The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1899-01-25


fetal acts, to pardon them, which, how
ever, after fully considering the merits
of the case, he refused to do As still
further proof that the murderers and
their friends believed for time that
Gov. McLaurin would be as good as
his word, in. 1897 they took advantage
of his short absence from the State on
his famous New York spree, to seek
pardon through acting Governor Jones,
but did not succeed.
Notwithstanding all this, last year
Gov. McLaurin did pardon Fox, one Of
the Dinkins murderers, which he him
self had said over his own signature
would "be an indelicate and improper
thing" for him to do, and that he would
not do.
This is simple recital of undenied
and undeniable facts and why Sena-
tor Smith or any one else should be
beating around the brush hunting up
less disreputable things to lay to the
charge of the Governor, and ignore
this one, so easily established, we have
been unable to understand. Neither is
it at all in keeping with the fitness of
things for Governor McLaurin to be
raising such smoke and posing as
gubernatorial martyr, because Smith
or some one else tried to show that he
was improperly influenced to pardon
one-legged niger from Sharkey coun-
ty, while his record in this Fox matter
stands, proclaiming his condemnation
in tones of thunder.
The only explanation we have ever
seen from any quarter was that Fox,
who was in good enough health to en-
list in the army and had been acting
for good while as Penitentiary
"trusty," was recommended for pardon
by the Board of Control. But that
doesn't explain. The Board of Control
can recommend the pardon of convicts,
but it cannot pardon. The power to
commute death sentences and grant
pardons is vested by the Constitution
exclusively in the Governor, and the
Governor solemnly pledged the people
before his election that, as Governor
he would not pardon these men.
For our part, we lost all confidence
in Governor McLaurin the day he
signed the Fox pardon. We do not
charge him with corruption in the
matter, because we know of none. To
our mind this would not add to
his perfidy, if true. He has dishon-
ored his own pledge, given to the peo-
pie in time of political exigency to
save himself, and grossly betrayed
their confidence. Now that he is hard
pressed again because of various acts
of mal-administration he is posing as
a free-silver and anti-corporation
martyr and making the people more
pledges to win their support. And
just as surely as they trust him, he will
betray their confidence again, if the oc-
casion and opportunity offer. Falsus
in unun,, falsus in omnibus. says the
old Latin proverb, and 1t is generally
true.
Do the people owe Gov. McLaurin a
vote of confidence in the face of this
record
We say No .No!! NO!!!
For jefferson, Davis, Lamar, George,
Walthall, Stone or others we might
mention to have been guilty of thing
so dishonoring to themselves and false
to the people is not even'thinkable
Why he did not pardon Coleman,
and Marshall too, who had sore
grievance against Dinkins and was act
ing in vindication of his personal hon
or, we cannot see. He probably will
before he vacates the Governors chair,
and ,ato be consistent with himself,
ought to do SO.