The Brookhaven leader., 1891-11-12
AIississippi Enters Upon n New
Era.

The constitutional convention "l
Mississippi was not called day to"
soon. Goadcd to desperation 10y the
robbery. misrulc and iusolcnce ot
aliens and negroes during the recon
structiou era. MisSis>ippjans rose III
1873. with the resolution of despair,
and 10y fair means or foul, hurled
their oppreSsorS from place and
power.
In order. however, to maintain the
supremacy thus attained against over
whclmiug odds of ignorant blacks led
bv few INSCRIPTIONS white men,
and prevent return to their dcSpcr-
ate condition. questionable methods
were rrSortcd to aud continued and
the miSchicyuus doctrine that the end
iustitics the means, became the rccog-
nizcd policy of the Democratic party
in its struggle for white supremacy.
II was not strange. therefore, that in
tiuidation. ballot box stutling, fraud,
perjury and intolerance of all OPPOSE
ton. gradually pcrmcatcd the body
politir. bluntcd the conscicnceS of our
old men and Schoolcd our youhg men
and bows to look lightly upon such
j things.
oh. that was an awful crop of dra-
/ CONS teeth we were sowing in those
DAYS of. a> we believed. our dire ne
cesSity. The late intolcrant and de-
mandatory spirit of the Democratic
machine press, the outrageous treat
mcnt of Gibbs and Rowan at WCsson,
/ the stealing of the registration books
from the court house in POntotoc
county. the burning of the election
booths in Montgomery, are but parts
of the legitimate legacy of the policy
and methods which have prevailed to
Il greater OF less degree in Mississippi
/ since the revolution of 10.
Yes. thank God for the new Consti-
/ tuition, and the Australian ballot, so
+ that the intelligent, responsible, bet
/ ter element in Mississippi citizenship
may hereafter direct and control her
political dc>tinicS without resort to
such dcspicablc and diShonOring
means. Not that there will not be
some abuses under the new order of
Things. which will here and there CON
tinue to crop out as the fruits of the
old policy. but there no longer being
any necessity or justification for pollt-
zeal wrong doing, it will be frowncd
upon by all good citizens and grad
ually stamped out
Mississippi must have free speech, IA
free press, Il free ballot and honest
elections. hereafter, and under our
new Constitution she may have all of
these essentials of true republican
government without the slightest dan
ger Of ,jeopardizing her best and high
est interests.
We regret to see that there are still
a few irrcconcilablc kickers against
the adoption of new Constitution,
irving to bring the new election law
into disrcputc 10y appeals to prejudice,
but their rawlings can have no weight
with the Thoughtful, patriotic people
of the State. The Australian ballot
is fitting adjunct to the new Consti-
tuition and should be perpetuated
with it. 1t is true that here and there
it may prevent some good and worthy
citizen from participating in the gen
clal election. but for every such one,
it cuts off dozen ignorant negroes.
it beats WimchcsterS, intimidation
fraud and perjury and their comSc-
qucnt evil influence on all classes OF
our people, without the alternative
of having to choose between these
and ignorant and irresponsible mis-
rule. 1t registers the voters choice
for each office to be filled, unintiu-
cnccd by all save his own will, and it
lays in Il common heap the briber, the
election boss and the ticket-peddlel
that were the bane of the old system
Yes. let all good citizens rejoice
Under her new Constitution and tho
/ Australian ballot, Mississippi enters
/ ,,,,n, =. nav an1 haitian, ora