The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1900-01-20
General Primary Election Law.

Couuhy.
General Primary Election Law.
The importance of white supremacy in the
government OF the State is too obvious to admit
of discussion. 1t is equally obvious that such
supremacy must depend upon whie political
unity. The results Of general elections in the
State have for a number of years past been prac-
tically declared in advance by nominations
made by white Democrats. But as the recollec-
ton OF the political troubles with the negro
prior to 1876 grows old in the public mind the
danger OF a recurrence of such troubles becomes
less imminent, and as the years go by the white
people become more and more impatient and
displeased with the dubious and devious meth
DDS OF the party nominating machinery, which
differs in its procedure according to the Interest
and views OF the party leaders in the different
counties. Such impatience among the white
! people, 1t seems to me, furnishes timely warn
ing, and If We would perpetuate white political
union, time appears opportune for the passage
OF a uniform compulsory primary election law
for the State, with n provision that only quail
fed electors shall vote In the primary elections
held hereunder. Besides, even though the
| signs of the ime augur no danger to white
| government, the fact and importance OF nomi-
nations for office, which amount practically to
an election, as under our present system. calls
Justly up IN the lawmakers of the state to give
the people pri mary elections TO be held In al
| the counties on the same day In the State or the
i district where elections are to be held, thus
affording to the voter an opportunity to cast
his vote freely without let or hindrance, from
the party leader, for the man or men OF his
choice.
Schools.
There Is no danger so great to the affairs OF
any repnblic as an ignorant, factious citizen
ship, whose tendencies have always been to
o~yerturn social order, political system, liberty.
Justice, and right. Mississippi's greatest relief
| from this source OF evil has been for many years
found in the efficiency of her free schools and
her colleges. The liberality, therefore, OF the
legislatures in the past in providing funds Tor
their proper maintenance has been both wise
and patriotic, and l heartily commend the con-
t~inuation of the same liberal spirit toward all
the States educational interests and institu-
lions. The free school fund Is now distributed
among the counties per capita of the educaole
children In each county. The relative attend
ance upoa the free schools in the white is much
greater thar in the black counties. and hence
by reason OF the fewer schools required for the
black counties affords those counties the use OF
funds set apart to the non attending children
therein; hence those counties are enabled from
said fund to extend the terms OF their schools
taught and to pay teachers better salaries than
can the white counties, where the larger pro-
portion OF the children attend the schools
Since the manifest purpose OF the law Is &c
favor equal educational facilities 10 all OF the
children Of the State alike. l would commend
to the legislature the submission Of an amend