The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1898-05-28
REFLECT GEN. CATCHlNGS.

The following editorial is from
The leading free silver newspaper
of the Southwest. 1t expresses
current opinion among such peo-
pie as believe that there are con
ditions in which public welfare
should be considered before the
personal preiudices of faction
As the time for the election of
Congressman approaches it will
not be taken amiss if the Times
Democrat invites the attention of
the voters of the third district of
Mississippi to the public services
of their present representative and
to the importance of his re-elec-
ton.
Gen. Catchings has served in
the Confederate army throughout
the war, Il term in the State Sen
ate, two terms in the position of
Acknowledgement, and seven terms
in the National House of Represen-
tatiyes. During his long career
| in the House he has been of espec-
ial value TO the people, by reason
Of his connection with the commit
tees on railways and canals and
rivers and harbors.
Since the promotion of Justice
Blanchard, Gen. Catchings has
been regarded as the mainstay of
the Mississippi Valley interests.
His great acquaintance with river
improvements, both real and theo-
retical, and his long service on the
committee, have amply qualified
him for the position of guardian
Of the valley in all matters CON
nected with public expenditure.
His retirement would be marked
loss to the State, to the whole
alluvial region and to the nation,
Tho ability Of Gen, Catchings is
indlsputable, and his faithfulness
to the interests of his people is
equally mdisputable, except only
h.s view in favor of the gold stand
ard. In this point he has long
ago consented TO sink his private
views in consideration Of the al
most unanimously bimetallic opm-
ions Of his district. In other
words, he is pledged not to vote
in opposition to their wishes on
the only subject in which he ,.ii1
t .n0y ulner, and there is no doubt
that they are safe IN his hands.
This is their own opinion, and they
reelected him two years ago not
outstanding his financial leanings.
In the opinion of the Times-Dem-
ocrat, this is the GorIect course to
pursue. The silver question, i'm
portant though it is, is not the
only question requiring examlna-
ton in Congress, and even if it
should be conceded to be the most
matter, 1t would still
remain to be considered whether
we could not better afford to trust
Gen. Catchings rather than to lose |
his valuable assistance on the river
appropriations. 1t is becoming
more and more difficult to obtain
these appropriations, and while
there is,not particle of doubt in
the minds of those who have thor
oughly studied the question that
the national government should
take entire charge of the leyees
and protect the allQvial region
from overflow, still the actual fact
is that the very small and made
quate appropriations granted to
the river States are granted re-
and are withheld without |
reason at least half of the time.
Indeed, it is doubtful whether any
further appropriations can be OBJ
tanned from a Republican Congress
on any terms ; but, fortunately,
the next Congress will be Demo
cratic, and this makes it all the
more necessary that our most ex-
perienced men, and those who un-
derstand the river question best,
should be returned TO that body.
Times Democrat.