The Canton times. (Canton, Miss.) 1893-1906, 1901-12-06

A large number of prominent real
estate men from Illinois, Iowa and
Wisconsin toured the State last week,
in special cars, under the direction OF
Capt. J. F. Merry. They visited as
many of the large towns on the Hi
nois Central as was possible in their
limited time, and with one accord |
the pronounced themselves amazed |
as well as delighted with the country |
they found down South and the peo-
pie who made their stay SO pleasant
While in Jackson they were enter
tanned by the Columbian Club and well
coined by Mayor Hemingway and Gov.
Longino. Among the excellent things
said by the Governor to these guests
from the great Northwest was the fol-
lowing, touching Mississippi's Consti-
tuition:
perhaps you have heard some criti-
cisms of our laws and our courts In
Mississippi. | understand they have
been quite general through your sec
ton, and / will digress moment to
discuss this subject. l want to say
that our laws cover wisely and well
all classes and conditions of men, and
our courts have a high and incorruptl-
lie standard of Jurisprudence. Con-
trary to the assertions of partisans and
| ill-informe4 people, our Constitution
| contains no organic infringement on
| free citizenship. In Mississippi there
| is a practical appreciation of intelli-
gent citizenship. Our suffrage clause
eliminates only the ignorant class,
those who cannot read and write, and
those who do not pay their taxes The
| talk about our Constitution being I'M
| just is a bugaboo. Education in this
| day and age is cheap and easy, and
with our magnificent public school sys-
| TEN on which we spend $1,700,000 per
4 year for the education of children, be
their skin black or white, there is no
excuse for ignorance, while the man
| who will not bear his just share OF the
burden of government by paying his
taxes has no right to participate IN
the management of that government.
The man who will not qualify himself
for suffrage certainly has no legal or
moral claim to hold a franchise. Ours
is an intelligent government by intelll-
gent people"
little incident occurred during the
visit of these gentlemen that may
prove interesting. The day selected
for their visit was, thanks to the
weather clerk, pleasant and mild
During the afternoon two OF thenS
standing on the corner viewing thu
new Capitol, saw a man crossing the
park wearing white duck trousers
black coat and hat. Look" ex
claimed one, that's the kind OF
country to live in-where man cal
wear white duck clothes in late NO
vember," He did not know that those
white ducks" had once had broa(
black stripes running around them
and that it was at the cost OF mucf
rubbing and several pounds OF soal
that the convict (for it was "trusty
at whom they were looking) had sue
ceeded in dimming those stripes o
dishonor" so that they could be mis-
taken for white ducks" But, afte
all the fact that we allow our con
victs such freedom might have eliclte'
the same surprise. If these goo'
Westerners will come down and tr!
II we believe we can prove that our
is a good country to live in, for bette
, reasons than either of the above.
Meridian is already preparing to en-
terrain the State Convention OF tn
Sons of Veterans, which assemble
there ON the 18th of March. In
Queen City of the East" expects U
entertain at least 500 guests, and sh
will do it well. Every county In tn
, state should have at least one camp
and these should all be representa-
Of the State conventions. Only fey
, more years and it will lie with tn
| Sons and the Daughters of the Con
: federacy to keep bright and fragran
, it's hallowed memories. The praV
old soldiers are falling faster neat
the cruel shafts of time than the
ever fell in battle, and there, are non
. RI hasten to the front and take thel
nlaces. unless it is our young men an
women. And it is our duty and shoui
be our pleasure to do it. The best wa
> to do this is to organize tnoroushi
. and keep the work alive in the heart
of the young people.
South Mississirpi's hardwood timbe
/. is coming into prominence, and as
: natural consequence is in demand. :