The Kosciusko star. (Kosciusko, Miss.) 18??-1898, 1895-06-14

negroes and the prohigate whites.
OF course, such condition could
not last always. 1t will, however,
last long enough to produce such
Generalization, confusion and dis
aster as to force a revolution as the
only means of escape. Then there
will be free government, progress
and prosperity till the whites shall
have forgotten the lesson taught
by the umpirage of the negro and
shall again commit like folly.
These are some of the reflections
which caused me to use, in the let
ter referred to by you, the Ian
guage quoted in the newspaper
slip you enclosed to me-language
urging plea for conservatism and
moderation in the political contest
now going on in this State.
Though | think the Mississippi
constitution the best maksshift vet
presented, by no means regard it
as complete and permanent solu-
ton of the problem. 1t is far bet
ter than ''eXisting methods" in
Louisiona, as infer them to be
from the editorial you enclose, 1t
furnishes a fair, legal, constitutions
al and peaceful method of securing
good government so long as the
white people of Mississippi shall
manage to settle their political
disputes without calling in the UNI
pirage of the negro. Constitutions
are not self-executing. They are
only the frame work of a govern
ment which is to be carried on and
operated by the people who have
ordained them. They can furnish
the people the means and oppor-
tunity of safety and of good gov
eminent, but it can not furnish
that government and safety per Sc.
Especially can no constitution save
a people from their own follies or
wickedness. They can be framed
SO as to furnish protection against
dangers which the people see and
guard against, but it cannot afford
protection and safety against the
people themselves.
I called the Mississippi consti-
tuition "makeshitt" and so 1t is,
but it will afford relief and safety
50 long as the people shall be true
to themselves and nso its proyis-
ions with equity and good judg-
ment. It may last for a genera
ton, alfording as it has afforded
MP to this time a fair and safe gov
eminent Being. as all such must
be, but an experiment, time will
show its defects and will also indi-
cate the remedies for the evils
coming from our unparalleled pO-
litical situation. If the white peo-
pie have the political virtue to act
wisely and discreetly under its
present provisions, they will also
have the virtue to adopt such new
provisions as may be needed for
their safety. | speak only of the
"white people" as being responsi-
Die for government in Mississippi
as in every Southern State, tor in
them only exists the capacity to
{ rdain a free constitution and to
operate II government under it.
This fact the world knows fully
understands. The world will hold
us respons' bic for good govern
ment in our midst, and in doing
! this will acquiesce in any constitu-
tioual method necessary 10 attain
it.
A great change has come over
tie minds Of the North in this re-
gard. This change was made
clearly manifest by the favor with
which the Republican party re-
ceived the constitution of the So
called Republic of Hawaii. This
constitution, SO far as it related to
the qualifications of voters, set up
a test which was clearly intended
to give and did give the power to
the minority-the whites to alb
solutely dominate and control the
more 'merous, yet incapable ma
lives advise you to get this
constitution and ascertain for your
self to what lengths the white pop
ulation Of those islands wherF
compelled to 90, and cid 60 in OF
der to establish and maintainf ;
government under white coutroh
Political events in the last Eav