stood forth the representa-
tive of new party, the Conservative.
Where does such an organization exist ex-
cept in the mind of the ''wah-horse." What
Greenbacker who stands on principle can
vote for man who never uttered a Green
back sentiment in his life +? In all our dis
cussions, he has not once charged the Dem
ocratic State govement with corruption or
inconsistency. On this subject, having
nothing to say, he has said nothing.
Gen. Lowry then proceeded to answer in
advance, some of the points Col. King was
in the habit of making He entered into
an elaborate discussion of the Dent move
ment in 1868, the causes which led to it,
and the good results he hoped would follow
its success, and the evils which had followed
its defeat. In that movement, he had fol-
lowed the great leaders of the Democratic
party-they were all there-Sharkey, La
mar, Barksdale and the rest-all except
Col. Benjamin King, the "war-horse OF Co
piah," and he was not missed III the tight.
What party, he asked, does Col. King be-
long to, and what questions does he present
for your consideration In all countries
where it is proposed to change the form OF
| government, grave questions were presented
4In oh
were given None, he said, were advanced
| by his opponent. The burden of his song
| had been full vote, free ballot and fair
count The speaker declared that he, too
was in favor Of the last two propositions
| as to the "full VOTE" that was a question
with the voters themselves. And when did
! Col. King wake up to the knowledge that
the negro was being cheated of his rights ?
When become so enthusiastic in his demand
for free ballot? Had he, like Rip Van
Wrinkle, been asleep all this time aud just
walked up to a knowledge Of the infamy OF
his old political associates? Did not the
nomination for Governor have the effect OF
waking him from his profound slumbers
He was at present Democratic Senator
from the county of Copiah, and in the Leg
islature, was regarded as stalwart OF the
stalwarts, simon-pure, and unadulterated.
This. he said, was proved by the fact that
the now oDposition candidate for Governor
| was a short time since appointed chairman
of certain committee of the Legislature
to confer with the Governor in reference to
an extra session of that body for the pur-
pose of making a re-apportIonment OF the
State To show how worthy he was OF the
confidence reposed in him, Gen. Lowry read
the now famous buchanan letter, writ
ten by Col. King to Hon. }. w. Buchanan,
of Chickasaw county, one OF the members
OF the Committee, In which the necessity
for new apportionMent was urged 41 LIE
ground that it would seeufs 70 tle nehloc-
racv permanent control OF the state. Il
therefore, charge" continued the speak
er thai his object was to grryman-
der the State SO as 10 secure to the
marty which he now denounces, permanent
ascendencv." He thought Col. King had
the happy faculty of changing his mlnd
as circumstances changed Politics IS DC
F sentiment in Mississippi-it is matter Of
business, a question of life and death. He
conceded to his opponent ability and will
of his own; but, as the stream could not
rise above its source, neither can the eandl
date rise above his constituency. Ninety
Ave ner cent. OF the votes Col, King ex-
peeted to receive were to come IRON the
negro race, and by them and their few white
associates his policy would be guided, 1t
could not be otherwise-it would be base
inuratitude, if nothing more, to desert, when
in mower, the race hv whose votes one had
reached o coveted position. il;cn il;cin: party
he asked, can give Mississippi the mosl
happnes-the Democracy, composed ot the
virtue and intelligence of the land, or the
Fusionists, composed Of the odds ana ENDS
of the old Radical-carpet-bag regime and
few off-shoots from the Democracy.
Referring to the days of carpet-bag DOM
, nation, he drew vivid picture OF thu
, condition of affairs then existing. Turn ri
, 20 Col. King, he asked, (" Who IS 1T that
! now endeayoring to bring about return
, those DAYS; who is it that is appealing t
, the passions and prejudices OF the negr
! racer As Nathan said unto David, " 1hol
i art the man." Our revolutionary fasher
!, had refused to bow to the yoke of despo
King and the people of Mississippi wonld a
= this time resist the pretentlons OF pogu
2 King.
! Concerning the Code of 1890, he said,
there was anything Objectionable 1t, let
he repealed. If the Lien Law Is oppressly
/ let it be repealed or modified. He conslo
h cred the Code good one. though not pei
= feet. COL King, he said, was member
n the Senate at the time of its adoption. an
+ why was his voice not heard at that time |
e opposition to it? The Code was not part
a measure. and as such should not be regarde
> and discussed. All parties shared the r
= sponsibiIity for it, Col. King, the conserv
4 tive, with the rest.
1e Passing to a consideration of the subJe'
= Of free schools, Gen. Lowry said that
" stood pledged to advocate every measu
ut which sustained them and increased the
er usefulness. It occurs to me that not On
ID Mississippi but all the Southern states,
IS memorials to Congress, should earnest
a. appeI TO the general government for ald
tbis behalf. If / am elected it will be n
y pride and pleasure to cooperate IN all Ju
measures for maintaining and improYI
N. the free school SYSTEM and for supportl,I
NJ the university and colleges and all the cd
de eatioual interests Of the State
re- In regard to the Railroad question:
Al stood npon the Democratic platform
q. nlatform formed by such men as Barksda.
MT Lamar. Cooper and Blair. If railroads q
Il lcriminate uniustly he would be IN faYor
ed interposing and passing such laws as are
tes force in Georgia and elsewhere-laws Wfll
- would protect the people and at the saI
or- time not iniure the railroads lie regard
of tbeu as the great moral agents OF prosper
i and advancement, and would be glad 70
wv