The sea coast echo. [volume] (Bay Saint Louis, Miss.) 1892-current, 1896-04-18

has the food must cook the same
and divide with the other. BY
this arrangement both men can
be rendered comfortable, whereas
otherwise each must spend a night
of suffering. IF the man with the
food does not know that the 9th
er has matches, or if the one with
the matches does not know that
the first has food, the effect is
practically the same as if neither
had anything. The mere possess
sion Of the several components
by different parties does not nee
essarily have he desired effect.
The result is similarly defeated
if either man regards the other a
an enemy. Success can only come
in case each understands the re-
sources and disposition of the
other, and, accordingly, makes
far and proper concessions.
So it is, on n larger scale, with
our people and those of other
communities. We have the cheap
lands, the cheap labor, and the
cheap raw materials, all in abun-
danco. The capitalist, elsewhere,
has the money, which he will
cheerfully bring forward in large
quantities if the investment is
safe and he can realize four or five
per cent. per annum. We can
ask nothing better than this. Yet
something is lacking. We are
withholding our resources while
willing to part with an interest in
them: the capitalist is withhold
ing his money while hungry for
Investment, and the trained arti-
san, out of employment, is with
holding his skill. The ingredients
OF success are not uniting. What
is the matter? Simply this--the
capitalist and the skilled work
men have false notions concern
ing our people. They think that
we are a community of cut
throats; that we have hostile
feeling toward them, and would,
by any means, fair or foul, dis
courage them from coming among
us. They think that we have the
dagger of the assassin and the
torch OF the incendiary.
In order to understand thor
oughly the details of this belief,
a Mississippian should take trip
into the region far above Mason
and Dixon's line. Let him go to
some great metropolis Here let
him meet and talk with num-
ber of intelligent, everyday peo-
pie native to the place, and it will
not take him very long to discov-
or that his state is seen through
a glass darkly. Pretty soon he
will be asked, a little cautiously
perhaps, if he is opposed to the
operation Of moonshine distiller-
les; also, if there is not among the
better classes in Mississippi an
element in favor of abollshsng
the revolver; likewise, how the
modern ku-klux-klan manages for
so long to evade retributive JUS
tice. He must explain how the
local authorities, after prosecut-
ing and furnishing the principals
of prize fight, can face public
opinion. And when it develops
he is not a man-slayyer (not even
a lady killer), that he is a Chris
tian, and perchance a Freemason,
he will be congratulated upon his
many marvellous escapes and in
vited to come and live in more
congenial community.
The above sketch is not over
drawn. 1t represents the actual
state of mind of the people every
where in regions remote from the
south. The people mentioned
are honest in their opinions.
They think they are dealing with
facts that are beyond controver-
sy. They can hardly think other
wise, because,they seldom or new
er hear anything to the contrary.
They simply acquiesce in that
which is undisputed. They are
apparently willing to believe and
to act upon the facts, but they
have been wrongly informed as
to the situation.
Here, now, is a suggestion as to
how to suppress the mischief and
advance the remedy, though it
may involve a considerable task.
1t can best be carried out by or
ganized effort. Let us proclaim
from the rostrum, through the
press, through the instrumentali-
ty of ourpublic servants, through
the mails, and through appropri-
ate advertising agencies, that the
prevalent opinions concerning us
are without foundation. We
must send or carry TO the people
of the north and east the declara-
ton that we are peaceful and law
abiding; that we are ready to
greet them with words of well
come rather than with social and
business ostracism. We must press
the question to the front, and
cease not our efforts until our de-
claration shall be admitted as the
truth wherever read by the fire.
side or heard in the public assem-