The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1886-05-19
generation just taking its place upon the
stage of action. first came into life


stage of action. first came into life
Twenty years ago, when this people
lay stricken beneath the weight OF
calamity too great TO be borne, deel
despair hung like n pail upon the com
monweaIth. The gloom was all pervad-
ing and impenetrabIe. Law WAS dead
and Justice oyerthrown. Restraints
imposed by custom were not needed.
because there was no public sentiment
to enforce them. The restraints OF
morality were rot felt by creatures in
capable Of the moral sense. In the
Capitol, apes chartered and lOathsome
| reptiles crawied. 1t was time for
despair, if ever such emotion comes to
earnest hearts; and the people, even To
their best aud brayest, yielded TO the
bitterness of the hOnT. The willows
were full of barps, and the air was rife
with lamentation for lost Zion. Then
was the voice of Conservatism heard in
the land: You are not in captivity.
Zion remains The temple has not been
destroyed. Cease lamenting, aud go to
/ work to recover your heritage and TO
rebuild yCur shattered State"
After some hesitation, the wise call
was heeded. The harps we're taken
down, and gave forth in cheering strains
the marching song the progress. The
thieves were driven out. The money
changers fed. Vain Tepining over the
past gave way 10 effort, energy and
courage, and all over this fair State,
men speedily beheld the glad result, and
we may feel with pride that no other
agency was more potent than the Press
in achieving this result, and In keeping
p, reaction within bounds
But the haif has not yet been accom-
| plisned. The wounds of war-and of
| that worse than war which came with
peace-are fully healed, never to break
out afresh. But there are yet waste
places, which might be made to bloom,
neglected resources, and energies left
unoccupied. Because the State has
| fourished, it will not do 10 say that she is
n0'o prosperous enough and great enough.
While anything remains to do, there is
| but little done, nor will time do man 5
work.
The community which does not ad-
vance as surely retrogrades, and NAV
lose its relative place even while txhib-
iting positive growth. There is no
standing still amid the rush of modern
progress. All the materials are here,
and wise legislation would fiud them
swiftly utilized. The removal of dis.
position to obstruct must precede q
| willingness to act. Enlightened public
opinion can overcome the reluctant
prejudice of those who are willing 10
leave well enough alone. The advocacy
Of the Press can do much-can do all
that may be dOne-to effect this.
| Cultivate sentiment that will refuse
to be content with anything that can be
improved that will encourage immi
grafton and invite capital. There is 30
| fairer field for either. But immigration
is not ratioLslly to be promoted by i'm
porting job lots OF model citizens; hu
maHity will not suffer itself 10 be culled
for expectation. We must take it az it
comes; our fathers did the like with
grand result. The founders of our
State came from everywhere, and
| for every kind of reason-a rather
| heterogeneous lot, but not bad one af.
ter all. 1t soon regllsted itself, as soci
ETY. under free conditions always does,
and always will, as surely as the
water that flows The Immigrant
will go wither his advantage leads
seeking mainly that opportuni.
Cy to improve mis- condition which
forms the chief incentive to indi-
vidual action. To invite immigration,
simply increase to the utniOst all ad-
vantsgas the modern home-seeker hopes
to fad, aud let this Increase be perma
nent and he will find his way without
au advertising sign board He is look
ing for land at fair price, good and
stable government. equal laws well ad
ministered, churches and schools, liberal
opinion and not too much liberality of
advice.
As to capital, it is proverbialIy timid
and has recently learned some
lessons it may not easily for
get. Give it fair chance and it can
look out for itself. but it will take no
risk. It is useless to say Come here
and do rs good" or even-more frank
| iy-"Come here and we will do you
good, until we have you fast" Give it
favorable conditions. By acts, not by idle
professions, and make the tenure of these
conditions certain, and it will come rap
| idly enough There is so much 70 at
tract that it only needs a suppression of
those forces which repel.
Bu. ie is superhuous to address to this
| Association considerations based upon
| the good OF Mississippi, or to appeal on
like grounds ID an audience representa-
tive, in every sense, of the best elements
OF the State. The suggestions OF patri
otism will commend nv motives, and
harmonic whatever difference may ex-
ist between other views and mine. To
these suggestions, the great questions |
have family outlined may well and
hopefully be left. Let me conclude
with an expression of sentiment from an
honored poet, whose kindling words and
breathing thoughts strike sympathetic
cord in every patriotic heart:
''There is a land, of every land the pride.
Beloved my Heaven DER all the world beside.
| Whe brighter suns dispense serenerl light,
| And miider moons emparadise the night
| \ lind of beauty, virtue. yalOr ruth,
| Time tut0r'd age and love-exalted youth:
he wandering mariner, whose }. explores
rne weaithiest isles the most enchanting shores,
Views not realm So beautiful and fair
| Nor breathes the ~pirit of purer air;
| every cline the net OF his soul,
I ueh'd by remembrance, trembles to that pole,
For in this land OF Heavens peculiar grace,
| The heritage of natures noblest race,
There is spot OF earth supreHney hlest,
A dearer, sweeter spot than all the rest,
Where man. creation tyrant casts aside
Ills sword and seeptre. p lgeantry and pride,
While in his soitened looks benigniy blend
The sire, the son, the husband. brother, friend
Here woman reigns: the mother. daughter, wife
Strews with fresh flowers the way of lifs
In the clear Heaven OF her delightful eye.
An angel guard of loves and graees lie.
Around her knees domestic duties meet,
And hre-side pleasures gambol at her feet.
Where shall that land, that spot OF earth be
found? -
Art thu a man? A patricte-iook around:
On, thou shalt find howe'er thy footsteps roam.
That land tks country, and that spot tSy home"