The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1886-06-02

.rrahle conflict
Our pleasure on this occasion is mingled
18th sorrow, because since your last con-
ention two OF the most distinguished OF
our profession, tive OF natures noelemen,
so Of Mississippis most devoted sons,
lied an1 true, who never faltered IN their
Dvalty 10 the Stale they loved 80 we'll,
ave gone 10 the great beyond. know
on will appreciate the tender aud deli
ate thogghtfulness with which our gentle
7omen have shown their reverence for
hese departed heroes, by placing here these
wo vacant ehairs-one Tor Horn, the stern,
incorporating patriot; the
ther for the big-hearted, hig-souled, bril-
liant, chivalrous MeCuilum. We can new
r forget the services Of such men in that
lire conflict for. the mastery over the rule
i the alien aud the robber.
We had been smitten on one cheek by |
he force OF superior numbers, until We |
staggered and fell, overpowered, conquered. |
A magnanimous foe, full of admiration Tor |
he valor of Southern soldiery, gener- |
ously invited us TO rise and resume our
place in the great brotherhood OF a restor-
ed Union; but it was left to the political
hyenas, who never saw the smoke OF bat
tie, 10 cowardly and treaeherously slap US
on the other cheek, until the humiliation
was too much for proud men and women 10
bear; but with a patient endurance and
an indomitable fortitude, which has
made the world wonder and admire, We
CROPPED our way through that dark era OF
partisan hate, guided by the leadership
and inspired by the patriotism OF devoted
Press, and to-day We can congratulate YOU
that, in spite OF the malignant and SLAM
derous falsehoods Of our enemies the last
dark cloud which hung over us has DRIFT
ed away from our horizon, and We are en-
ioying the glorious sunlight of peace and
prosperity And now We can adopt the
sentiment recently expressed by brave
Confederate General, and say Though
fragrant forever shall be the deeds of he
roism, patience, fortitude, sell-denial and
constancy to principle, let the waves OF OBJ
livion roll over the bitter recollections Of
the strifen Let us forever forget and for
give all its foul wrongs We have no time
to brood over them. Let the dead past
bury its dead The record OF the past is
made up, and belongs 20 God and eterai
ty. The present and TIE future ale ours
ours Tor veal or woe; ours Tor poverty or
wealth; ours for peace, or turmoil and strife.
Which shall it be? The answer Is what
ever you choose to make it. There is now
no obstacle in the way Of Mississippi's pro-
gress. We are in the Union and OF the
Union. The reconstruction period is gone
forever. The hloodhounds of hate have
been choked of, chained, and sent to the
rear. 1t is true that there are few fren-
zied fools who gnash their teeth and quake
and tremble with fear at every appearance
in public of that grand old chieitain, JET
ferson Davis, and they rave and rant as i
they thought he was the very ghost OF this
dead Conlederacy, returned to haunt them
But these people are simply crazy, and no
body pays any attention to them. The
great body Of the North, outside the igno-
rant and the vicious, are willing to let ia,
past alone, and they bid as God-speed il
the work OF rebuilding our shattered for
tunes.
How this can best be done, is the domi-
nant question in West Point to-day, ant
We welcome you here, because we recognize
the fact that of all the agencies which, il
the near future, are TO place Mississippi il
the front rank in the great sisterhoOd o
States, the Press of Mississippi is at onc'
the most devoted and the most powerful.
1t is not only through the Press that WI
know the world and its current events b.
far the more important fact TO us Is, tina
through the Press of Mississippi the worlC
knows us and our doings, our State polIty
our social order, and our general characte
as people. And our future depends col
only on what we are, but largely on wha
the outside world THINK of us; not onll
on our real CHARACTER as a people, but il
great measure on our reputation. Ans
the Press Yields greater power in shap
ing the policy, the character, and the rep
utation Of our people than any other infu
ence.
The greatest benefactor Mississippi car
have to-day is the man who can do mos
10 establish for her such a reputation II
the outside world, both as to her resource
and the general character Of her people, a
viii give her credit abroad, and induce tn
investment within her borders Of capita
and intelligent labor, in agriculture, il
horticulture, in stock raising, in the ium
Der interests, in manufactures, in railroads
in every enterprise and industry that vii
advance her material interests and deyel
op for her the great stores Of wealth Will
which a bOunteous nature has so lavishl-
blessed as. When we take an inventory o
our stock, as the busine s. man would say
we find that we have the richest soil, tn
grandest forests, the balmiest climate, tn
sunniest skies, the bravest men. the mobiles
women, and the least money Of any Stat
in this great Union. Yet il Is fact tina
the world is full Of idle capital seeking in
vestment. II is also a fact that there is m
corner Of this green earth Tor which thl
God Of Nature has done more, and which
uLder the proper conditions, will yield !
greater return on capital and labor invest
ed than Mississippi. What, then, are tn
conditions with which We must comply il
order to secure this investment VIVA
security must we offer in addition 20 ou
vast resources2 We answer, there must b
absolute confidence in the enforcement o
law and the protection Of human life il
mississippi.
In the great cattle raising and the min
ing regions Of the West where society
not necessary TO the production of wealth
the resources Of the country are first deyel
oped, fortunes are made, cities are bull
and civilization follows. But in great az
ricultural districts like Mississippi, th
material progress Of the country keep
even pace with and Is measured by Il
progress in the enforcement Of Law and or
der and good government.
And as one who holds his State next il
his affections to wife and kindred, wan
to say that the greatest enemy Mississippi
can have to-day is the public officer, Ia
grand Juror, the private citizen, or th
newspaper, that viii act IS the apologist 0
crine and, BY word or deed. aid in ere
ating public opinion abroad that humai
life is not safe IN Mississippi, and thu
keep away from our borders that aid Ehicl
we so sorely need. But while this Il true
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pi owes 10 higher duty and can render D
greater service to the State than 70 vindi
cafe her fair name from the foul aspersion
that are 50 frequently cast upon il. Will
/ We are No better than We should BE-. we ar
no worse than other folks. DiHeren
phases OF crime exist in different sections
Many crimes that are 50 repulsive as to b
impossible in Mississippi are common Il
other sections. Only recently, in Chicago
society was shaken to the very foundation
By the bloody riot Of the Anarchist, but a
was said by the New Missizsippian las
week, "we cannot f0rbear from glorving +
the fact that our loved and beautiful Soutl
has not often been prsfaned with the trsi
Of The serpent Of Socialism"
Il Is paradoxiezl, but It i true. that be
cause M5ssissippians are such haters Of Ger
tain phases Of crime and wrong and mean
ness, they are sometimes lavIess aecordiu
to the PurItan's standard Of right an
wrong. The n0blest traihI Of their char
aeter sometimes makes them criminal il ii
eyes the law. Among our colder-bIoode
brethren Of the North if some fend 10 hu
man shape blaekens with foul calumu
the fair name Of woman. he Is sued "a
damages By father OF brother or husband
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