The sea coast echo. [volume] (Bay Saint Louis, Miss.) 1892-current, 1902-07-19
BOWERS AND HARDY.

Bowers of Hancock county and
Capt. w. II. Hardy Of Perry
county, candidates for Congress,
addressed the people Of Gulfport
upon the issues which most close
y concern the people of the Sixth
] Congressional District, namely,
the development of our harbors,
the improvement of our interior
waterways, the establishment of
life-saving stations at points upon
our coast and experimental sta
tions in the interior to aid us in
the proper cultivation Of our pine
lands when the timber shall have
been taken away, and other kim
dred questions.
Capt. Hardywas the first speak
or and was given a hearty recep-
|.tion- He rnlaied his aonnantinn
with the great industrial move
nents which have helped to make
South Mississippi great and was
frequently cheered when he touch-
cd upon the history OF Gulfport,
his early advocacy OF channel
between Ship Island and this
place. He exulted in the final
dredging of this channel and its
successful maintenance as vim
dication of his views. In conclu-
sion Capt. Hardy stated that, if
elected he would use his utmost
endeavors to further the material
development of this District.
Hon. e. j Bowers was also met
with a round of applause which
clearly indicated that he has
host of supporters in this town.
He spoke mostly of the needs of
the District and said that he would
use all the energy at his com nand
in furthering the grand work of
harbor Improvement which is now
so well under way. He spoke of
the needs of Pearl river and of the
Pascagoula river and said they
would both receive his attention.
And they will. AS stated by him
self, IL would be suicidal for any
Congressman from this District to
represent one section over anoth-
er--that such course would ma
turally and necessarily consign
him to an unsung and unhonored
oblivion. Mr.. Bowers has too
much good sense to sacrifice his
lucrative law practice for a single
term in Congress. SHe will want
to represent the people Of this Dis
trict term upon term and the only
way that he can do it will be to
give every section of the District
and every harbor upon the coast
equal representation.
As is we'll known to the readers
|of the Record, Hon. Ed. Bowers
is its choice for Congress from the
Sixth Congressional District of
Mississippi. This choice was not
due to the caprice Of o moment,
but rather to a long and careful
consideration Of the fitness and
abilities of the two men. We.
admit Capt. Hardy has done much
to entitle him to the esteem of the
people of this District. lie has
inseparably connected his name
with the history of South Missis-
sippi and wherever the echoes of
the locomotive whistle of the
Northeastern Railroad and the
Gulf 3 Ship Island railroad will be
heard, there will this patriotic and
industrious Mississippian be for
ever remembered and honored.
We repeat he has done much, but
his shadows are falling toward the
east and we would best remember
him for what he has done than
for what he would attempt in the
future. The rich hues Of life
spent in a glorious endeavor to
build an almost unknown section
'of the State illumine his past,
but can no longer dispel the misty
sombre of the future. 1t is like
a setting sun, the roscate rays of
which look beautiful and attrac-
tive but which slowly but surely
fall backward into the arms of
the gathering night, backward,
not forward, and form no part of
the morrow. This, we assert, is
the difference between Capt. w.
Fl. Hardy and Hon. e. j. Bowers
the difference that there is in
a sun which is lowering amid the
splendor of the departing day and
the bright, vigorous, promising
sun that breaks in the east.
We have no desire to injureI
Capt. Hardy or detract from his
services to South Mississippi. He
lis deserving Of the highest enlogy
and kindly affection. But we sub
nit in all reason thatit would be
q mistake to attempt to reward
him for his long services to South
Mississippi bysendIng him to Con-
gress--a mistake that he himself
would soon learn to rue and bis
friends to regret. Rather let our
reward take some other shape, -
a monument il you will, that
will commemorate his memory to|
the unborn agesl
Let US send to Congress- a man
who has the energy of youth, the
indomitable will of character, the
intelligence that comes from a.
vast learning aud the ripened ex-
perience that has been garnered
by contact with great men and
great things. Let us send to Cons
gress a man who will stand there
bold, brave and defiant, the peer
of any.--rich in eloquence, power
full in debate, firm and magnificent
lin his convictions, generous to-
foe and friend, a veritable giant
against oppression and wrongs of
all kinds. Let us send to Cons