The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1899-01-14

ihis nus me WIN BrauSude 10
, hepeople Of Mississippi and through
their chosen representatives beg
TO convey to them my profound
thanks, "'
Well might that grand old man be
fllled with profound thanks at being
able truthfully, rightfully and hon
estly to give utterance to such an
expression. Retiring from years of
Of official service, devoted ceaseless-
ly untiringly to the welfare of the
state of Mississippi he felt conscious
!, that he could justly say that he car
rled with him the priceless reputa-
ton of good name. Poor although
he may have been in purse, reduced
in fortune to such a strait that it
was Il matter of anxious concern for
him and his friends as to how he
should support himself and his
'auily for the remainder Of life, yet
he teS conscious that he could leave
to them and to Che people of Missis-
sippi the priceless legacy of an hon
ored name.
THE PRESENT ADMINISTRA-
TION.
But fellow citizens, and it is with
pain and regret that l say it, during
the past three years strange and un-
usual things have happened in the
state of Mississippi. No administra-
ton was ever inaugurated in the
history of this state under more
suspicious circumstances and with
more thoroughly united people than
had elected the gentleman who were
at that time indicted into Office.
The incumbent of the governors
office had received the unexampled
honor of a unanimous nomination
to the high Office of governor.
When the legislature met there We're
| but two members of that entire
body who We're of different political
faith from that of the governor; the
entire press of the state with rare
exceptions and these confined to a
few Populist and Republican papers
were a unit in support of the admin
istration.
In less than eighteen months an
ilTepairable breach had occurred be-
tween the executive and legislative
Departments of our government
The press very nearly unanimously
conculTed in censure of the many
acts of the governors administra-
ton which occasioned the split with
the legislature and today if you
will examine the various papers
published in this state, you will find
that majority of these papers, IL
respective of difference upon the
financial question are opposed to the
present administration. 1t is use
less to say that this criticism is con-
fined to gold bugs. 1t has been con-
fidently stated and never denied that
a large majority of the silver press
no longer support this administra-
ton upon the issues raised against
it. The publication Of current eX-
tracts sustain the assertion. ~.
AT the close of the extra session
of 1897 there was witnessed a scene
which has not occurred at any time
in the history of Mississippi, so far
as | can now recollect, to-wit: an
open rupture between a majority of
one house, to-wit: the senate, and on
the part of a very large number if
not a majority of the house. There
must be some reason, fellow citizens,
for such marked change in the
condition of affairs. 1t cannot be
that this great change in public SEN
timent as represented through the
legislature and the press of the state
exist only through the Vaccinations
of gold bugs, and of a single, solitary
railroad corporation, as alleged by
the governor.
PERSONAL RELATIONS WITH
THE GOVERNOR
Before entering upon an extended
review of Gov, McLaurin's admins
tration permit me to say something
personal of myself. l am a NIissis-
sippian in every sense of the word. /
I am devoted to her and to her in
terests as thoroughly as a child is
devoted to its mother. | am not
for any Office and so far
as [ know, never expect to be. My .
lot is that of the average citizen of
I desire to have good
so that | can follow to
the utmost advantage that vocation
which l have adopted in life. If I
can be permitted to do this, to raise
and educate my children and to die
leaving them a good name and
thoroughly educated and equipped
for the welfare of life, l will have
achieved all that my ambition as
pires to. l am proud of my state. I
am. proud of her history. 1t is no
pleasure to me to differ from the
chief executive of my state and
above all it gives me sense of pain
to feel that he is open to just criti-
cism and censure.
Before Gov McLaurin was inau-
gurated but after he had received
the unanimous nomination of the
people of Mississippi, I met him in
Yazoo City where he and were at
court. Our relations were {
then and always had been kindly !
and friendly We talked freely and
fully. l congratulated him upon /
5he unexampled honor which he {
mad Just received. I stated to him
that he had a career ahead of him
in the history of our
state and unequalled in my opinion
by that of any gentleman in any
1ther state that l know of. After
serving an unexpired term in the
senate of the United States he had {
received the unanimous nomination {
Of his people for the office of chief 5
executive. l said to him: "Now |
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