The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1885-06-17
4 Card From Or. J. J. Gage.


GEENA8As June H. Ace2
Eellos7-etti,eas Of Mississippi
Having announced myself as q eandi-
date for State Superintendent Of Education.
I hereby state that this announcement was
made through the solicitations and infu-
I ence Of friends, old and new, a. they ex-
pressed desire that | should have posi-
ton suited to my taste, and for other req
Z sons best known to Them. II Is not for me
70 say what my slams are, il any. so a. I
have never had any desire or wish 10 enter
g political race when there is 10 be
shadow OF q scramble or necessary comhi-
nation found TO secure suecess. I say for
such | have no taste nor talent and after
considering the surroundings, 1 an fully
I satisfied. a new Issue or issues, outside of
! the landmarks OF Democracy. are or viii
{ be thrust into the coming canvass. county
( and State. and parties are 10 be influenced
/ in their choice BY these isolated and
! irrelevant issues, non-political, outside Of
the Democratic party, in casting their vote
I IN county or State conventions. f0T no one.
who Is not fully in accord with those issues
as they see it, from their standpoint Now
II such is % b fss decision Of those who en-
terrain those ideas, | cannot consistently
submit my name to the convention for any
Office; a 1t was my wish To 20 before my
fell0w-citizens in convention assembled
upon the same basis that all true Demo
Gratis have heretofore done, OF have been
chosen. Far be it from me TO play the
demagogue at this late hour, by giving my
views upon those non-political issues. Now,
rs | would appear like the man or boy
who whistles in the dark as he nears the
grave-yard) Again, | leave that for my
unprejudiced fellow citizens, here and else
where, to Judge. and l will abide. II the
voice o. the majority OF said convention
should say | was not the man, then no one
{ will say without fear OF contradiction
from any sourcel has ever been truer to the
edict OF the Democratic party than l have
been for thirty-nine years. Ny first vote
was cast in Canton, Madison county. in
1916, and / have ever been true to the
principles OF said party, as announced in
county, State or national conventions.
Actuated by no motive but for the well
fare and prosperity OF my people-the
whole people, have never varied a hairs
line in my cause 20 said party. Nor to
my people In prosperity, when peace was
reignIng serenely over our beloved land
nor was l recreant to her, when she was
called upon to defend her honor in a
foreign land jMexico) under the Stars and
Stripes nor was | less 80. when our South
and q call was made to defend her honor
and constitutional rights as guaranteed by
the compact entered into by our foreiathers.
But / leave that for Others to relate who
know me, to say how | acted and where
was | found, when the drum beat at dead
of night or the thrilling bugles call was
heard by all true men, summoning them
to be at their respective places, to do their
duty. So be il. ! leave that for others to
say Tor myself, 20 credit is claimed, as it
was but the call OF duty that inspired all
true hearts 70 answer without excuse it
was nothing more than what was claimed
OF every citizen. So no one Is entitled to
special credit for being true and honest 10
his country and his people. Yea, and to
the hesrth-stones of his ancestors where
their ashes reposed, and then only to be
reunited at the sound of the great Bugle OF
Judgment, when the question would be, if
applied to earthly work What hast thou
done to inherit the support of the citizens
of your State? All honest echo would
reverberate-me thinks l did my duty.
Now as to other points of excellence
claimed, such as pedagogueism, | viii!
be brief. The first or second dollar / ever
made was on that line, first in Holmes;
second in Kinds county but this consider
as a minor qualification, devoid OF execu-
tive ability, etc. So my connection with
schools and education has been intimately
blended with all nav relations Of life Now
taking this view OF what | think is to be
the status, probably, OF the county dele
gates, bearing upon the qualification of
said delegates. as to how they will vote for
State candidates, and not knowing as to
what will be the action OF the Democratic
convention upon these new issues, non-po-
litical, that Is to assemble August 10th,
hereby return my heartfelt thanks to all
of my friends in different parts Of the
State, for their dattering testimonies of
esteem, and a high regard for their estima-
ton of the qualification of their most
humble servant and fellow citizen,
JOHN J. GAGE, NJ. d.