The Copiah signal. (Hazlehurst, Miss.) 1882-1883, 1883-10-18
JuNIus ASA sLANDEnER.


Junius. the correspondent Of the
Jackson Tribune, who Is either
ashamed or afraid to write over his
true signature, never lets . chance
pass to slandsr the democracy Of
this county. In his last letter he ia
very eloquent in regard to the free
dom Of the press and charges that
the democracy has inaugurated q
persecution against the Copiahan
He says:
Toe grosssst outrage that has ever
been committed in this county, OF
perhaps in any community, 10 the
attempt Of tho democratic party to
muxzle the press. They now boldly
and publicly announce the intentio on
Of instituting system Of repression
which would be q disgrace to the
Czar Of Russia, and is disgrace to
the civilization OF the age.
OF course ! refer to the persecu-
tons inaugurated against a leading
democratic journal in this county
A journal that has fought the battle
OF the democracy persistently for
years, and 10 still doing ,gratuitou,
drudgery. but refuses to be obedien'
10 every little cock-a-doodle that as.
pires to crow over the substantial
men Of the party. My own opin.
ion il that the central monkey" in.
spires the job and that the pooplo
have very little TO do with Il.
So far wo have rsirained, for SOW
ersl reasons, from saying any thing
in regard to the resolutions that have
been adopted at several places in
the county condemning the course
of The Copishau, and would not dc
so now, but for The reason that the
people Of the county have been Sian
dered. and in their behalf the voice
of tho Sloy,L will alwayo be raised
We merely wish to explain why the
people have seen fit to take q decid.
ed acton in this matter. They
claim that for eighteen years they
have stood by the COpiahan and
gave il liberal and substantial pat
ronsge; that to their support is il
due for its sxistencs; that from the
democracy it derived its support, and
that they had q right to claim its
corporation against common foe,
especially as it protested to be a
democratic paper, but instead ,fgiv.
ing that support and cooperation, it
has not lifted up it's voice nor raised
a hand in thsir defense, and iis
columns have teemed with matter
calculated to further the interest OF
a party whom the democracy are
bending every nerve to defeat.
They were not disposed TO place a
weapon 10 the hands OF the Copiahan
that would result 10 their disadvsn.
tage, and this was the feeling that
inspired tho resolutions that have
been 20 generally adopted oil over
he county. The central mon key
nor the SIGNAL had anything to do
with the matter. 1t was u sponta-
neous ou,burst of the indignation OF
the people. II the Copiahan had an.
nounced itself an independent pa.
per, which it had q right to do, no
objection would have been raised.
but TO aid in disseminating indepen-
dent principles and doctrines while
sailing under democratic colors aud
drinking democratic milk was moro
than they felt disposed to sand. aud
bonce their action. Tho democracy
OF Copiah does not desire to repress
free speech, nor do they wish to
muzzle the p'ess, but II they pay the
fiddler they have a right to expec:
that he will play to their music. We
have no feeling in the matter, especi.
ally no i'll feeling toward the conduc-
tor of the Copiahan, for whom we
entertain the utmost personal res
psct and fraternal friendship.
No man can say We ever uttered >
word derogatory to bis character or
his paper. We simply thought he
made q mistake. The SIGNAL does
not take to itself credit for revolu.
tionizing sentiment in the county,
and can lay no claim to tie author.
ship of the resolutions that were
adopted at Crystal Springs, Wesson,
Haz.ehurst, Forest Hill, Rockport,
Browns Store and other places. The
people felt aggricved at the course
OF the Copiahsn and it was their priv
ilege TO speak out.
Now that the result of the Ohio