The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1892-08-18
AN ADDRESS ISSUED AND
SENT OUTBY THE STATE
DEMOCRATIC Elk. COM.
"a rnE DEMocRAcY on MISS.

the State. aud your dutleS III tht
nepding campaign. While the ma
fional election is in its practlcal re-
suit but y recurrence OF the period
zeal trial between the Democratic
and Republican policies OF govern
ment Your course In .he contest IS
embarl assed by aG opposition CONS
posed of former democrats. And
it is with this opposition. formed
npon personal disappointments, To-
cal factions and vague discomfort
for alleged failures ia performance
that Democrats iu Mississippi have
to directly contend. Your commit
tee does not propose to discuss Ia
detail the causes Of this detection
from our ranks. 1t is enough to
saw that its resentmants are mis-
applied, its aims i;nptactlcabie an"
that it's achievements can not rise
above mere obstruction. And that,
however real are the grievances en-
tertained, thev are utterly nnWaf-
ranted aud uuteDable as against the
Democratic party. Confessedly
they owe their origin to Repubii-
can legislation. The Third party
organization. reason and persua'
sion having been yainly exerted to
cheek lis spread, only demands our
consideration as constituting an OBJ
stacle III the pathway of Democrat
ic duty-in its combat with Repuo'
licaniqm. The success OF Demo
cracv in this combat offers the or
" true aud effective relief from
evils of government which bear so
heavily upon the producers OF the
South. And opposition, IN what
ever form or personatlon, IN tue
way of this success, it ia our undi'
min shed duty to overcome or re-
move. Cleared of obscurities and
stripped of false coverings the pen
ding struggle Involves the same IS
sues and interests for which we
nave so long striyen. They are
the same for the Republican party
is the sane. It's avoued policy and
declarations have not changed; to
hold power by ali means, and to
exercise it without regard 10 the
welfare or the wishes Of the inass
rs is its sole anmatiug principle.
That it would greed for rule, again,
as in the past, subvert popular gov
ls proved in the tenaclty
Of It's adherence to what is com
monty ksown as the force bill. |!
This bill Is in its true intent cares
fully concocted scheme of control
ing national elections by national
power, III defiance of the popular
voice. 1t is idle to contend that
here is no longer danger OF a
aw having this end in view, With
lie leaders of the Republican par
y its miscarriage, the repugnance
t excited, have only caused it to
be less loudly proclaimed. There
5 every evidence Of the determine
ion to press it when the occasion
serves, Most indlsputably the en-
actment of such a law as the Lodge |
bill. only awaits an opportunity.
And even if, as some contend the
danger OF such an act be too remote
for apprehension, if our home GOV
ernments are no longer menaced by
a party whose unrestricted power
overhung the South like a pall--it
is because the Democratic party
shielded our people and turned
aside the full severity Of the intic-
tions designed. 1t has been through
the Democratic National organiza-
ton that the Southern people were
enabled TO mold at bay elements
which menaced law and order,
domestic peace and social security.
Can we afford to have the efficiency,
the forces of this party which has
done this great and vital service,
impaired so long as its powerful
and INSCRIPTIONS antagonist exist.
With the Democratic party broken
INTO fragments where can the
South look for relief 2
In bearing their portion of the
political burdens Of the past the
Democrats of Mississippi have
shown spirit Of patriotism, a char
acter for manhood which has given
them national renown, There has
been DO higher exhibition by any
people OF the capacity OF selisgov~
eminent, of guarding their rights
under great stress, than hes been
displayed in Mississippi during the
past quarter of a century. To men
with such a record for constancy
courage and intelligence, we are
confident that we do not valnly APP
peal in the present emergency
There is not one of those now liv-
ing whom we looked to as leaders
in times of peril who does not Join
US in the call to stand by the Dem.
ocratlc party. 1t certainly ought
to be all sufficient to recall all that
the South owes TO the Democratic
organizatiOn-to which we are in