The Brookhaven leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1883-1891, 1890-03-20
DIR, j. Ii. Gnmbrell for Dele
gate at Large.

Now that the question of holding n
Constitutional Convention has been
decided in the Affirmative, the people
of Mississippi are called upon to dis
Cargo grave respOnsibility-that of
electing men as delegates to that Con-
vcntion who will measure up to the
solemn requirements of the hour. 1t
was Il wise provision of the bill that
makes any qualified elcctor of the
State eligible to membership in the
Convention. All classes of our people
should have representation and by
their ablest aud best men.
In casting about for those who are
pre-. eminently qualified for the places
to be filled from the State at large,
none appears to me better fitted for
this duty than the distinguished gen
tleman whose name heads this article.
As is well-known, DR.. Gambrell is the
editor of the Southern Baptist Record,
the organ of the Baptist denomination
of the State. He is one of the fore
most thinkers, clearest reasoners and
most forcible writer's in the South.
His articles during the past twelve
months on the race problem have
been among the ablest of all the liter
AZURE on that much discussed subject,
and have arrested attention North and
South. In fact he never touches a
great subject with his pen that he
does not illuminate and adOrn it. a
few years ago when Senator Lamar
disregarded the instructions of the
Legislature and voted his convictions
on the silver bill, thereby raising
storm of Indignation against him
in Mississippi, the Baptist Record
was one of the few papers that came
promptly to his defense. DIR. Gam
brell's articles OH that subject, which
embraced a constitutional treatment
of it, was pronounced by Senator
Bayard as one of the most pro-
found and statesmanlike utterances
he had ever read upon the right OF
senator to disregard legislative in
structions, and Mr.. Lamar has evef
held the author in grateful remem-
brance. How correct DR.. Gambrelrs
position was, was evidenced by Mr.,
Lamar being elected as his own sue
cessor without opposition.
The coming Convention will have to
meet and decide issues of vast and
far-reaching import. 1t will not leg
islate for day or year, but this and
succeeding generations will be af-
fected by it acts. And not only is
the future welfare of Mississippi in
vOlved but the entire South is concern
ed and looking on with bated breath.
The danger, and the only danger, is
that demagogues and time-servers
will slip in and control the action of
the ConventiOn-men who are too
small of brain to grapple with the
great problems to be decided, OF are
too cOwardly and mercenary to dc
what sober judgment dictates to be
for the best. But if broad minded
patriots and statesmen like George
and Walthall and Gambrell and Wiley
p. Harris, and Gen. West, and the
great cOmmOner, Barksdale, and 9th
ers of like noble mOld-men whose
only ambition is to serve the present
generation and to leave precious
heritage to succeeding ones-shape
the action of the Convention, Missis-
sipi has everything to gain and moth
ing to fear.
God give us men! A time like this de-
mands
Strong minds, great hearts, true faith ant
ready hands;
Men whom the lust of office does not kill
Men whom The spoils of Office cannot buy
Men who posses opinions and will;
Men who have honor-men who will moi
lie;
Men " no can stand before demagogue
And damn his treacherous batteries with
ont winking.
Tall men, sun-crowned, who live abov,
the log
In public duty, and in private thinking
| For while the tricksters with their thumb
worn creeds,
Their large professions and their it'll
Deeds
Mngle in selfish strife, 10! Freedom
weeps,
Wrong rules the land, and waiting Jus
tice sleeps"
ONE OF THE PEOPLE.