The Brookhaven leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1883-1891, 1890-01-23

Though the youngest OF our Institutions of
learning, its unique and practical line of work
has alre ady brough. credit upon those who
originated and moulded IL For many years
our State, though priding herself upon her
chivalrous care of the property rights of her
women, neglected tho education OF her girls.
while her bounty was generously expended 10
the colleges designed for her boys she
strangely withheld a like provision Tor her
girls. These girls. for the most part were lar
more dependent upon education than their
brothers, 10 enter the world as bread-vinners-
Tardy Justice in the creation of our girls IN
dustrial college has opened way 10 Mlssls-
sippfs daughters for learning TO earn iiNeli-
hood in many ways out of the reach OF those
unfavoTed by fortune.
The institution is receiving the warmest
commendations from ali parts of the state,
4 need no; make any special mention OF our
Agricultural and Mechanical College, nor our
State Univers ty. Their Guc'esA has long
since been provided for and assured, AMI in
like manner our common school system, in
which we take juet pride. In providing Tor
the support of these institutions however,
care must be taken that all things shall be
conducted on plane OF &c nCmY consistent
with the means Of the state. but their IN
terests should be so guar ed that their useful
ness and efficiency shall not be impaired by
parsimonious allowances And 40 with re-
gard to our charitable institutions. They are
Indispensable to those unfortunate citizens
for whose benefit they ure prOviced. ana they
must be maintained: not extravagant y, but
at whatever cost may be necessary Tor the
comfortable care OF those helpless inmates
whose misfortunes apTea so strongly 10 the
humanity of the state. These suffering wards
of the people have claims upon us which am
confident you will not deny them.
THE PENiTENTIARY.
The disposition of the Penitentiary is a
problem which you are elIIed npon 10 solve;
great perplcIity, and their staiecrait has
failed TO formulate any satisfactory plan for
such disposition of the criminals us will sup
mi
treatment to the convicts. We may safely
assume that the state will make every ehOrt
to avoid return TO the odioUs system OF
leasing the Penitentiary and cnDVicts which
has obtained so many years. Whatever may
be said in It's defense the system as illus
trated was obnoxious to civilization and hate
ful to the people of Mississippi
The character of large majority or the
convicts-dismal as the thought IS is-precludcs
us from the hope of ef"ial results from such
moral and intellectual training as the state
would be able to give them. 30 few OF them
are intellectually fitted for skilled lahorers
that they cannot be made avall1h!e within
ment Is that they can be sucCf sstully and
humanely employed on leYees ana other
works of like nature or they may be avail
| able on plantations; but in either case the
| work should te one under the care aud im-
mediate supervision of State authority. A
| sufficient number of State farms properly
| located and under judicIous management
might lead to a satisfactory solution of this
| troublesome question; ana yet | doubt the
wisdom OF q change so radical at o &C. Per
! haps it would be wise TO commence on q
| small scale and extend the venture as sue
cess may seem to warrant: otherwise, a par
| tiai failure in results might cause discourage
| ment. and lead to an abandonment of the
| experiment before 1t had been fairy tested
| IL 1t shall be deemed advisable to continue
| the Penitentiary under the supervision of the
Board of Control, care should be taHcn that
no conflict of authority shall arise. Every
supertiuous appendage should he curtailed,
and every useless expense eliminated.
OUR NATIONAL AFFAIRS.
Our national political situation is by no
means pleasing to us. Every department of
the general government is now in the hands
of party whose expressions are 1nlmfcal TO
our interests, and whose leaders are contin-
ualy menacing us with unfrCnd legsla-
ton. This condition of things furnishes food
for the most serious reflection. But have
been glad to note recent evidences that the
masses of Northern people are not altogether
in sympathy with their radical leaders in
Congress; and ! indulge the hone that the
measures already prepared for sectonal pur-
poses of oppression may yet Tail 10 become a
law of the land for the lack of approving pub
lie opinion. trust that a returning sense OF
justice will prevent any such action.
CONCLUSION.
Gentlemen-we are now about to enter
upon the labors and duties assigned us by our
constituents. Let us approach them with
t1ht calm deliberatlon which their importance
demands Let us insist uron the strictest
economy possible in the wise administration
of the affairs of the state.
Fellow Citizens-With grateful acknowledge
ments tor the generous commence you NAY q
eg lin roposed in me, conscious OF my de-
CndenCe upon Divine Providence, and trust
ing that may be guided and directed in al
my actions by the All Wise Ruler OF tho nh
v ytrse now declare myself ready to subscribe
10 the solemn oath which the law requires.