The sea coast echo. [volume] (Bay Saint Louis, Miss.) 1892-current, 1896-02-08
THE nlsslssIpPl LEGISLATURE.

| 1850 aHCOho 1t IL Lt@0h 1t-h IKE
As every forest has some eoot
timber so is every state possessed oi
intelligent beings, and there lie nc
more excuse for people to select
incompetent people to represent theiI
interests and welfare than their il
for man to pick out the worst trees
with which to build home.
Mississippi can boast of resources
equal to any state in the Union, she
has vast area of uncultiva, ed and
uninhabited soil, most Of which is
rich and fertile and would yield O
goodly harvest If properly cultivated
The class Of people who would do
this are kept flom coming here by
some of our nonensical laws, and as
long as these are in operation will
Mississippi remain in the rear Of the
more progressive states. Our con-
stltut ion provides for this difficulty.
1t appropriates large sum Of mon
ey to have its representative men
meet in its Legislative hall and remedy
those laws which are defective. Such
is the purpose of our legislature.
But is the present Legislature doing
or will do anything that will rebound
to the public good? Possibly the
reader will say 1t is premature to
predict, but The Echo takes upon
itself to say that, the same spirit of
emptiness that presided over it when
it convened will mark its adjourn
ment and that it shall have accom-
plished nothing except that II be
something derogatory to the welfare
of the state.
Our legislature is serious body,
but this fact was overlooked when
It's present members were elected.
We called our readers attention
some time ago to their lack of judg-
ment, and possibly The Echo was
the first journal to do this, but since
that time many are the adverse COM
ments that have been made by our
contemporaries. Following is an ex-
tract from an editorial which appear
ed iE>the Canton Times:
The legislature is full Of men un-
fit to represent the best interest Of
the country and to reflect the ad-
vanced thought, broad enlightenment
and conservatism of the present
times. This is plainly evident from
the character Of numerous bills intro
duced, and from the fate Of some
that should become lave and the
trend Of sentiment developed in dis
cusslon by many. Every fellow who
has been honored by his constituents
with seat in this honorable body,
feels it encumbent upon him to do
something to evidence his presence.
He wants all the notoriety possible,
both from personal egotistical
standpoint and to fortifv him in the
estimation of his constituents. Ear
nest, real, conservative work, the re-
suit of matured judgement and
sound principles is the exception.
There are of course many safe. able,
experienced members, otherwise we
would have more pernicious legisla.
tion than we have. Our statutes are
now encumbered by many useless
imperative and obstructive laws.
Fanatics and cranks are brood Of
pestiferous obstacles in any legIsla
tive body. All attempts to forestall
public sentime ent and q sense of right
and reaeou by sumptuary and man.
datory laws, will be unavailing. and
only productive of evil. More lati.
tude should be allowed.
1t IS said that history repeats itself
but we should not let history repeat
itself in regard to our law makers.
Every Mississlppian that has the
welfare Of his state at heart should
strive with all his might to prevent
it.