The sea coast echo. [volume] (Bay Saint Louis, Miss.) 1892-current, 1902-07-19
I THE STATE CAMPAIGN.

What ideas will predominant in
State politics next year is not con-
jecturaI, even at this incipient
stago of the campaign. The para
mount questions are evident, but
iall plans shaping them towards a
material advancement of the State
baye not yet been promulgated.
Ehe questions are broad and COM
prehcnd such a range Of opportu-
pity for the States progress that
platforms cannot be predicted on
Ithem without well : considered
Nthought. Tho educational pro-
Hblem alone is complex, and pro-
Esents difficulties Of solution rs
labstruse rs did that Of Euclid.
The Importance of this question
Boyershadows all others and the
plans proposed by the various can
'didates as regards it will constitu
tc the principal issue upon which
the campaign must be fought out.
Several plans have been given out
by candidates through the State
press announcing their solution Of
the problem. None Of them have
been entirely winnowed Of chaff
nor meet the emergency. 1t is
not the ann Of this article to
manufacture then but to present
the situation us il appears. Plat
forms built upon the vital ques-
|tions and evading the obligation
70 pursue definite policy in the
next administration OF State Gov>
Iernment will not pass muster be-
fore Mississippians at this time.
"A specific policy fayoring the i'm
hustrial and educational growth of
The State, pledged by the best
brain aud character and free from
discrimination Legislation, is what
the people want. The public pur-
pose has never been more pro-
'hounced, nor the public mind
more critical Of platforms projec-
led by candidates for State or Le-
gislative offices than now.
AT no time have Mississippians
been more jealous of their fran
ehise nor more determined to dis
charge it for the advancement of
their State government. They arc
not uncertain Of what they want
nor unmindful of the splendid
opportunities that favor the State
and that must be improved by the
next administration. They will,
therefore, demand Of each candi-
date for State or Legislative Office
II confession of where he stands
and what he pledges, and will dis
cuss him, as well as his platform,
much earlier than ever before.
This spiritzof patriotic enterprise
cannot be condemned at this time,
because Mississippi must merge
into The waiting industrial and
Educational era with the next adj
rfiinistration. That atiministra-
tion, of whomever it may consist,
must have been pledged to execute
a rule of progress unparalleled in
the history Of the State. That
progress must be directed along
three closely related lines, ,-edu-
cational advancement, industrial
development and pure govern
ment. These three comprehend
the paramount questions that
must be dealt with in the state
campaign, and neither can be sub
ordinated to the other. The func-
ton OF government comprehend
ed by each must be promoted by
salutary legislation and the guild
ance of wise executive. Who,
then, says it is too early to dis
cuss State issues and the men
representing them? 1t is not
too early, for no policy can OBJ
tain in government unless those
who represent that policy possess
the ability to execute it. The
The man and what he advocates
are, therefore, inseparable, and
must be consi lered together.
Furthermore, if the solution of
any problem that may be present.
ed conceals a weakness, timely
discussion will disclose it. Why,
then, should not the people of
Mississippi discuss State problems
and the men who propose to solve
them, at any time they choose?
Let him who has opposed the dis
cussion at this time answer why.
Ii it is thought that a Aashy plat
form, constructed of sentiments
a n d prejudices and stormed
through short campaign, will
win, let him who believes that
know that MIssissIppians are not
musical instruments, whereon
tunes of sentiment and measures
of prejudice can be thrummed on
their heart-strings to waltz any
politician into office.-Aberdeen
Weekly.
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