Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1904-11-30
THE RECORD OF FIVE YEARS.

TSSpSpy( n years Of uninterrupted weekly pub
&S%AET lication, without the missing OF a
&A@4 single issue or the issuance of a
@aSSGaso half sheet. In this particular it is
safe to say that no other newspaper management in
this county has eqused the prompt and regular is
suance OF newspaper and few weeklies in the state
can show any such FIVE years record.
Perhaps during these years the paper has not
been all the people would have it be; certainly it
has not been alive we would gladly have made it;
but the consolation is INDUCED that 1t has been our
most earnest endeaVOr to make 1t every week
Just as good as possible Some very encouraging
and cheerful compliments have been FROM time to
time paid the paper during these fve years, not by
any means least among which has been the cOngrat'
ulatiODs Of prominent business men over the fact
that the OkOlOnR papers have been taken from the
mire of bickeUing feuda political fighting machines
and transformed into earnest, iair minded epitOmes
Of the city, the state the South and it's people and
interests.
During the FIRST nine months OF connection with
the paper, we have no boast to make, since it
not all during that time we would mueh liked to
have made it, But the remainder Of the period,
we feel that We can point to without egOtism bonn
bast as being absolutely free from anything which
would be calculated to array one portion Of the com
munity against another to in the slightest degree
tear down or impede the progress or abridge the
rights of the most humble citizen.
When we came to OkOlona It Was with cur heart
and soul inspired with the determination to build
dng up so far as wssin our limited power and ability,
everything and everybody in the community. We
we're not q stranger to the South, nor it's people.
Years OF careful study Of their ways, their former
hardships and their ideals, had won for them not
Only our sympathies, but our admiration aud devO-
tion In our new field, We were determined to aid,
not attempt direct cheer not discourage; counsel
not to attempt to boss; build up not tear down; and
we challenge any reader Of the paper from the rst
OF our management TO the pEesant hour to point out
q single sentence word, or syllable, calculated to
disregard this determination
Recognizing that our new home city and the entire
Southland could only attain the greatness to which
they were entitled by extending cordial welcome
to all new cOmeTs and all new enterprises caleu-
lated to advance the interests OF one and ALL we
have deVOutly urged such eneouTagements and in
our modest way assumed to, all occasions, speak
for the community in such way to place all before
those whom we would welcome, in this attitude.
In the struggle to publish such paper as will be
q benefit and not 8 curse to a community there are
many questions of judgment well as desire requir
ed. In the first place IL requires considerable
amount Of money with which to meet obligations
and keep up the expenses necessary to the efforts
put forth. All communities not appreciative Of
the value good paper is to their we'll being, and
hence not all the people Of any community are re-
sponsive to any general cause.
In all our contact with public questions we have
endeavored to be fair and in the expenditures upon
the paper We bave often been more liberal than our
circumstances would warrant, relying upon respon-
ses that we're not always forthcoming.
We have no complaint to make ofthe apprecia-
tiOn with which five years efforts have heen re-
ceived by the people OF OkOona. II there we're
cause for any such complaint, would not make 1t,
relying rather upon the maxim that all things final
" work out they should and to the glory OF those
who are patient and tire not.
Naturally it is impossible for any newspaper, DO
matter how high may be it's mission, its fixed and
determined purpose, to please everybody. We do
do not feel that THE MESSENGER is any exception
to the rule. Sometimes a paper is not approved
because some one who feels it bis mission to pose
as it's supreme advisor is net consulted in the gen
eral conduct Of the enterprise We have known Of
such characters, but they have never cost Us q
moments thought or loss Of sleep.
Perhaps We are optOmistic and indulge too much
hone for the section in which we live but even this
is better than to be pessmistic and finally kick un-
eli one becomes the despised OF all those among
whom he dWells, because he is q chronic knOcker.
We have always been firm in the belief that Okolona
Is destined to finally become one Of the most impor-
tant towns in the state II every sense. Il has long
been one Of the most delightful and healthful places
in which to reside. Some day these advantages viii
win for It the commercial and industrial distinction
merits.
Looking back over the changes during the past