The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-01-23
rus SWAMP LANDS
Taken nom Her Soldiers by tho STATE
OF Mississippi Tor Accumulated
Taxes.

Taxes.
To the Biit1r Of The Appeal.
PoSroroc, Miss, Jan, 10. From the begin.
ming OF it, career TnK ArriaL has been the
undauhtod, UNITING champion OF the people
and Their rlghts, not only ~ Its own State,
but Of all lbs ncirhbors. II has never faltcrcd
one moment IN iis advocacy IL right and
justice. however formidable the opposition
or however high aud mighty the monopoly
that va .rrnycl ream-t u.
For this rca-n, sir, nuke bold 60 ask
TaE AruN's help In a cause that IL lust
one, aud one in which state lshamc TO say
is) has robbed IT, own people u their own,
and bestowed Il upon q giant ralruad COM
'pany already counting ~ wealth by the hun
dreds of millions.
Previous 10 the war many citizons Of Mis-
sissippl. not only u the wealthy class. but
also of those who had saved up by economy
something Tor "a miny day" invested more
or less money In Mississippi bottom lands,
buying them from the State, believing such
investment the safest and surcst means Of an
'anchoagc 10 winduard" for their children.
The State iooh their money aud gave them
titles 70 The land. and, Il may be supposed.
pledged H. honor, lils any other maker II
deed, to forever defend those titles. Has
the State u Mississippi 70 defended thcm7
When her citizens, her soldiers cnmo
honse from fighting her battles for four long
years. ragged, wounded, impoverished, 90
begin life anew with naught to begin with
except their own gaunt arms and perhaps
here and there a cavalry horse which the
soldier furnished Ia his devoted State him.
self. they found themselves confronted by q
prospect ~ cherries. ~ utterly devoid of n
r~lccming feature. that ihc wonder Is they
had the oourai-c 10 MAXI an effort at all.
Bat these soldiers tfor all II Mis.issipfd's
men. except the aged and the children. we're
soldiers) had mason 10 believe In anu have
faith In their State that after their sacrifices
for her, Sic, In turn, would surely, as Tar as
possible make the rough places smooth
and help them 10 build az their broken
fortunes Has she done s0' For an answer
LET "him who runs read the record Of her
taxcs on the Wild lan,ls u the Mississippi
bottom. which che began AZ once b. present
10 her bankrupt soldiers for payment, know
ing they could not pay them, yet adding "a
thcin yearly instead " diminishing them.
conhscation u was then. confstation u con.
unued 10 be through all the ycas that fnl.
lowed. An iniqulions lcycc boarl. counter.
anced and indorssd by the State. BLEED the
people, who 10th 10 give up their lands. paid
their all and struggled on Few YEAR. then
giving mp from sheer inability 10 hnd more
money % feed Into this horsc lccch daurl.
Ter. whose continual cry was more. morc.
more.
lands that Nerc IN cultivation could stem.
10 some extent, this torrent 81 taxation. but
how hopeless the task Cor those owning only
Wild lands, aud which received NO benefit
from tho lcvccs, There was no Income from
them and In The majority Of cases those
owning them werv barely making ends meet.
and many Of Whose yearly savings did not
reach the figures Of tho lcyco taxes.
Laying aside the equity, the legal ,idc The.
hind which all great r1soaliiy delights to
take khelterl would not, the assertion i
venturcd, bear the closest and most critical
scrutiny, but those wild land owner. arr not
capitalists with ready pure ~ cmploy The
highest legal talent, or pay lobby worker. In
iegisiaiurc-. Had they been mon u u,.-..,.
they would have lnns..s,.-sss1 their lands ana
u'lA- - saany did, submitted 10 the rnrrotcr.
and given mp ali In their Golfer, saving thclr
lands from ooniiscaiion, though losing tl,eir
product.
And nov, who oones 10 own and take
rosscssion q what cost our fathers their bit.
Der toll their lifelong savings A railroad
monopoly Of millionaire. Of d--n the PEG.
pie aristocrai., and behold Mississippi
grcct them with smiles and sircicled-oui
arms saying. Come, beloved, dwell within
ny borders and will give you the richest
lands In my whole domain for mere song.
lands that have no equal on the earth. be-
hdc which. they have been fcriilizcd with
tlI!H eff.t. g.-ff.