The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1889-03-16
REFORM. CALLED FOR.
DEMOCRATIC MACHINE GOVERNMENT
GROWN INTOLERABLr.
Mississippi Politics and Politicians
Reviewed with merciless Uandor.
HONEST AND PATRIOTIC MEN MUST
COME TO THE FRONT AND RE,
DEEM THE DEMOCRATIC
PARTY.

PARTY.
From the New Mississirrlan
The following private letter,
written by a Mississippian of high |
standing and responsibility, to u
friend and fellow-citizen, presents
a clear-cut startling analysis of the
political situation in Mississippi.
1t is a letter which reveals an im-
pending crisis in the affairs of the
State, that can only be averted by
determined and patriotic effort on
the part of every good citizen, and
should be carefully read and pom
dered by all who hold dear the prin-
ciples of good government and the
future welfare of Mississippi and
Mississippians:
DEAR FRIEND:--l promised you
/ would write again soon. Now u.
few words about the political ques-
tions discussed in yourrecent letter.
The political situation in Missis-
sippi at this time is.a grave and
peculiar one, such as to fill every
true patriot with serious concern.
agree with you that the present
State Administrative has grown
almost intolerable. Alarge surplus
left in the State Treasury by Gov.
Stone has been spent and the State
has since been run in debt a mil
lion dollars. The taxable wealth of
the State, with all its boasted
progress, is scarcely as great as
when the carpet-baggers were
driven outfourtcen years ago. Tax
alton, instead ofbeing reduced, had
to be increased by the last Lcgis-
lature TO meet the interest on the
bonds issued by preceding ones.
Then there is the Penitentiary de-
falcation and jobbery of a hundred
thousand dollars, and the disgrace
ful scandals on the State, growing
out of brutalities and cruelties
under the Leasing System, and ON
the other hand the 0utrageousabtlse
of the pardoning power IN behalf
of influential criminals, or of CON
victs who, OH account of inhuman
treatment under the leasing sys-
TEN, are simply turned out like old
army horses to die and save the
lessees the care and expense OF
burial.
Also, the fragrant and open sym
Z pathy of prominent State officials
with inf ne nti a law breakers,
W h rcb v the administrator of
justice is literally paralyzed-@the
squandering of most of the public
domain to foreign syndicates, rail
road corporations and rich indiyid
iuals, and many other things with
which you are equally familiar-all
forms a gloomy picture indeed tt
contemplate.
But | regret to hear you say you
have reached the conclusion that
: the only chance for delivery is foi
all reform Democrats like you and
me to secedo from the party. You
say 1tthc Alliance will strike the
first blow this year, and will prob
ably put ont full State ticket
Also that E9if Harrison's Southern
policy is a liberal and conservative
one, the ruling party in Mississippi
to-day will soon be knocked into
outer udFkUtSS.
Neither. of MS is an office seeker,
but only private citizens with all
unselfisii desire to see subseryed
the best interests of our beloved
State and it really pains me that
we.should differ about matter sc
important as the method Of accom-
plishing the desired end. You art
driven to your conclusion, you say,
because YOU think theydesired re
form cannot be. accomplished in.
side the Democratic party, and
that party viii continue to be ruled
and dominated. by the present t
oligarchy and Penitentiary Ring,
Have you ever thougtfully consid.
cred what would be the result of q
secession of the best element in the
Democratic party and the Farmer
Alliance from what is known as the
regular Democracy One of the
first results would be the throwing
of the new organization into fellow.
ship with the negroes and the old
white Republican element.
Think of an honest Democrat,
who left his own party for the sake
of reform, having to fellowship Bill
Gibbs, Dick Kerr, r.. +. Beck, Ne
Gill, Chalmers, Jim Hill, probably
some of the old Penitentiary Les
sees themselves, and scoresof Other
j white and coiored Republican po
liticiansi True, these men are not
any worse than many ofthepreseni
Democratic State ring, and have
been on very friendly and intimate
terms for a long time with th'
.spowers that ben at the State Cap
ital, but no true patriot or reforme
wants them as political allies, il
fact or IN name; and you may. b.
; sure the crowd that is now in con