Okolona messenger., 1903-08-12


pie Of Mississippi are fools. We
would spurn with eoutempt any
such an inference from within or
without.
We believe the great mass Of
men in the state are patriots, hon.
est iu their convictions, and ever
anxious to stand up and bare their
breasts for the honor and integ.
rity Of their state and its people
and institutions.
Because some may differ from
us on an issue presented or man
offered for office, We have no right
to impugu the motive OF the act
But there is one thing for which
we hava abhorant contempt, aud
this thing is the man who will sell,
for monet t,ry consideration, his
franchise or his influence to di,
re,t the franchise of bis state.
There As hut one thing on earth
for which we have greater con
tempt, barring that Of the debauch
cry of Innocent childhood or help
less woman, and that is the man
who will, to secure an Office, but
a mans franchise, or seek to in-
fluence its direction by The foul
use Of his money in the purchase
of the press or the oratorical talent
be may End in the market.
There is absolutely no way to
dodge the proposition that man
who will buy a vote is more cor.
rupt than he whose vote he pur-
chases. For, he who sells must
be prompted to do so through the
necessity which suggests his act,
while he who buys may not stand
in immediate need of the price he
pays, but considers it an invest
ment, upon which he may later on
realize a handsome profit. But,
a man who will buy vote will
sell his own, and a man who will
sell his vote is not a safe individ-
ual to be elected seavanger for the
most filthy city, much less inaug-
Grated Governor of Mississippi.
Desperate diseases require des-
perate and heroic remidies. The
present digusting attack upon the
honor and integrity of Mississippi,
whereby a designing aspirant
would purchase q seat Of honor in
the state, is Of such vital concern,
so revolving in nature, that it is
impossible to consult dignifed lore
IN it's handling. If we are a bit
harsh in expression, it rs be-
cause the urgency Of the hORr dis
pells the softer treatment. To Us
the very honor Of the future OfMiss
1ssippi seems to be in the balance,
and we would violate any rule Of
courteous or polite decOrum to
awaken those who would sleepily
pass along and fail to look the is
sue before as squaTely in the face.
The we'll laid plans of the money
handlers in the campaign ioE q
candidate for Governor of Kiss
issippi are showing more and mere
plainly now day by day.
For the past two OF three months
the whole strength Oi the Jackson
ring has been directed in an eflOFt
to prevent Major Vardamsn from
receiving the nomination in the
6rst primary. Money has not only
been used like water flowing IN a
branch after 3 rain, by Critz alone,
but by the rOttOn gang at Jackson
with which be has formed a cOm-
bination, to accomplish this END, in
the hope that when the contest
should come in a straight issue be-
tween Vardaman and Critz, enough
more money and corrupt methods
might be to compass his defeat.
Judge Critz has been only too will
ing a tool in this combine. He hal
gone absolutely crazy to be Gov
ernor, and, if his conduct in thi:
campaign is an indication Of biz
nature, he would sell his very sou
- -.-.,h 49,. $1,000 e-onl Tvowx