The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1894-05-11
GheHemurrM-S Star
DEAOCRiCY'S INDEBTEDNESS TO TBE
PRESS or nISSISNIPPI.
Is 1t Ingratitude or Wanton Neglect9

Tvs u
bic and pertinent thoughts in IA re
cent issue. We hope every Dcmocra,
and business nan OF the State viii
give this article a careful. pcrusal
1t strikes the Sentinel that it is but
AUST complaint which some of the
journals of the State are making
against our Democratic Legislatures
on account Of the disravor shown to-
wards the press In the past. Laws
are enacted which directly or indi-
rcctly foster and encourage industrial,
manufacturing and other practical
enterprises and investments. This is
well. But when 1t comes to the pro-
posed enactment OF 4 measure which
seems to contain a practical benefit
to the prcss-then that very benefit
is made a reason for the defeat of the
measure. There may be no positive
antagOnism to the press really exist.
ing In the minds Of most of our legis-
latOrs, but the apparent indifference
shown to its welfare, and the failure
u encourage II in anywise, would seem
to give some color to the charge.
The Democratic party of MISSISSIPPI
pi, as a party, and the representatives
Of the party who now enjoy its hon
Orable position, owe an incalculable
debt OF gratitude and appreciation to
the newspapers Of Mississippi. This
is true now. 1t has been equally true
OF men and party in the past. 1t is
one Of these debts which, II never
paid, ought ever to be freshly borne
in mind 1t is a moral debt, for
which payment in dollars and cents,
Is not demanded by the press. But It
Is an honorable record and entities |
the press to ask for all fostering care
and all gratitude from Democratic
Legislatures. Whether it has re-
ccived the one on the other can be
most seriously questioned. Through
sunshine and storm, in seasons Of de.
spondency or joys, the press OF Missis-
Sippi has sung the praises and glOries
OF the State and OF the Democratic
party. The press OF Mississippi will
80 on loving their State and people.
and their party, for it is OF its very
life, and will continue untiringly to
sing the praises Of ALL But some Of
the Otfce-holders OF the party and
some Of the future Ofice-scckers on its
list, will discover some day that for
particular individuals, the press will
have neither favor nor affection.
II a man wants Office nowadays he
expects the press to shout his praises
and send them ringing throughout
the county, and sometimes through
out the se%venty-fve counties. Mass
meetings, with their brilliant and
eloquent speeches, must have heavy
headlines. Nominating conventions
must be praised for selecting the very
best men. The individual candidate
expects to be proclaimed untiringly
as the incarnation of all the political
virtues embraced in the J%cffersOnian
trilolOgue, and from the initial action
to the finish Of campaigns the press
is expected to increasingly hurrah for
men and measures. This would seem
to indicate that the press is a most
wonderful and potential political
force. Then, let politicians and legis-
lators not forget it.
q In u State, very often local coun-
ty officials, and even district ones, arc
strangely ncglectful Of their home
papers, and give to foreign publishing
houses about all their printing. I
We do not speak from a selfish in
terest here, for it gives the Sentinel
peculiar qualification above the pc =
cunlary profit to boast Of the patron.
age of our county and town officials,
therefore, it is IN a spirit of justice
and right for others when We say that
the home paper should, as far as prac-
tlcable, have all the local patronage.
1t is better ever to endure a little
poorer printing and have it remain at
home, than to go abroad with money ,
and work. Every community loves -.
to boast OF a good local paper, but a
community which does not support
the home paper Will never be able toll
SO boast.
10 give a striking Illustration of
the neglect Of home papers, some G
times manifested by local officials. we
say that we were present at
Miss, at the April meet
ing of the Board of Supervisors of
Washington county, when the board
out the county printing for one -
wear, as advertised. We were aston.
'shed to see and hear Mr.. c. C. John.
son, Chancery Clerk of the county, 4
openly work for and advocate the ]
award Of the work to Marshall &
Bruce Co., of Nashville, Tenn, with
the cagerness and zeal OF a well. a
paid lawyer, over all the other four or
worthy bidders-his home paper,
The Times, beingin the list for a con-
siderable partof 1t, and against whom
ne labored as hard as against any of
he rest, yet we suppose Mr.. johnson A,
want his Office again, and expect
Ills same home paper to chccrfully
abor for his success. ,.
Notwithstanding the untiring zeal
md efforts Of the Chancery Clerk In
'ehalf of Marshall 4 Bruce Co., we =
ire glad to state that they failed to
'et the contract, while The Times