The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1899-01-14
SENATOR SMITH AT MERIDIAN
MASTERLY DISCUSSION OF STATE
ISSUES.
Governor McLaurin's Invitation for
"Fair and Impartial Criticism" Ac,
cepted.

the Democrats of Meridian to night.
4 choosing as his subject "State Is.
sues" Many Of the most promi-
nent citizens of the state occupied
the platform with the speaker and
the speech was received with en-
phatic manifestations of approval.
Mr. Smith on being introduced by
4 the Hon. A. j. Russell, member Of
the Legislature, thus addressed his
audience:
Mr.. Chairman, Ladies and Gentle
men:
l find myself at loss Co express
IN adequate language my apprecia
non OF the honor done me bv the
cltlzens OF Meiidian in inviting me
TO address item upon the politics.
lWenty-tGur years ago last Janu-
airy l ftod Mississippi soil for the
flrst lime within the limits of your
city. AS looked around me saw a
email village Of possibly not 500 in
habitants, and l little dreamed at
A that time that should live to see
Meridian out-stripping all of her sis
ter cities and towns in population, ex-
cept one, and out-stripping all of her
competitors III generous rivalry for
the predominance in the state of
Mississippi in the variety of her in
dustries, in the magnificence of her
buildings and in the extent, perma-
nency and variety of her public i'm
u provements. Least of all did |
4 dream that fate 50 decreed that l
should be honored by such an invita-
ton to address such an audience in
B this city. But aside from the fact
"A OF the personal qualification to me
5 IN the implied honor of this invita-
E ii n, there comes to me further
a qualification as citizen of Missis-
sippi interested in her welfare, her
4 good name and all that goes to make
q the reputation of state dear to
every patriotic citizen.
The fact that such an invitation
q so largely signed should be extended
to any gentleman shows that the
3 people of Meridian are already com
"enclng to take an active and in
t ligent interest in the election
wlich takes place in this state next
ear. 1t is common for speakers to
SAY that every election carries with !
it questions of the greatest moment |
Ito the people, and indeed this is true
in the limited sense of all elections, |
because no election is ever held in |
(which the people are not called to
pass either directly or indirectly up
on questions which materially in
volve the welfare and prosperity |
either of the state or of the commu-
nifty as the case may be. But judg- |
ing the election next year by the
. traditions and history of Missis-
'sippi-a history of which her peo-
pie are and may well be proud, re-
splendent with the names and ca
j Ireers of pure, patriotic, intelligent,
broad-minded statesmen-a history
(which save and except during the
interval of reconstruction when her
own people did not govern it, has
been free from even the imputation
of anything that was not calculated
for the welfare of the people, this
election next year involves the ques-
ltion whether OF not that history
shall be repeated and continued or
whether or not she shall sink lower
in the scale as compared with her
sister states than she has ever
ranked
TAX RATE AND PROPERTY
VALUES.
The condition of affairs existing in
this state is well calculated to arouse
the solicitude of every thoughtful,
unselfish and patriotic citizen. With
increasing taxation, diminishing val
ues from which revenues are to be
raised, with no prospect of any
large public enterprise projected or
to be projected to develop the latent
resources of our state, reform meas
lures are certainly in order And to
THAT end it behooyes the citizen in
making up his mind how and for (
whom he shall cast his vote next
year to carefully scrutinize the rec
ord and declarations of every man
who offers himself for public office.
Che state tax rate is higher at pres
eIt than 1t has been at any time du- I
ring the history of this state, except
during the administration of the
Cloths and Vandals who presided
over het destinies during the period
of reconstruction. Our taxable val
ues so FIR from showing any in
crease, snow a positive decrease
within tle last three years In or
der that you may see that this state
ment Tint have made just is not
withoutauthority permit me to give
you sane figures furnished me by ]
d careful, painstaking and capable {
gentlman, as I have not personally
had tccess to these documents {
GOV. Lowry was inaugurated gov {
|ernor of Mississippi in 1883 and at I
the time DC his Inauguration the val ]
Nle Of real and personal property in S
the state Of Mississippi exclusive of q
railroads was $116, 926, 060 At the I
expiration of his term in January |
1890, these values were $157, SIS, 900 s
an increase in values du- q
ring Gov. Lowry's administration c
from 1882 up to 1890 of $40, 500, $40. t
During the years 1882, 1888, 1884, 1885 l
the state tax was % mills and for /
the years 1SS6-1S87 it was 81 mills '
and for the years 1SSS-18S9 was /
mills. d
When Gov Stone succeeded Gov g
Lowry in 1890 the values of real and c
personal property in the state of '
Mississippi were stated above, $157- \
SIS, 906., You will I9collectl thBt |
the constitutional convention ex-