The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1881-10-27
A Brief Retrospect. With Suggestions
for the Present.


| intrenched in power as to defy all efforts
to dislodge them. The State had been
for years under Republican rule, and
ignorance, venality and corruption held
high carnival, while intelligence and
virtue were permitted to exert but little
influence in the misgoverned and pros
trate State Twice year, for success
sive years, the Legislature met to little
purpose except to put money in the
pockets of its members or officers or to
effect some scheme Of the leaders with
reference TO warrants or something else
by which they were to gain at the
expense of the Taxpayers. Property
was greatly deprecated, taxes were
onerous, salaries were high and waste
full system of public expenditure
threatened still higher taxation and Ill
innate despoiIment and ruin of the
property holders of the State. Many
left the State as the readiest mode of
escape from the evils which were well
nigh intolerable, and we lost heavily in
population from this cause. Others
contemplated removal from the State,
but delayed in the hope of relief which
would make residence endurable. 1t is
needless to state the causes which
enabled the Republicans to obtain con-
troll of the State. They had it, and the
people suffered in consequence as they
had never suffered before. Every resort
of the people capable of governing
we'll and interested tc do it, had met
with defeat The effort to elect Dent
and his associates on the ticket failed.
The experiment with reference to
Greedy in 1872 was a disappointment.
The DISARMAMENT policy in 1873 yielded
no immediate fruits Circumstances
had enabled the alien adventures who
scented the prey and came in quest of
it to WELD the votes of the ignorant
electors who composed a majority in
the State so as to put and keep them in
power, which was shared by few who
were to the manner born; and had
given aid and comfort to them in their
political adventure In 1875 occurred
fortunate conjunction of circumstances
which enabled the intelligence and
wealth and virtue of the State, by an
united effort, TO- overthrow the cohorts
of Republicanism and misrule and final
| " to drive their miniOns in disgrace
from the places they had abused. Then
we were free once more. The reins Of
government were entrusted to friendly
hands intelligence and deeency took
the place of ignorance and corruption
salaries were reduced, leaks in the
treasures stopped, taxes lowered, bien-
NAL sessions Of the Legislature were
introduced Reforms were numerous
and great. Men ceased to think Of
emigrating; society wore new face.
The birds of prey, frightened by the
reverberations throughout the land of a
just popular Indignation, and driven
from The feasting so long enjoyed in
undisturbed quiet, FASTENED away. The
whites and colored people, left to them
selves without the mischievous influence
of interlopers who lad misled the latter,
betook themselves to honest efforts to
make Industrial progress. Peace has
reigned throughout the State, and not
single race conflict has broken the
harmony so happily existing between |
the white and colofed people since the
migration Of the pestiferous class which |
fomented all the troubles that ever
existed of this character. 1t is unde-
niable that we have gotten along well,
and that all classes have enjoyed |
far more Of prosperity and happiness
since the control Of the State has been
with its real people. Where is tho man
willing to return to the condition Of
things existing prior to 1876? Who so
ignorant as not to know or so disin-
genuous as not to admit the great gain
from the administration of the Demo
ratic-ConseryatiYe party! Every In
terest of society has felt its helping
influence, and every citizen has had
fresh impulse in the race of life. t
Who would throw away what
we have gained or recklessly put /
to hazard the supremacy of that party
which, wrought deliverance and effected
this gain for the Statei Surely none of
that grand army of patriots, who had a
part in efecting that deliverance from
would knowingly raise parrici-
dal hand to remove the sceptre from the
political Organization which he helped
to place in power! BETTER bear ths ills
we have than fly to those We know not
Of. Better let we'll enough alone, 1t
is better not to SOW the wind lest we
reap the whirlwind.
1t is perfectly clear that the Demo-
,ratic Conservative party contains more
han nipe-teDths of the white voters of
he State. 1t is as true as it is unfortu
late that it embraces quite as great a
of the property and intelli-
,ence of the State. 1t is manifest that q
he reliance of the opposition party is on i
he votes of the eolored people, and in S
rider to get them, an effort is low being I
and Systematically made to i
xcite their prejudices in the hope of f
hitting them against the Democratic q
party. An effort is s
made to poison the minds Of the eolored q
oters against the Democratic party by
Misrepresentation and perversion. 1t
the very same effort SO successfully 8
ccomplished by the carpet-baggers and o
heir eoadjutoFS in former years, which e