The Brookhaven leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1883-1891, 1888-05-10


or less degree every section of the
State.
As is well known. there has been
but one organized State party (thc
pcmocratic) i'll Mississippi since the
King Lowry campaign of 1851, and as
is most natural under such circum-
stances. the tendency h;ls been to
lonsencSS and corruption in official
placeS. and the concentrating of the
power "f the one party into the hands
of Il few men, who have prostitutcd it
to the accomplishment of their own
selfish ends. The election machinery
and appointing power, so extensive,
important and all-pcrvading, have
been largely manipulated in this way
and men have been set up or pulled
down according as faction. personal
spite or Srlf-intcrcst of the bosses
might suggest. Then, with the break
ing down of all organized opposition
on the part of the old Republican par
ty, there grew up an undue intimacy
and friendship between some vi the
ton and the old Radical leaders who,
no longcrhaving anything to hope for
III their own party, were ready
for Il job or any crumbs that might
fall from the table of the Democratic
bosses. In fact, it is worthy of spe-
cial remark, that the worst and most
odious of the old Radical leaders left
in the State after tie Amcs hygera,
have become the most ardent support
ers of the present head of the State
Administration Personal and polit-
zeal integrity soon reached a discount
under this order of things. and we
had what lfas been so APPLY termed a
machine government dominated by
| the worst forces of both parties.
This was the situation when Mar
tin, of the New MissisSippian, and
Gamhrell, of the Sword and Shield,
| two loyal and dauntleSs champions Of
the peoples rights, went to Jackson
u little over two years ago. They APP
preciated the Importance OF an hon
est, fearless and Independent press
under the existing condition of things,
and though they knew Fairman, Who
had preceded them, had been driven
to the wall, by the same political com
hinatiou. they resolved, let it cost
what it might, to tear off the mask
and expose the abuses and corruption
! beneath. Gambrcll mercilcSsly eX-
posed the cruelties and infamics of
the leasing system and the Penitcntia-
ry frauds, whereby the State was
beaten out Of over $4,000 by iobhery
and 5000 more by defalcation of
the lesseeS, and as a final cOnSc-
qucnCe, was aSSaSSinatCd. Martin
bravely and untlinchingly kept up the
fight, and has just yicldcdup his spot
less Young life as the result of fcud
having its origin in the same matter.
But this review would be only half
complete without some reference to
the municipal government of Jack
son. This was left in the hands of
the Republicans when Amcs & Co.
div
heritage by the double dealing of
men recognized as Democrats until
last January. Some of the oldest cit
liens of jackson said it had become
Il government of criminals for Grim
inals by criminals" Both Gambrcll
and Martin wagcd an unc0mpremis-
ing warfare for the puritycation of the
city administration, and last January,
under the strong temporary indigna-
ton aroused by the murder of Young
Melville Mitchell by negro bully
allotted by negro policeman, Martin
and Il few others led the movement
which resulted in its overthrow.
But we come now to what is the
most significant and serious aspect of
the whole subject, to-wit: the evi-
dent satisfaction displayed by mem
bers of both the State city admin
istrations over the "remOvaln of the
two Young editors. Both are large
~ dominated by Hamilton's in
tiuence, a fact there is not even a de
cent effort at concealing. Fhe old
mayor and his marshal serenaded
Hamilton with a band of music while
he was under preliminary trial for the
murder of GambreH and assured him
that he had their sympathies ana cor
dial support, and the new mayer, who
was elected as a ''refOrm Democrat
and is SON law of the Governor
and Adjutant General of the State,
made no attempt at cOncealing his
sympathy for Hamilton during his
late trial, and headed the procession
with a brass band which welcomed
him home with such unseemly display.
ThaS the Governor and some other
members of the State administration
were in open sympathy with Hamil-
ton and also regard with qualification