The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1897-11-26
THE DAWN.

After three months or more OF
gloom, and an almost complete stop
page Of the wheels OF commerce and
stagnation Of every business industry
in the States of Louisiana, Mississip-
pi and Alabama made so 10y the report
that yellow fever existed within the
confines OF the States mentioned. has
about passed and the situation wears
a brighter aspect and business inter
ests is again resuming the mastery,
which is truly gratifying far beyond
expression.
1t is not our purpose in this article
to reiterate our belief as to the char
acter of the sickness that has afflicted
and damaged the people SO sorely, not
from the fatality resulting from the
fever so much, but the paralyzation of
those industries which gave to the
labOring man his bread and meat
Our opinion as to that is ~well-known
to the readers Of the DEMOCRAT-STAR.
Whether the disease under considera-
alton was yellow fever or not, it pro-
duced the same effect that the gen
uine article" usually does, barring the
mortality, which was insignificant
compared with previous epidemics.
AS soon as it was known that the ply
Sicians had so declared 1t, fear took
complete possession of them and they
became panic-stricken beyond all rea-
son and fled in every direction, but
the one which lead towards "a supposed
yellow fever infected locality.
In pronouncing the sickness at
Ocean Springs to be that of yellow
fever a great crime, We believe, was
committed, either maliciously or
through ignorance Of the disease
diagnosed, but we are unable to say
which of the two propositions should
be held responsible. If it was the
former the perpetrator should be
made to feel the power of outraged
law; II it was the latter that caused
so much misery the guilty physician
should be ANONYMOUSLY kicked out Of
the profession he disgraced by his
ignorance. OF course, the great dam
age done to a large section of country
is beyond recall, but the matter should
be sifted to the bottom, and let the
facts Of the yellow fever scare Of 1897
be brought to light and if a crime has
been committed In connection with
the fever the guilty should be pun
ished.
People should not be deferred from
coming TO the coast because Of the
recent sickness. Grant that it was
yellow fever land all physicians do not
agree that it was) the deaths resulting
therefrom were indeed small. The
deaths occurring in Scranton and vi
cinity are traceable in every instance
to either organic troubles, imprudence
or lack of proper nursing. And it is
our earnest belief had the malady not
been pronounced yellow fever CONNER
cial pursuits would have went on us
usual, and would have caused no more
apprehension than other ordinary ills
that flesh is heir to. 1t would be just
as sensible for a residentO of the North
and Northwest to give up his citizen
ship in those countries because they
have death-dealing cyclones and bliz-
yards. Every section Of the inhabit-
able globe is liable to visitations of
an unpleasant nature.
The editor of the DEMoCRAT-STAR
is not at all discouraged at the out
look, but has gone to work with
renewed energy to restore confidence.
We are not frightened at every ad.
verse wind that blows. There is a
silver lining to every cloud-no mat.
ter how dark and threatening, and
our faith is strong that the recent
fever scare will in no wise materially
injure our coast as a summer resort.
We have published the DEMOCRAT
STAR the past four months at a great
$500. ~ |
pecuniary loss, but in doing so, we are
conscious of a duty to our people and
section. We hope Il efforts in CIV
Ing them a paper under adverse cir
cnmstances are appreciated, and the
people will accord that support which
in a measure recompense us for
the sacrifice thus made.
Don't borrow or steal your neigh
boris copy OF the DEMGCRAT-STAR.
Il .1.- -