The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1884-10-15
The Third District.

address of the Democratic Committee in
the Third Congressional District, pre-
pared by its able Chairman, the gallant
PERCY. A considerable portion of the
address shows why it is Of the
utmost Importance to the District that
considerations other than that Of color
should govern the selection of the per
son who shall represent the District in
Congress. 1t declares plainly that the
people of the District have come to
look more and more eagerly for legisla.
ton and appropriations that shall per
manently place the burden of building
and maintaining their leyees and pre-
serving their harbors upon the general
government, relieve them from onerous
taxation, and secure for them protection
against the floods of the Mississippi
river. 1t calls attention to the fact that
the River Commission owes Its being to
sagacious Democratic statesmen of the
lower valley, who foresaw that through
it might be worked out the permanent
protection Of the aIluvial country, and
declares that the enemies of the COM
mission have been the great railroad
interests of the East, those who oppose
all appropriations for the benefit Of the
South, and strict contructionists whose
mission in life is to find out just how lit
tie aid the Constitution will allow the
government to extend to the people.
1t is stated that the question of river
improvement has never assumed pOlit-
zeal character, but has depended, and
depends now, for its success, aside from
its merits, upon the skill, the sagacity
and the personal weight of its supper
tiers.
Having called attention to the fitness
of Governor ALcoRS and Judge JET
FoRDs whom PEARCE defeated because
they were white men, the address pro-
ceeds as follows:
To represent the vast interests We have
been discussing and the wealthiest district
in Mississippi, that Convention has named
to you A. G. Pearce, whose sole acquaint
ance with official life has been m ade in the
Office of deputy collector of Internal Rev
enue at Jackson; ignorant of legislative
matters and absolutely without experience
in public affairs; sprightly, egotistical,
ambitious, possibly well-meaning mulat-
to, who might make an efficient assistant
door-kteper or messenger of the National
House of Representatives, but certainly
not to be thought of by sober-minded men
as the Representative ON its floor of this
district.
1t is charitable to assume that this Con-
vention was ignorant of the delicate and
important duties attached to the Office, of
the vast material interests dependent upon
its being iDtelligently and efficiently filled
A realizing sense of them would probably
have deferred even that Convention from
offering so gross an affront to the good
sense and patriotism of the people.
But the circumstances accompanying
the nomination BY the Republican conven-
ton, the utterances of the members and the
tone assumed by the Republican paper
published at Greenyille, carry. with them
a menace to the good order and well-being
Of the district, more serious even than is
embodied in the unftness of its candidate.
That nomination, made as it was, in
wolves in this election thera issue. Its sole
basis and reason is, that the negro race is
largely in the majority. 1t does not ask
Or expect the support of those who own
the property, and are possessed of the edu-
cation and intelligence of the district. 1t
demands the vote of the negro as duty to
his race; it spurns the support of the
white man as unnecessary to its success.
No more serious question could confront
BUR people, white and black, than rs here
presented. To intelligent and thoughtful
negro men it must appear as the beginning
IF struggle between property and intelli-
yenee on the one hand, and ignorant num-
1ers on the other, that will grow in inten-
Jity and bitterness, and be disastrous to
both. To thinking white men, it means
.din, if allowed to succeed. To patriotic
men of both races, it must be detestable,
because of It's utter folly and wickedness
L is all-important that the Republican
nominee should be defeated, not only be-
,ause of his unfitness, but for the reason
llso that it embodies the attempt at des-
,otic rule of the one race BY the other,
md that the least fitted to rule, because of
Is numerical superiority.
We have endeayored temperately and |
to call to your attention |
he questions involved in this election,
rhich seem to US of overruling importance,
md which impose upon the Democratic
'arty. as duty to the country, the neces
ity of making this contest.
The Democratic nominee, Gen. t. c. |
Iatchings, is deservedly mentioned in
he following terms:
He is fit, competent and honest pro-
ound lawyer, able legislator and tried pa
riot. He has acquitted himself with dis
inguished success in the many public sta
ions to which he has been called. Thor
ughly familiar with the important inter-
SITS with which he will be charged, he will |
ring to their service not only training
nd ability, but earnest purpose and untir-
ng energy.
The conclusion of the address is a
pirited call upon the intelligent citizens
f the district to organize so that the
ynOrant mass may be controlled by the
judgement of their more
orEnrota foll1-.