The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1899-02-09

I am before you tonight to respond
TO a gratefully appreciated invitation
to speak to my fellow citizens on
State politics and issues. My right
to speak to my fellow citizens has
been challenged by the men who
have misrepresented, maligned and
bitterly abused me because OF my
political opinions, and because OF
their inability to control and dictate
my administration of the office Of
chief executive of this State. But L
have no other way of addressing the
people of the State.
While I have the support Of great
many patriotic newspapers OF the
State, yet have no organ OF my own
to present the true facts, as l know
them, to the people, where they are
misrepresented by my opponents. If
my individual interests alone were
involved l would quietly submit to
these Misrepresentation, wilful as
they are in many instances, knowing
as do that those who know me per-
sonally will never give credence to
them; but the interests of the entire
,eople of the State are involved, and
/ owe it to them to put before them,
and before the world, the facts in
refutation of these misrepresenta-
dons as far as it is in my power to do
In the time that can be spared from
the official duties of the Office con-
fided to me by the people of Missis-
siDpi. If am guilty of wilful VIC
iation or perversion of the duties OF
the office of Governor, it is not only
aamnable in me, but it reflects dis
credit upon the entire State. If l
have faithfully attempted to dis
charge the duties of the office to the
best of my ability, then they, who
have from spite or disappointed po-
litical aspirations, or because of my
political convictions, attempted to
create the impression that my official
conduct has been corrupt, have not
only slandered me bnt they have
grievously wronged every citizen OF
the State upon whom such official
conduct would have reflected, if it
had been true. For this reason l
feel there is not only nothing i'm
proper in my speaking to the people,
but that as far as 1 can spare the
time from my official duties, it is my
duty to them to speak.
WHY THEY ATTACK THE GOVERNOR.
l am gratifed that in discussing
State politics as they have been
forced by the opposition, and in dis
cussing the most important State is
sues that will be decided this year, l
can at the same time refute my hear
ers. 1t will be necessary for me to
uncover the principal issue, and the
one which every effort of the combine
against me has been, and will be,
directed to cover up and conceal.
I'm 1895, when my name was men
toned for the office of Governor, Just
after / had served out short term in
the United States Senate, a warm
personal friend of mine, who had
practiced his profession in my family,
. man Of profound thought, and log
ical, cogent powers of reasoning, who
was an ardent believer in and an able
advocate of bimetalism, DR.. s. d.
Robbins, of Vicksburg, wrote me
letter to know if / intended to be-
come candidate for Governor, and
II so, my position on the financial
question, that was then and is now
agitatiug the whole country. 1
answered him in substance that ]
was candidate, and that was thor
oughly in accord with that doctrine
which believed in the unlimited and
independent coinage of silver by this
country at its present ratio. While
of those who believe in the gold
standard, denominated sound money,
I had then and have now many sup
porters. there was class of the gold
standard men in this State who be-t