Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1904-08-03


commonwealth off the map of this state, and placed
in the executive department COmmOner who
stands like Gibraltar in resistance to every attempt
to ilch from the peoples treasury the hard earned
taxes gathered for legitimate purposes.
That was a heroic stand taken by the people, to
stamp out an attempt to cOmmercialize the manhood
OF the state politically and to turn out for good men
who would make such an attempt.
Proud Mississippi. There was practically no
politics in that memorable contest and phenomenal
victory The people just selected one Of their own
number capable and strong, lined up and forced the
issue on all the corrupting influence combined to
attempt their overthrow.
And what a victory 1t was. How much more easily
the struggling masses breathe the free air of re-
deemed state today than they polluted their systems
with the air which permeated the political
atmosphere during the preceding four years. They
are not worrying now that the business Of their state
is not carefully and zealOusly guarded.
And what force they confronted and Overthrew,
Every political CRATER in and out Of Office in the
state every appOinee Of the Federal administration
every combine OF capital in the state every metro
politan newspaper that circulates within our Dor.
ders every old political hack Of preacher, backed
Dy b pOutlChl BEatbluB DlbuOps anu mVA0J W oot
rupt and depraVe without stint.
n any one imagines such q combination in state
like Mississippi is not something to oppose, he has
never tried the experiment. But Mississippi man
hood was not for sale, Mississippi loyalty was not
to be driven by prejudice and vitupeTation Rather
il felt capable TO stand up for it's honest convictions,
and had the bravery to defy all the formidable array
agsinst it,
The people OF Mississippi, in plain language, took
most important step, in asserting their ability and
their determination to manage themselves, without
consulting the politicians or the sO-called powers
that be- They we're not willing to cOncede that the
occupant Of the white house at Washington, even,
bad the right to say to them who they should choose
for their chief executive in the state.
In other Words it can be truthIully said that the
masses n Mississippi have bid farewell to political
manipulators and class dictation.
This is q new departure in the South where con-
seryatism has been the order for many years. It
means that Mississippi has set the pace for more in
dependent action; that the politicians may make
all manner Of combinations they please with the
graiters Of this or any other section Of the country,
but they have no assurance that such action will be
approved by the people when It comes to them for
decision.
The action Of the people Of Mississippi last year
ls simply fore-runner Of what may be expected Of
them this year, and 10 al future action.
Al few politicians who assume 20 speak for the
state OF Mississippi have lately thrown the destinies
Of the South in the han1s Of little corps Of Eastern
schemers who care 'n0 more for the masses in this
sate than the average negro cares for the interests
OF the man who gives him employment and support.
Now the question comes to the people, and It re.
mains to be seen whether or not that action, more
plainly putting it, the fat Of the St. Louis conven
tion Is to be approved BY TIE people Of the state,
when it comes to them in November.
10 nodes way We participated With the people
Who overhrew the eacherOus gang in this state last
year, and il our contact with them We found them
most patriotic and determined. We found them
resisting most stubbornly every attempt oi The pol
lticians to deliver them ct viii. We believe they
have the manhood, the patriotism, the loyalty tO
resist the attempted delivery TO Wall Street this
year.
The people Of Mississippi ere essentially end al