The leader., 1903-12-02
Political and Otherwise.

rUtltlVdt 0ttu VtitCl WtSSs
Good cheer to the readers of
the Leader. s. After long siege of
serious illness, am feeling we'll
again with renewed appreciation
for good health. Moody said,
''Sanctifed affections are spirit
ual promotions" and we realize
that it at least takes a fellow out
of politics for a season when he
gets good stock of malaria in
the system. We should not be
pessimistic, for one thing we can
all do for others if we willl-"Ex-
press the happiness we feel and
suppress the misery;" so, when
we were we'll on foot again after
a four weeks attack of intermit-
tont malarial fever, up to our neck
in politics, mid our frenzied
dreams we saw an article in the
Leader from the pen of our below
ed co-laborer and ex-would- be Rep
res tativ Cdr. Scarborough,
who wooed but lost in the cam
paign, and as sure as we live,
we we're glad to know that, he
thought just as we'll of himself
as before the fall. So do we, all
things considered" Every being
is its own center to the universe
and every thing comes to the man
who in silence can wait;" but the
brother spoke out and cooked
his GOOSE" you see. But we
still glory in his grit, stand or
fall by the right. But we part
company where he declares that
he. will be a candidate for the
legislature four years hence; pro-
vided only, that our primary
election law is changed to suit
the moral aspect of his good judg-
ment; whereas l do not propose
to wait until all the necessary
good laws shall be passed by that
august body; but of course, go
and help the good work right on
after DR.. Watts has done his
level best during his term of office.
But we think our primary cleo
ton laws are in their letter and
spirit good and wholesome, if
properly executed. S. B. No. 1,
approved March 4th, 1902, Chap
ter sc. Acts 1902, sections 8 and
12), ought to be sufficient to pro-
hibit buying and selling votes and
influencing elections.
But we had not set out to argue
the law features in the election
campaigns in our county and
State. 1t is a sad commentary
on the citizens of our splendid
old county of Lincoln in the
proud old State of Mississippi,
but neverth eless true, that schem-
ing politicians can secure their
election by the use of money and
whiskey, in these days of senti-
mental, decorous, moral refinement,
to say the least of it. We have
no real sympathy with or approval
of the doings of any candidate who
will encourage the depravity of
men, willing to cheaper true
American citizenship by selling
but this way, but it seems to us
that we ought to expect higher
and more noble standard of citizen
ship among our electors and to
this end endeavor to improve the
manhood and elevate the dignity
of our citizens to a man, with
out exceptions, so that candidates
for office will not be forced or ex-
pected to resort to this diaboIicaI,
shameful, belittllng blight on
common justice and fair dealing
among men, in the usual scramble
for Office. We deem it more reas-
enable and even more dignified
(if you will excuse the term) for
a candidate when approached upon
this line to conditionally respond
Though we plead not guilty than
for a citizen to approach q candi-
date and demand the condition.
Our judgment is that any man
who will sell his vote or influence
to one man for money or whiskey
will sell to a dozen men for the
same Office. This proposition has
been demonstrated in the last
campaign and we can spot men
who halloed for the man who
would add one more nickel for
the job. How's this Bro. S.?
Well, we will add that after the
last primary these fellows will stir
up boiling element and put
out Independents in order to get
more money out of the contest.
We ought to bow our heads In
shame in the face of such poll
tics and turn from our evil ways.
No man can be provident of his
time who is not prudent in the
choice of his company; and no
one is free who does not con-
troll himself.
So far as we are individually
concerned, we got all we asked
for in the way of Office and shall
make our bond and do the best
we can for the next four years:
then try to move up, as we shall
know to do good in the faith
that the world is growing
better. Now, Bro. S. when you
ask for votes again do like the
Dutchman who had experienced
khn I;rnnnAo.aa e 49, ee...A 4 :.